Carols by Candlelight event raises £19,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research

A ‘Carols by Candlelight’ event hosted at Swinton Park has raised £19,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

The charity’s Ripon Volunteer Group was invited to host the estate’s annual carol service for the second year, during which guests were treated to stunning performances of Christmas carols, lit by candlelight. 

Dr Christopher Bennett, president of the Ripon Volunteer Group, said: “Guests filed into the stately home’s library, whilst the solo soprano opened the singing with ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.”

The carols were sung by the ‘Yorkshire Decibelles’, a female vocal group who perform across North Yorkshire, and ‘Yorkshire Voices’, a chamber choir of local professional singers. 

Both groups are led by Ruth Sladden, who is the first female Lay Clerk at Ripon Cathedral. Ruth’s daughter Evie Sladden performed the soprano solo. After the carols and readings in the library, the choir continued to sing as guests moved from the library to the restaurant for their meal.

Christopher said: “The procession from library to the ‘Samuels Restaurant’ was made quite ethereal by the hundreds of candle lanterns and night lights illuminating our progression along the long passageway to dinner. The choir continued to serenade us until we were all seated.”

During the evening, the volunteers held a silent auction and Professor Sue Burchill, Professor of Paediatric Oncology at Leeds Teachings Hospitals NHS Trust gave a speech to guests about cancer research happening in Yorkshire.

Christopher continued: “The biggest thank you of all is due to Felicity and Mark Cunliffe-Lister, the Earl and Countess of Swinton, in making the hotel facilities and staff available to us.”