It was a privilege to resume the traditional Christmas celebration of carol singing and mince pies at Stratton Hospital this year as restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were being eased.

The nine lessons and carols service held in the Patient’s Lounge at Stratton Hospital was well attended and enjoyed by patients and relatives, nurses and other staff, trustees of the League of Friends, and other supporters of the hospital.

Deacon Debbie Marsh led the service, Allan Mill (president of The League of Friends) read the lessons, the carols were sung with gusto and accompanied on the keyboard by Roy MacKenzie.

During the service the Deacon thanked the nurses and supporting staff for their selfless, devoted care of patients at a really tough time for the hard pressed NHS. At the end of the service the ward manager R/N Jaquie Marshall thanked the nurses and supporting staff, the Deacon, the accompanist and all the carol singers, and then we all enjoyed the non-alcoholic mulled punch, coffee and delicious mince pies.