Date published: 08 December 2016 by Anna Jackson

Hundreds of guests filled the pews of the stunning St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge on Wednesday (7 December) for our much-loved celebrity studded London Carol Concert which raised over £36,000 to support families caring for a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.

ITV Presenter and Rainbow Trust Patron Mary Nightingale hosted the event, which was listed as one of London’s top carol concerts in 2014. Other special guests and speakers included Polly Walker (Patriot Games), fellow Rainbow Trust Patron, Annabel Croft (former British number one tennis player), actor Colin Salmon (Prime Suspect and James Bond) and Rupert Young (BBC’s Merlin).

Guests enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies and heard a range of wonderful festive readings, including one read by a young sister from one of the families supported by Rainbow Trust. Farleigh School Chapel Choir sang arrangements of classical Christmas songs and led the congregational singing of traditional Christmas Carols. Trailblazers, an award winning barbershop quartet from Bristol and London performed festive songs.

Rainbow Trust has nine care teams of Family Support Workers across England, including two in London, helping over 2,000 families at home, in hospital and in the community, making life a little easier.

Emma Haines, Rainbow Trust’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising, says:

“Rainbow Trust’s annual carol concert is one of our most admired and popular events and this year was no exception. It was wonderful to see the Farleigh School Chapel Choir and Trailblazers perform and hear readings from our patrons and supporters. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone for supporting this event. Christmas can often be one of the hardest times of the year for the families we support. Everybody got into the festive spirit at the concert while fundraising for a fantastic cause, meaning our Family Support Workers can help those families have the best Christmas possible.”