Last Thursday the beautiful St Mary’s Church in Harefield was filled with heavenly singing as the Charity held the annual Harefield Carols by Candlelight concert.

Guests were treated to beautiful carols sung by St Mary’s Choir, Harefield Junior School Choir and patient choir Singing for Breathing. There were also readings from Derval Russell, director of Harefield Hospital, patient and supporters June Jones and Steven Pursey, our chief executive Richard Bowyer and Mark Gill, from H C Grimstead Funeralcare; as well as blessings from Father Jim Mulligan from St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Christmas reflections led by Reverend Cameron Barker, Harefield Hospital’s Chaplain, and prayers led by Reverend Val Pyper from Harefield Baptist Church.

June Jones, who read at the concert, said: “It was an amazing night, it gave me a lovely warm and humble feeling to help in the little way I can.”

£603 was raised for the Harefield Haemodialysis appeal, which will provide six haemodialysis machines for one transplant ward and the intensive care ward at Harefield Hospital. These new machines will help some of the sickest Harefield patients by cutting down the time needed for dialysis and allowing it to be delivered in a less disruptive way. This will help patients recover faster and get home to their families sooner.

A huge thank you goes out to Reverend Martin Davies and to Rowena Scott for hosting the concert and all their support. We would also like to thank Singing for Breathing, Harefield Junior School Choir and St Mary’s Choir and all our readers. Thanks also to the Mayor of Hillingdon for attending.

We would also like to thank Samantha Queen and the local Hillingdon, Ickenham, Harefield and Denham Co-op Food stores and Ruislip and Harefield Funeralcare for providing mulled wine and mince pies. An especially big thank you goes out to everyone who came and donated. Your generosity will make a big difference to critically ill Harefield patients.