On Saturday 9 December the Bentall Centre rang out to the sound of much- loved Christmas Carols. 

A partnership between Kingston's premier retail venue and top local choir, Kingston Choral Society (KCS), to raise funds for the Shooting Star Children's Hospices is now a twenty -year tradition.

Despite the hardship so many families are facing in the current cost of living crisis, Caroline Flynn, the KCS event organiser, was delighted that the singers raised more than £550. This is over £200 above the previous year's total and a record.

"We want to thank the amazingly generous people of Kingston for this fantastic response," she said. "Our members love to sing, but it is extra special to do so for such an appreciative audience, and to have raised so much for a good cause."

Later on Saturday, KCS members also sang at John Lewis as part of its Festive Family Weekend.

KCS Chair Debbie Lye said: "It is important to us as a local charity that, as well as giving four concerts in the Royal Borough each year, we reach out to the lives of the wider community. A big thank you to John Lewis and the Bentall Centre for enabling us to do that."

Saturday afternoon was doubly special for KCS as long-standing member and former KCS Chair, Wendy Faulkner, was back leading the singing and playing the keyboard, after an illness that had kept her away from the music she loves.

If you'd like to see KCS perform, you can catch their carol concert at 7.30pm Saturday 16 December, at St Andrew's Church, Maple Road, Surbiton.

Tickets are available at £15 (children go free and £10 concessionary tickets are available for those in receipt of benefits) from Kingstonchoralsociety.org.uk or on the door.