Cadogan Hall, London | Monday 20 October 2025 | 7pm

A spectacular gala concert at Cadogan Hall this autumn will celebrate 90 years of Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea — the award-winning charity whose volunteers give over 20,000 hours annually to support the hospital’s pioneering cancer care.

1) A Celebration of 90 Years of Friendship and Service

Founded in 1935 by a group of women supporting the world’s first hospital dedicated to cancer treatment, the Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea have evolved into an award-winning volunteer organisation. With 170 volunteers contributing around 20,000 hours each year, the Friends raise over £250,000 annually to fund vital hospital equipment and services. In 2019, they received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour for volunteer groups in the UK.

2) A Musical and Reflective Evening

Hosted by internationally acclaimed pianist, singer and Steinway & Sons Ambassador Dominic Ferris, the concert will take the audience on a journey through music and reflection. The line-up includes performances by BLAKE, West End soprano Georgi Mottram, ITV Britain’s Got Talent winner Colin Thackery MBE, soloists from Libera Choir, The Chelsea Pensioner Singers, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra guest leader Stephen Morris, and Glyndebourne’s Jack Redman. Expect music from The Great American Songbook, West Side Story, and classics such as You Raise Me Up, I Dreamed A Dream, and What A Wonderful World.

3) Distinguished Guests and Readers

Guest readers will share stories highlighting the charity’s evolution and the volunteers’ life-changing impact. Among them are Lord Jeffrey Archer, Dr Sian Williams, John Butler (Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon), and Sophia Money-Coutts (author and journalist). Recorded readings will also be presented by Annabel Croft and Charlotte Ritchie.

4) Words from the Friends

Wendy de Capell Brooke, President of the Friends, said: “This gala concert reflects nine decades of support for The Royal Marsden through music and narrative. We are so grateful to Dominic Ferris and Sophia Money-Coutts for bringing to life the vision of long-standing volunteers Emily Eban, Sarah Phipps and June Torrance.”

Vice Chair Sarah Phipps added: “The Marsden saved my life in 2015. Like many volunteers, I wanted to give back and enhance the patient experience — raising awareness of the work we do, which in turn enables us to fund essential hospital equipment.”

5) Booking and Event Information

Show: 90th Anniversary Gala Concert — Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea
Venue: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ
Date: Monday 20 October 2025
Time: 7pm (Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes, including 20-minute interval)
Tickets: £55 — includes a special edition concert programme.
Box Office: Call 020 7730 4500 (Mon–Fri, 12pm–6pm) or visit Cadogan Hall.
Access information: Click here.