CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE IN AID OF SSAFA
Filmed in The Wren Chapel, at The Royal Hospital Chelsea with the kind permission of the Governor and Quartermaster
Wednesday 2 December 2020 to Wednesday 16 December 2020
The Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous and continued support:
The Zochonis
Charitable Trust
The Mr & Mrs
Duke of Wellington A N Cova Charitable Trust
The Honourable Company of Air Pilots
The Worshipful Company The Worshipful Company of Pewterers of Barbers
Organising Committee
Co-Chairs Margaret Campbell, Elaine Hillier
Serena Browne, Catherine Carleton-Smith, Louise Carter, Caroline Gaukroger, Clare Ghika, Babs Richards, Teresa Scibor-Kaminski, Caroline Searby, Elizabeth Stilwell, Kate Wigston
Patrons The Lady Guthrie OBE, The Lady Walker
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Please visit our silent auction at
www.jumblebee.co.uk/SSAFAcarolserviceauction2020
where you will find an amazing selection of lots very kindly donated by:
The Chief of the Defence Staff SSAFA Annabel Fairfax
The First Sea Lord The Royal Mews and Tom Stoddart The Goring Hotel Portsmouth Services Fly Teresa Scibor Fishing Association and the The West London Chief of the General Staff Shooting School Henry and Babs Richards
The Household Division The Times Arabella Dorman
RMP Headquarters Sewell Mullings Logie Hamish Munro
The King’s Troop Smith & Williamson Marika Rauscher Royal Horse Artillery PwC David Wood The Royal Air Force Regiment Northrop Grumman Lucinda Miller The Red Arrows MBDA UK James Hart Dyke The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Marshall of Cambridge Annabelle Dawson
The Royal Air Force Pooley Sword Ltd Tony and Trude Trimble Robson Academy of Resilience Adam Architecture Spencer Stuart
The Cavalry and Guards Club Fenella Woolgar Marcus Barnett
Royal Air Force Linda Bassett Liz Butterworth Charitable Trust Enterprises The Symington Family
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Before the Service Welcome Address Pam Rhodes
The Truth from Above English Trad., arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Once in Royal David’s City
1 (Solo) 3 (All) Once in royal David’s city And through all His wondrous childhood Stood a lowly cattle shed, He would honour and obey, Where a mother laid her baby Love and watch the lowly maiden, In a manger for his bed: In whose gentle arms He lay: Mary was that mother mild, Christian children all must be Jesus Christ her little child. Mild, obedient, good as he.
2 (Choir) 4 (All) He came down to earth from heaven Not in that poor lowly stable, Who is God and Lord of all, With the oxen standing by, And his shelter was a stable, We shall see him; but in heaven, And his cradle was a stall; Set at God’s right hand on high; With the poor and mean and lowly Where like stars his children crowned Lived on earth our Saviour Holy. All in white shall wait around.
Bidding Prayer The Reverend Steven Brookes
Joys Seven English Trad., arr. Stephen Cleobury The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
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First Lesson Luke 1. 26-35,38 The Annunciation to Mary General Sir Nick Carter GCB CBE DSO ADC Gen Chief of the Defence Staff
O Little Town of Bethlehem
1 (All) 2 (All) O little town of Bethlehem, O morning stars, together How still we see thee lie! Proclaim the holy birth, Above thy deep and dreamless sleep And praises sing to God the King, The silent stars go by. And peace to men on earth; Yet in thy dark streets shineth For Christ is born of Mary; The everlasting light; And, gathered all above, The hopes and fears of all the years While mortals sleep, the angels keep Are met in thee tonight. Their watch of wond'ring love.
3 (All) O holy child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.
Second Lesson The Birth of Jesus Luke 2. 1,3-7 Alice Young SSAFA Senior Special Events Officer
What Sweeter Music Music – John Rutter, Text – Robert Herrick The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
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Third Lesson The Shepherds go to the Manger Luke 2. 8-16 In Pensioner Marjorie Cole
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
1 (All) 2 (All) God rest you merry, gentlemen, From God our heavenly Father Let nothing you dismay, A blessèd angel came, For Jesus Christ our Saviour And unto certain shepherds Was born on Christmas Day, Brought tidings of the same, To save us all from Satan's power How that in Bethlehem was born When we were gone astray: The Son of God by name:
O tidings of comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. O tidings of comfort and joy.
