Amy’s stepmother Jane, flanked by Janis, left, and Mitch Winehouse; inset left: Amy

Published: 25 July, 2013
by PAVAN AMARA

AMY Winehouse’s parents have told how their talented daughter showed her early talent by singing Jewish hymns.

Mitch and Janis Winehouse were at the Jewish Museum in Albert Street, Camden Town, on Thursday night to mark the exhibition of her life and upbringing.

The collection on display includes scraps of essays she wrote at drama school, early family photos, her beloved childhood Snoopy books and an old primary school uniform. It was partly curated by her brother Alex.

Her mother Janis said Amy’s “core was strongly Jewish”, reminiscing how “she loved to eat homemade fish balls”, and found her first rhythms with songs celebrating Hannukah.

“When Amy and Alex were small children I used to record them singing Jewish hymns. But I have this one tape of them singing Ma’oz Tzur, that was one of Amy’s favourites.

"I was listening to it a few days ago, and she just kept singing it over and over, she was getting into a real rhythm with it. It was beautiful for me to hear again, but I did well up.

"She was my daughter, I was bound to. All the things that happened to her found her rather than the other way round.”

Janis added: “At that point I knew she had a strong singing voice, but I also knew a lot of children have strong singing voices, that wasn’t anything unusual.

"I never would have said to her ‘Oh Amy, you’re so talented’, because that wasn’t me. One thing I’m really proud of is that sibling bond we encouraged is still there, this is Alex’s way of loving Amy.”

Ms Winehouse lived in Jeffrey’s Place and later Camden Square and was known for her affection for Camden Town.

Her father Mitch remembered the last phone call he had with his 27-year-old daughter before she passed away.

“She had been looking for this suitcase of photographs for ages,” he said.

“Somehow they had got lost in the house move, and the week of her passing I got this phone call from her saying ‘Dad! You’ve got to come round now, I’ve finally found the photos.’

I remember laughing and saying to her ‘Amy I can’t, I’ve got to board a flight to New York tomorrow’, but I did go round and we looked through them together. I’m so glad she made me come round that day, because it was my last day with her.”

The suitcase is now on display in the exhibition, along with Sudoku puzzles she loved to do in her spare time.

Mr Winehouse said: “If you ever glanced around her house, on the surface there would be Jackie Collins books and you’d think that’s what she was reading. But if you looked in the drawers, there were Sudoku puzzles in there. I tried to do some of them and I couldn’t even do level one, let alone the levels she was doing.

“One of the things that amazed me about her was her love of jigsaw puzzles with the smallest possible pieces.”

He added: “What I don’t understand is when people say Amy wasted her life. It was cut short, but she did so much.

"I’m not talking about the records she sold, I mean the stuff that really mattered. Before she died she put a lot of energy into helping the homeless, she did a lot of work in St Lucia and she had plans to do more.

"She started the Amy Winehouse Foundation, but without realising it.”

Charity for offending risk women gets £15,000 from Amy Winehouse Foundation

A CHARITY that Amy Winehouse “would have loved” have been presented with a cheque for £15,000 by Mitch Winehouse.

Clean Break works with women who have offended or are at risk of offending as well as presenting professional theatre productions on crime and justice.

The money will cover the costs of running the new “Brazen” course for a year, including travel and childcare costs.

Executive director Lucy Perman said she is “absolutely thrilled” to have the support of the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

“It’s an incredible place,” said Mr Winehouse. “The achievements are incredible and very moving.

"Women come here with problems and it’s a haven for them. It fits in perfectly with the Amy Winehouse Foundation mission statement.”

Joanna, 25, happily clutched four certificates for completing Clean Break courses in singing, dance and drama. She discovered the charity through a women’s alcohol group she was attending and now plans to run a fashion stall selling her own designs in Camden Market.

“I wish I had heard of this place years ago, I would have been here. It’s definitely helped with my confidence.”

Brazen is a new drama group for Camden women aged 17-24 who have been arrested, cautioned or are worried about getting in trouble with the police. For details call 020 7482 8600.