School choirs bring festive cheer

Singers and musicians brought a touch of Christmas magic to East Kent Hospitals this month.

Pupils from Repton Manor school sang and played ukulele for patients, staff and visitors at the William Harvey Hospital, while Ashford Pastors’ Choir also performed around the hospital.

Another choir visited the hospital’s critical care unit, to bring some festive cheer to some of the sickest patients and their loved ones.

Students from St Nicholas School in Canterbury, and from Simon Langton Grammar School for Girls, performed at Kent and Canterbury Hospital to help spread some Christmas cheer.

The St Nicholas School pupils, who all have learning disabilities, worked with music teacher Simon Lee on a repertoire of Christmas songs and then performed them around the hospital.

They started at the outpatients’ department and then sang through the corridors before visiting Kingston and Harbledown ward. Their visit finished with a performance at the 1937 entrance.

SLGS’s chamber choir also performed around the hospital, leaving a trail of smiles in their wake.

And choirs from St. Gregory’s Catholic Primary School in Margate and Ursuline College in Westgate visited the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital.

Fifteen year six pupils from St Gregory’s delighted patients and staff with a rousing ninety-minute-long performance.

The children, who had been practicing regularly for over a month, sang to patients in the hospital’s restaurant, at both the Ramsgate Road and St Peter’s Road receptions, in the outpatient’s department, on the maternity ward, and on the Quex, St Margaret’s, Deal and Sandwich Bay wards.

St Gregory’s music lead Mr. Gilbert lead the children in renditions of Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, among other carols and Christmas songs.

Students from Ursuline College then visited the site for an hour-long performance at the Ramsgate Road reception that included singing and the playing of musical instruments.

The visits were organised by head of volunteering and public services Mandy Carliell.

She said: “These visits are a real highlight for me and it was wonderful to see the impact the performers had on all those who heard them.

“I think they enjoyed it almost as much as their audiences, and it was lovely to see patients, staff and visitors joining in with them.

“We’re very grateful to everyone who gave up their time and who worked so hard to prepare for their visits, which brought a real touch of Christmas magic to the hospital.”