Headmistress, Mrs Richards, welcomed a packed audience to Bolton School Girls' Division's Great Hall and proceedings got underway with the Chamber Choir’s rendition of "Jesus Child”; they were then joined by the entire hall in singing “The First Nowell”.

Throughout the night a delighted audience was enthralled by a beautiful blend of voices and a range of musical styles and pieces offered by the Middle School Choir, the Senior School Choir and the Chamber Choir.  Of particular note, was “The Holly and the Ivy”, a piece which echoed joyously around the hall and involved all the choirs and, ultimately, the whole audience too.

The evening was punctuated by several readings and prayers read by pupils and staff.  A tribute was made to the two Bolton School Sixth Form boys who tragically lost their lives last week in a car accident; Mr Davies, History teacher, read Tennyson’s  “In Memoriam”.

Audience participation was very much encouraged and there were stirring renditions of  “In The Bleak Mid-Winter”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”.  Mrs Richards read a Reflection and the evening culminated with the Chamber Choir’s wonderful offerings of “Stille Nacht” and “Hodie”.

All monies raised on the evening went to Cancer Research UK, The Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity and the Trinity Hospice - the three charities nominated by Rachel Flanders, who is currently rowing the Atlantic.  Rachel, who is taking a year out after her GCSEs, is part of a four women team that has been nicknamed the Atlantic Angels and are currently rowing 30 miles a day: Rachel will become the youngest person to row the Atlantic should she succeed in her endeavour.  You can read more here.

After the event, everyone retired to the Dining Room for festive refreshments.