Charity Carol Concert, St. George’s Parish, Beckenham

The South London Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Major George Whittingham), the St. George’s Parish Church Choir (Director Nigel Groome) and special guests General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson joined together to present a concert in aid of Cancer Research UK at St. George’s Parish Church, Beckenham, on 15 December 2007.

The Fellowship Band commenced the evening with The Carollers. The band also performed Christmas in Europe and Christmas Joy. They were also called upon to accompany several carols sung by the audience, including O Come All Ye Faithful, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

The St. George’s Choir was featured three times on the program, presenting The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came, Sans Day Carol and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day.

The Larssons provided links between the concert items with their own choice of seasonal readings. Pauline Bennett, Community Fundraiser for Cancer Research UK, made an appeal on behalf of this very worthy charity. The collection which followed raised a total of £961.

The evening ended with Eric Ball’s classic selection The Kingdom Triumphant, which features the medieval chant “O Come, O Come, Immanuel” in the middle section. Augmenting the Fellowship Band for this performance was the Rector of St. George’s Parish Church, the Reverend Malcolm Hancock, on French horn.