St Luke’s Church in Chelsea was filled with the sound of 300 charity supporters singing their favourite Christmas carols on Monday evening (18 December), as we celebrated another remarkable year at Royal Brompton Hospital

Our ever-popular Carols by Candlelight concert featured readings from Poldark and Bergerac star John Nettles OBE, who delighted the audience with his theatrical rendition of John Betjeman’s classic poem, ‘Christmas’.

Mr Nettles said:

I’m so pleased to be here this evening to make a small contribution to the hospitals, which do such extraordinary, indeed near-miraculous work for their patients.

He was followed at the pulpit by John Peterson (left), who only this year underwent triple heart by-pass surgery at Royal Brompton.

Mr Peterson said:

Someone said to me shortly after my operation that I was in the right place at the right time. I sincerely believe this. I am very happy to support this brilliant hospital and its work and was delighted to be asked to take part in the service this evening.

ICOSA Choir stole the show with their stunning performances of In the bleak midwinter and My Lord has come among others, while our very own Signing for Breathing Choir reminded us all of the journey back to health that our patients bravely go through. Among other evergreen Christmas hits, they sang Jingle bell rock and Merry Christmas everyone!

After the concert, guests were invited to join the Charity for mince pies, mulled wine and cheese kindly donated by Paxton & Whitfield.

The evening raised a fantastic £11,240, which will go directly towards the creation of two brand new intensive care rooms to treat Royal Brompton’s most vulnerable patients. These rooms will provide a far calmer environment for patients to recover in, a better working environment for staff and a dedicated space for a family member to stay close to their loved one throughout their stay on the ward.

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us, to our readers, including Stephen Dean from our generous sponsor Lee Bolton Monier-Williams and Jo Tillman, Matron on our intensive care unit, and to our brilliant volunteers.

Huge thanks also to Frances Sterry from Paxton & Whitfield for giving up her time (and delicious stilton) for a wonderful cause.

Below are some of our favourite pictures from the evening.