THE stars came out for a charity Christmas concert to raise thousands of pounds for Oxford Children’s Hospital.

The event, held at Dorchester Abbey, was attended by more than 500 people and is expected to raise about £50,000 for the hospital, which looks after 60,000 young people a year from Oxfordshire and across the country.

As well as carols from the Winchester Cathedral choir on Thursday night, there were also readings from Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, author Joanna Trollope, actor Laurence Fox and jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.

Caroline Compston, co-chairwoman of the Dorchester Concert Committee, said: “We are thrilled with how the evening went. The music was superb, the quality of the readings was excellent and we had a full house that was bursting at the seams.”

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Ms Trollope said: “It’s nothing but a pleasure and an honour to be associated with a hospital like this one, and I wish every county could have a children’s hospital of its calibre.”

Oxford Mail:

  •  Joanna Trollope

The event, organised by the committee, is now in its fifth year. Concerts are held every other year and since the first one in 2006 have now raised about £250,000 in total.

Money raised from this year’s concert will be used to buy equipment allowing the surgical team to minimise invasive surgery for babies and small children.

Mr Waley-Cohen, who has a connection with the hospital following the death of his brother Tom from cancer in 2004, said: “Seeing my brother being treated made the need for a specialist children’s hospital very evident.

"I am delighted to be able to continue supporting the Oxford Children’s Hospital and its world-class services at this very special Christmas event.”

Tom’s Ward at the hospital is named after Mr Waley-Cohen’s brother, who died aged 20.

Oxford Mail:

  • Laurence Fox

Children’s hospital fundraiser Penny Hambridge, said: “The committee has worked so hard to make this event the perfect start to the Christmas season, and we extend our wholehearted thanks to Dorchester Abbey.

“This event really does make a huge difference to our young patients and allows the charity to buy very special medical equipment.”


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