Mansfield granddad Jim, 87 sings 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow to spread a 'bit of joy' during lockdown

Computer savvy Jim Baker, who is almost 88, uploaded a video of himself on You Tube playing his ukulele and singing a new version of the Judy Garland Wizard of Oz classic.

The moving song has a message of hope that the bad times will one day be over. The song has proved a hit with Jim’s family – which includes his three children and four grandchildren – as well as his friends.

His daughter Susan Woolley said: “My dad is always busy, always doing something or learning something new, he never stops. He taught himself banjo, guitar, ukulele as well as computing.

“He is a member of MUGS Mansfield Ukulele Group and enjoys singing and playing, especially serenading my mum! He is amazing with the computer, he knows more than me, I wouldn’t know how to do You Tube or Twitter or anything like that. Even during lock down he’s been doing his shopping online.

“With his song he’d videoed himself and then uploaded it. The song is about hope and it compliments the rainbow theme at the moment. It was just his way of cheering everyone up during the lock down, it started as a family thing really.

She added: “The song is just his way of bringing a bit of joy to everyone during these difficult times. My dad has always been a very positive person, my daughter describes him as a teenager at heart! ”

Family friend Ali Gibson, “Jim’s song is wonderful, and his lovely song has really cheered us all up, it’s just heartwarming especially while we are all in lock down.

“The footage on You Tube started with a few views but has slowly started to increase to about 200 as people have started to share his talent! It would be lovely if people could share it.

“If the smile at the end doesn’t get you nothing will!”

Jim, who has been married to Vera for 67 years, started his career in electrical engineering and worked at Pleasley Vale colliery and for Landers bakery.