If you haven’t already had the pleasure, I’d like to introduce you to Phil Cotton, @Hcsuk’s fabulous Field Service Engineer and crooner extraordinaire, who is successfully combining his day job with his passion for music.
Music has always played a big part in Phil’s life since he first successfully auditioned to be in a band aged 19.
Fast forward to Phil at 40, and he had his own karaoke business and was gigging 3 nights a week.
In 2004, he quit his job to become a part time self-employed singer.
Phil joined Hcsuk 5 years ago as our Field Service Engineer, and quickly developed a really good rapport with both our care home customers and the people they support – we regularly get great feedback on how well he interacts with residents in the care homes we service, some of them even greeting him at the door with hugs!
In one particular day centre which supports people with Learning Disabilities where we service, maintain and LOLER test their care equipment, they had their own karaoke machine and when they got wind that Phil could sing, after he’d completed his jobs one day, they asked him to sing a couple of tracks for the people they support.
At first people began nodding their heads along to the beat, then they started to sing along, a couple of the carers got up to dance, and by the end of the session everyone was up jigging along, joining in and waving their arms in the air to Robbie Williams Angels.
Phil said: ‘Just to see everyone joining in, dancing 💃 🕺, singing and generally having such a great time brought a huge smile to my face, I loved doing it as I’d been missing my singing’
In fact they loved it so much that the manager of the service, Ian, has since asked if he can book Phil out again for a karaoke set as an activity for the people they support!
Great job Phil Cotton, 👍 I know how much music means to you and making a difference to others too. Proud of you. 👏👏👏👏