3 (All) Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.
In Dulci Jubilo Old German carol, arr. Robert Pearsall The Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Fourth Lesson John 1. 1-14 St John Reveals the Mystery of the Incarnation Lt Gen Sir Gary Coward KBE CB SSAFA National Chairman
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Hark the Herald Angels Sing
1 (All) 2 (All) Hark! the herald angels sing Christ, by highest heaven adored, Glory to the new born King; Christ, the everlasting Lord, Peace on earth and mercy mild, Late in time behold him come God and sinners reconciled: Offspring of a Virgin’s womb: Joyful all ye nations rise, Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Join the triumph of the skies, Hail th' incarnate Deity! With th' angelic host proclaim, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Jesus, our Emmanuel: Hark the herald angels sing Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King. Glory to the new-born King.
3 (All) Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings; Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King.
Blessing and Dismissal The Reverend Steven Brookes
Following the Service A Message From Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL Controller SSAFA
Date for your diary Next year’s event will be on Wednesday 1 December 2021 when we hope to be back at the Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is the home of the iconic Chelsea Pensioners, who are all retired soldiers of the British Army. Founded in 1682 by King Charles II for "the relief and succour" of veterans, it admitted its first Chelsea Pensioners in 1692, among whom were some of those injured at the Battle of Sedgemoor. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the Royal Hospital is one of the most visually stunning landmarks in London, sitting beside the River Thames opposite Battersea Park. Its chapel is a fine example of Wren's work: rising 42 feet (13 metres) high, it was completed in 1687, was consecrated in August 1691 and contains a memorable painting of the Resurrection in the half dome of the apse, painted by Sebastiano Ricci and his nephew Marco.
Pam Rhodes
Pam Rhodes is used to the military life. Her father was in the Royal Navy, which meant the typical childhood of moving from base to base, both in this country and abroad. Her Uncle was a Military Knight of the Order of the Garter, and generations of other family members chose military service, some of them making the ultimate sacrifice in action. She went on to become a familiar face across BAOR as one of the first presenters on BFBS Television for troops and their families in Germany, and for more than thirty years, she’s become known around the world as the presenter of the popular BBC Television series Songs Of Praise. She is also the host of the Battle Proms summer concerts, whose chosen charity is SSAFA – and she is proud to support SSAFA now in any way she can.
Chapel Choir
The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea is one of the finest professional church choirs in the UK; its members regularly sing with many of the world's leading consort groups, such as The Sixteen, Tallis Scholars, Stile Antico and Monteverdi Choir. The Choir sings Choral Matins in the Wren Chapel at the Royal Hospital Chelsea every Sunday at 11am (a service which is normally open to the general public), and provides the music at carol services, weddings and other events at RH. The choir’s recent recordings include: Carols from Chelsea and In Remembrance on SOMM Recordings and Earth and Sky and A Vaughan Williams Christmas on Albion Records. On 31st March 2021, the choir will perform Bach’s B Minor Mass at Cadogan Hall with the Academy of Ancient Music.
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William Vann
William Vann is the Organist and Director of Music at the Royal Hospital, the fifteenth holder of the post since 1692. His musical education began while a Chorister of King’s College, Cambridge and continued as a Music and Organ Scholar at Bedford School; he subsequently read Law and held a Choral Scholarship at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and studied as a pianist at the Royal Academy of Music with Malcolm Martineau and Colin Stone. He has performanced as a conductor, pianist, harpsichordist and organist with a host of renowned singers, instrumentalists and orchestras across the world. His discography includes recordings with Albion, Champs Hill, Delphian, Navona and SOMM and in March 2020 his world premiere recording of Parry’s 1888 oratorio Judith was released on Chandos Records. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists; in 2018 he received the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
Joshua Ryan
Joshua Ryan is a postgraduate organ student at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studies on a scholarship with Professor David Titterington. He is currently Organ Scholar of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where he regularly accompanies the professional choir. He has previously held positions as Assistant Director of Music at St Michael’s, Croydon, and as Assistant Organist at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. Prior to moving to London Joshua studied at The University of Sydney, where he obtained a Bachelor of Music (Honours First Class) degree and was awarded the University Medal.
