Strawberry Field celebrates Christmas at M&S Bank Arena

Major Allister Versfeld invites you to a new carol concert taking place in Liverpool.

Many would say that Christmas begins when they hear a Salvation Army brass band playing carols. This year, I am pleased to be involved with the first concert of its kind for Liverpool: a festive celebration of carols and music hosted by Strawberry Field.

Celebrating Christmas with Strawberry Field will take place on 27 November, the first Sunday in Advent, at the Auditorium at the M&S Bank Arena. 

The concert will feature music and carols from Liverpool Walton Band, Sale Songsters, singer Asa Murphy and Liverpool Signing Choir. It will also include readings that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and will be compéred by BBC Radio Merseyside’s Paul Beesley.

This event is particularly special to me as I will be part of a brass band that has supported Strawberry Field for years.

Located on the site that was immortalised in the Beatles’ song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, the former children’s home is now home to a visitor exhibition, café, shop and gardens, as well as the Steps at Strawberry Field programmes. The training schemes empower people who have learning difficulties or other barriers to employment, providing employment skills, work experience and opportunities to volunteer.

For almost 70 years, Strawberry Field’s grounds were filled with the sounds of laughter and music from the young people who lived here, and the Salvation Army bands who often performed in the gardens. A young John Lennon used to play in the grounds and enjoy the music from those bands.

We are excited to be hosting the event at the M&S Bank Arena, which will give more people the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with everyone here from Strawberry Field and the wider community. I hope this carol concert is the first of many more to come.

• To purchase tickets for the show, visit the M&S Bank Arena website or call 0344 800 0410. Carers go free to the carol concert, with discounts available for groups of 20+.
• All proceeds from the concert will help keep the famous red gates open for good.
• For more information about Strawberry Field, visit the website, and on social media Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.