On Thursday 1^st February, Katie S (UVI) and Mr Bissex (Singing VSM) had the pleasure of performing for Her Majesty Queen Camilla as part of the Bath Abbey Choir. It was a very special occasion as The Queen was visiting the residents of the St John’s Foundation's almshouses, located nearby, for tea.

Originally founded as a medieval refuge, St John's provides shelter and support for older adults, as well as working with children to make sure they have the best start in life. Her Majesty, as Duchess of Cornwall, became Patron of the charity in 2009. The Queen walked through the city from the almshouses to Bath Abbey, where she was greeted by nearly 900 school children from seven primary schools, which have been supported by St John’s since the launch of its Foundation Fund in 2020.

After the visit, Queen Camilla enjoyed a lovely service at Bath Abbey, in which Mr Bissex and I were members of the choir. The music was special, with a particular highlight being Jubilate Deo by Benjamin Britten. The 'Voices for Life Choir', made up of children from six local schools supported by the Foundation, sang a piece called A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman in the service, which was a lovely addition.

Overall, it was a brilliant opportunity and I feel very lucky to have been selected to take part.  

Katie S, UVI