The Reverend Steven Brookes
The Reverend Steven Brookes has been ordained for over thirty years. He has served as a Chaplain in the Royal Navy ashore and afloat. In parish life he has served in the north and in the south of England and came to the Royal Hospital after ten years as Rector of Liverpool. In addition, he has served as locum Chaplain in Nice and also in Rome. In 2019 he was appointed a Deputy Priest in Ordinary to Her Majesty The Queen and received his Royal Warrant in the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.
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General Sir Nick Carter GCB CBE DSO ADC Gen
General Sir Nick Carter is the Chief of the Defence Staff, head of the Armed Forces and the strategic military advisor to the Prime Minister. An infantryman by background, he has extensive experience of different types of conflicts – the latter stages of the Cold War, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, peacekeeping with the UN in Cyprus, and peace enforcement with NATO in Bosnia and Kosovo. He has led over 50,000 multinational troops under General David Petraeus in southern Afghanistan at the height of the campaign, whilst building the capacity of the Afghan security forces. He later returned as the deputy commander of the NATO mission. Sir Nick was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 2010 for Afghanistan, he was knighted in 2013 and was recently further honoured by being made a Knight Grand Cross in 2019.
Alice Young
Alice Young is the Senior Special Events Officer at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. Alice manages the special events portfolio that includes high value fundraising events such as the annual Defence Industry Charitable Dinner and the Corporate Friends membership scheme. She also manages a number of SSAFA’s key corporate relationships. After graduating with a degree in French and Spanish from Cardiff University, Alice moved to Mexico City through the British Council where she taught English at a secondary school for one year. After returning to the UK, Alice started her career at a luxury travel brand before moving into the third sector and joining SSAFA three years ago. As part of an RAF family, Alice has been an enthusiastic fundraiser for SSAFA from a young age, which has ranged from selling raffle tickets on RAF bases to running the Swansea Half Marathon in 2015. It was the logical step for her to turn her passion into a profession.
Chelsea Pensioners
The Chelsea Pensioners are the iconic faces of the UK’s veteran community. At the Royal Hospital Chelsea they are offered excellent accommodation, comradeship and the highest standards of care in recognition of their loyal service to the Nation. Any former soldier of the British Army over the age of 65, who is facing spending their advanced years alone, can apply for residence as a Chelsea-Pensioner. Some 300 army veterans live at the Royal Hospital today, including those who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and World War II. Others may not have served in campaigns, but all understand what it means to be a soldier and the potential sacrifice that it entails. Page 10 of 11
Lt Gen Sir Gary Coward KBE CB
Sir Gary was initially commissioned into the Royal Artillery, serving in Germany and Northern Ireland. He trained as a pilot in 1978 serving in Germany, Hong Kong, Brunei and the UK, transferring to the Army Air Corps in 1983. As a Staff Officer, he has held posts on the British Army Staff in Washington, the Directorate of Army Aviation, the UN Protection Force in Sarajevo and the Chiefs of Staff Secretariat in the MOD. He commanded C Flight AAC in Brunei, 656 Squadron AAC in the UK and 1 Regiment AAC in Germany and the Balkans. More recently Sir Gary served in the MOD as a Director of Equipment Capability responsible for amphibious shipping and helicopters, served twice in the Joint Helicopter Command as both Deputy Commander and Commander and enjoyed a short tour as the Chief of Staff (Joint Warfare Development) at the Permanent Joint Headquarters. In his final tour he was both Chief of Materiel (Land) and Quartermaster General. Sir Gary retired from the Army in October 2012.
Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL
After reading engineering and enjoying a brief career in industry, Sir Andrew joined the Army in 1981. His service over the last three decades has included a mix of appointments in command of officers and soldiers in deployable regiments and headquarters as well as in staff roles leading mixed teams of military personnel, civil servants and contractors. He deployed on operations to Northern Ireland, the Balkans and as Deputy Commander of 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the months immediately following it. Sir Andrew’s recent roles have been in change management and people policy and delivery; between 2013 and April 2016 he was Chief of Defence People, the Ministry of Defence’s de facto Human Resource director. In September 2016 Sir Andrew became Chief Executive of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, an organisation that relieves need, suffering and distress amongst serving military personnel, veterans and their families.
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