The Croydon Philharmonic Choir is performing a special Christmas concert in Park Hill on Monday night, when they will be with one of their newest “recruits”: Bernadette Khan, the Mayor of Croydon.

The Croydon Philharmonic Choir performed at Boxpark, with a new guest singer…

Cllr Khan and her husband, Qaiyum, were present at a hour-long carol concert given by the choir in Croydon Town Centre last Sunday

Croydon’s Mayor is a keen follower of choral singing. She said afterwards that the choir’s singing was “wonderful”.

The choir’s one-hour set at Boxpark featured a dozen popular carols and Christmas songs, ending with an enthusiastic crowd joining the Mayor in singing the half-dozen audience numbers.

The choir staged the event in support of the South East Cancer Help Centre, a Purley-based charity which provides support for local cancer patients and their families.

Bernadette Khan (second left) and husband Qaiyum, together with music director David Gibson and chair Jill Aebi

A collection at the concert raised more than £100 for the centre, whose fundraiser Wendy Ager thanked the choir and audience for their generosity.

The Mayor of Croydon said she particularly enjoyed “All Come All Ye Faithful”, and she will be a guest at the choir’s Christmas Cheer concert at St Matthew’s, East Croydon, on Monday December 17. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

Tickets are still available – for details, click here.

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