Guests enjoy a special night of music and celebration for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Posted 24th December 2018

The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity celebrated the end of a landmark year with a Christmas celebration of music, art and poetry.

Thronton Manor in Wirral provided the spectacular backdrop for the event that was attended by more than 200 people.

In the year that The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre celebrated its 60th anniversary, the theme for the evening, hosted by Angela Samata, was hope and joy.

Liz Bishop, The new Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, welcomed guests before the entertainment started, with music was provided by The Luminelles and Over The Water choirs, led by Matt Lammin.

The acclaimed mezzo soprano Kathryn Rudge, pictured below, performed a series of songs, including O Holy Night and The Christmas Song.

She also joined the choirs for a spine tingling rendition of Somewhere In My Memory, from the film Home Alone.

Photographer and performing artist Mike McCartney read Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, by Maya Angelou and poet Mandy Coe shared some of her wonderful work embracing the themes of joy, love and laughter.

Professor Dan Palmer, Medical Oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, addressed the audience about the importance of research in the future of cancer treatment, while patient Becky Brothwood spoke to the guests about her treatment.

Becky, pictured below with event host Angela Samata and Mandy Coe, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015. She is now in the third year of a degree at Bangor University.

Becky said: “From the moment of my arrival at The “Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, my family and I were met with comfort, warmth and reassurance.

“It is a spectacular place that manages to incorporate professionalism with compassion in all the care they give.

“I was so lucky to have such a thorough and comfortable place to have my treatment.”

Following the concert there was an exhibition of artworks and photography by Mike McCartney, acclaimed sculptor Emma Rodgers, works from De Lacy Fine Art, Wirral Grammar School for Girls and Prof Arthur Sun Myint, who is a medical oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Katrina Bury, Head of The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said: “The evening was a fitting end to what has been a wonderful year of celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

“I would like to thank all the performers and speakers who contributed to a very special evening, as well as our hosts at Thornton Manor which was the perfect venue.

“The words of the speakers were inspiring and the poetry, art and music was simply fantastic. I would also like to thank everyone who joined us for the event, I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and we wish you all a very happy Christmas.”