The event is expected to have raised more than £1,150 for the charity

With the generous assistance of the Hogs Back Brewery at Tongham, near Farnham, Surrey, which agreed to host the event on 14th December 2025 was a sell-out. Almost 150 people attended to listen a young singers, the Godalming Band, and to join in Christmas favourites.

There was a great atmosphere, a bar to lubricate the vocal chords, and the audience was a convivial mix of oesophageal cancer patients, their families and friends, Royal Surrey Hospital Medical staff, Hogs Back brewery supporters and charity trustees.

The audience was in good voice but a special mention should go to our three young female singers, a trio from Guildford High School, Sofia, Emilia and Maeve, and to the young children who joined medical trustees Nima Abbassi-Ghadi and Madeliene Hewish to sing several carols and to be greeted with loud applause. They included Freya and Megan, children of medical trustee Fiona Huddy, and Madeleine’s daughter Lucy.

Special thanks go to our former patient trustee Dave Paterson (pictured opening the event) who used his close professional ties with the brewery to arrange our event, which was held on the afternoon of Sunday December 14th. 

Unfortunately Dave has had to stand down due to health reasons and his place is to be taken by Paul Davison, who was one of the outstanding candidates when we held trustee interviews last year. Paul, who received treatment for stage 3 oesophageal cancer at the RSCH in 2022, is expected to be confirmed in his role at the next trustees meeting, after which he will be registered with the Charity Commission and his details will appear on this website.