St. Christopher’s Church in Haslemere was packed on Thursday, 5 December, for The Hunter Centre’s annual Christmas Celebration, an event supporting their crucial work with those living with dementia, which raised more than £1,000.

The evening began with a moving solo of Once in Royal David’s City by Joanna Chapman, who later joined the St. Bartholomew’s Junior Choir for spirited renditions of songs from Home Alone.

The Hindhead Music Centre Children’s String Orchestra captivated the audience with arrangements of Vivaldi and Mozart, featuring standout solos by Eliska Hartmann on cello and Alec Lindsay on violin. They concluded their performance on a festive note with Jingle Bells.

The Winterbourne Singers, long-time supporters of The Hunter Centre, once again pulled out all the stops with a repertoire ranging from Justitiae Domini to Rockin’ Robin. Congregational carols, led by organist and choirmaster Clive Osgood, were a particular highlight.

A standout moment of the evening was Amanda Townsend’s reading of the poem Two Mothers Remembered. Lines such as: “A stranger dressed in the clothes of my mother” and “She looked the same, at least at arm’s length, but now she was the child, and I was her strength” resonated deeply with the audience.

The evening closed with a blessing from Rev. Chris Bessant, followed by words of thanks from The Hunter Centre’s new Patron, Gregory Stafford MP. Mayor Oliver Leach shared a moving personal story about his grandmother, providing a poignant reminder of the profound impact dementia has on families.