Singer’s whirlwind tribute to late grandma

A talented singer has paid tribute to the grandmother who “meant the world to her” by releasing a poignant charity single in aid of the hospice where she spent her final weeks.

Michaela Silverstein, 24, from Shenley, penned Whirlwind in memory of her grandmother, Judy Newman, who died from to pancreatic cancer 18 months ago.

The former JFS and Sinai student now hopes to raise money for The Peace Hospice, Watford, where Judy was looked after for six weeks.

Michaela, who now works as a music teacher at her old Kenton primary school, said: “She was only 72-years-old and meant the world to me and my family.

“I spoke to her almost every day and saw her at least two to three times a week.

“My grandmother was a massive part of the reason we are such a strong family unit. She and my grandpa brought us all together.”

In another nod to her grandmother, the song also features the picture of a stick woman.

“Every card my grandma ever wrote to her children and grandchildren would be signed off with a stick woman and a chubby stickman. She would pretend it was her and my grandpa.”

The professional singer collaborated with her friend and fellow music teacher, Daniel Marks, who handled the production “and helped bring the song to life.”

She added: “I felt with time I could come to terms with the loss. Music is the best way to express myself. The song is very personal to me and is about the whirlwind effect of heartbreak our family went through.”

Whirlwind is available now on iTunes for 79p: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/whirlwind-single/id1230034806