SEVENTEEN fabulous stars of TV, stage and screen performed at the 17th Spirit of Christmas carol concert in Chester Cathedral.
The event is held in aid of The Neuromuscular Centre in Cheshire and is put together by the centre’s president, actor and TV presenter Matthew Kelly.
This year the star-studded line-up consisted of:
Alison Steadman (Pam in Gavin and Stacey, Beverly in Abigail’s Party), Adrian Scarborough (Pete in Gavin and Stacey, Charlie in Miranda), Paul McGann (Doctor Who in the TV movie), Sir Derek Jacobi, (Last Tango in Halifax, Cadfael) Jim Broadbent (Iron Lady, Harry Potter films), Michael Elwyn (Iron Lady), Susannah Harker (Pride and Prejudice), Richard Clifford (My Week with Marilyn), Alex Jennings (Spooks), Shaun Dingwall (David Grant in Survivors), Jan Ravens (A Funny Look at Impressions), Lesley Manville (The Queen), Nicholas Farrell (Iron Lady), Stella Gonet (Eliot in House of Beatrice), Roger Phillips (BBC Radio Merseyside presenter) and soloist Claire Harbourne.
It was an evening of songs, readings, and Champagne to follow.
The audience enjoyed a performances from the celebrities, the Robert’s Bakery Brass Band, the winning children’s choir, The Grange Junior School in Hartford, and an additional choir this year, the Que
The concert raised a staggering £32,000, the highest fundraising total for the Spirit of Christmas to date.
The Neuromuscular Centre in Cheshire provides services and employment for people with muscular dystrophy across the North West and beyond.
Muscular dystrophy is a debilitating muscle wasting disease, for which there is no known cure. Each year, the centre needs £800,000 to keep its vital services running.
For details of the centre’s next event, Gorgeous Grub at the Grosvenor with guest celebrity chef Emma Kennedy (winner of Celebrity MasterChef 2012), contact the NMC on 01606 861733.
