Christmas lights shine at Midland Met

The lights of two beautiful 20-foot-tall Christmas trees were officially switched-on by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust’s Chief Executive Diane Wake, who was accompanied by a mascot dressed up as Rumi, a character from Netflix’s hit film KPop Demon Hunters.

It was the highlight of a day packed with festivities, which was kicked off in the morning by a series of performances from local school choirs.

The young singers, some as young as six-years-old, performed Christmas carols and songs to the delight of patients, staff and visitors.

Shake, Rattle and Bones (SRB) Choir, whose members are all aged 50 and above, visited elderly patients on wards A9 and B9, singing a combination of Christmas and secular songs.

Fifty-three-year-old choir mistress Mabowunje Harrison said: “Many of my choir members tell me how much coming together and singing lifts their spirits.

“For me, it’s an honour to come to the hospital and sing for patients, some of whom may be spending Christmas in hospital by themselves, and I hope we have lifted their spirits too with our singing.”

Just before the lights were turned on, the Voice of Hope Cancer Choir, formed over 30 years ago by five-time cancer survivor Sandra and her choirmaster husband Chris and made up of a cast of 25 cancer patients and carer, gave a special performance.

The launch of the Trust’s 2026 calendar also took place in the afternoon. Each photo featured in the calendar was taken by members of staff across all sites. Unveiling the calendar, Chief Executive Diane Wake said it was a wonderful example of partnership work and added: “It gave our staff a unique opportunity to capture the world and the beauty around their place of work.”

Once the lights had been switched-on, spectators stayed to enjoy K-Pop Karaoke, and the evening was finished off in spectacular style by the Black Voices choir from Birmingham.