Glenys has a heart for musicBusking grandmother gets around on her e-trike

• Published date: 25 April 2024
• Author: Judith Lacy
• Publication title: Guardian, The

On board is not a guitar or music stand, but a ukulele

The 81-year-old gets tired easily; she’s had fibromyalgia for nearly 30 years and is now battling skin cancer.

But this isn’t a tale of woe, but of having a go.

Songs Gowan played during the Friday lunchtime the Manawatū Guardian spent with her included Heartaches by the Number, My Bonnie, He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands, and Ten Guitars.

She got a lot of smiles, but not much money.

“That was absolutely brilliant love,” a man said.

It is nearly eight years since she started busking with a man named Bruce in Broadway Ave on Saturdays. She would leave her husband at home to do the ironing.

Gowan then decided to go out on her own and has been busking around The Square or in Broadway Ave for nearly six years.

“I can’t believe how the time’s gone by. I just come out a couple of times a week and stand there and sing for an hour, then go home.”

She started busking as a way to promote her 14-song CD of covers. Heart Thoughts was produced and engineered by Ian Farmer in 2015. It includes Stand By Your Man, You Raise Me Up, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Walkin’ After Midnight.

She met...