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Today’s Memory Taper Sophie Glover got in touch to ask us to play some songs for her friend Olive. On Valentine’s Day, we salute the power of friendship. And Olive.

Sophie says: “I wondered if you would play a track in memory of my friend, Olive. She was 84 and came to the UK from Jamaica in the 1960s. She worked as a nurse in the NHS for most of her life here and in a (rather perfect) full circle, she passed away in the hospital she used to work (The Royal Free, at the end of January).

I first met Olive in 2010. It was via a volunteering service, from Camden Council, which was set up to help housebound elderly people have contact with others. We were introduced and very quickly it became apparent that, not only were we a good match, but we were also going to be good friends.

She was hilarious, generous and very happy to spend hours talking about food. After a short while, I definitely felt that she was my friend and that it didn’t feel like volunteering anymore. I visited her most Saturdays and we would talk, eat lunch, and I would help her with any jobs around the flat.

I chose the track ‘Shanty Town’ by Desmond Dekker as Olive won a dance competition to this song, and she even did a few moves in her armchair to show me why she won. She also loved ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ by Jimmy Cliff, ‘Silly Games’ by Janet Kay, ‘No No No’ by Dawn Penn and ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ by Althea & Donna.

Olive gave me a valuable insight into what it was like to live in Britain from the 60s-80s, as a black woman, which is why I have also chosen the tracks by The Specials. Her accounts of racism whilst working as a nurse in the NHS were shocking to me and opened my eyes to how normal those views were back then. I grew up in a very white, very rural part of the UK so to hear this first hand was very powerful. I have also included Lauryn Hill and Solange as their insights resonated with what Olive used to talk about.

Olive passed away on Sunday 28th January and whilst she was 84 and had been very, ill. It is still very sad. My choice of the tracks ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Videotape’ are an opportunity to reflect on the loss. My Saturdays will never be the same and I miss her very much."

Classic song which Olive won a dance competition to:
Shanty Town by Desmond Dekker

Songs Olive loved:
I Can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff
Silly Games by Janet Kay
Uptown Top Rankin by Althea & Donna
No No No by Dawn Penn

British experience:
Ghost Town by The Specials
A Message to you Rudy by The Specials

Words that resonate:
Mad by Solange (feat Lil Wayne)
Everything is Everything by Lauren Hill

Sad songs about death/loss for me to slightly wallow in:
Teardrop by Massive Attack
Videotape by Radiohead

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