Tales of King John and a Biggles-like derring-do together with the Hallelujah Chorus illuminated Romsey Abbey last Friday at a special Christmas concert which raised more than £50,000 for a charity combating blindness.

The Gift of Sight Annual Christmas Concert was held in Romsey for the first time in its five year history and the venue proved a big hit.

Downton Abbey creator and writer Lord Fellowes, accompanied by Lady Fellowes, delighted the packed Abbey with an amusing reading of AA Milne’s poem, King John’s Christmas.

Former England cricket captain David Gower, who lives at Braishfield, shared some stories of Christmas on tour and away from home. He recalled that during the Ashes of 1990-91 tour he was fined for flying in a Tiger Moth over the Carrara Oval, south of Brisbane, while England were bating. When Gower went out to bat, in a subsequent test innings at Adelaide, the Aussies played Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines over the PA.

An audience of almost 600 was also treated to a feast of music provided by professional singers Aurum Vocale and an ensemble directed by Winchester College Master of Music Nicholas Wilks with David Clegg as artistic adviser.

The organist was Christopher Glynn and first violin was Alison Bury.

Musical pieces by Aurum Vocale included extracts from Handel’s Messiah, Wither’s Rocking Hymn by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Blackwell’s fun arrangement of Jingle Bells; the ensemble also played several movements from Purcell’s Suite from Abdelezar.

The Vicar of Romsey, Rev Canon Tim Sledge, led the proceedings and the audience included the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson and his wife Christine, High Sheriff of Hampshire Major General J M J Balfour CBE DL, Caroline Nokes MP for Romsey and Southampton North, the Mayor of Test Valley Councillor Jan Lovell and the Mayor of Romsey Peter Hurst and his wife Kathy.

Mr Hurst has chosen the Gift of Sight Charity as one of his two charities to support during his term of office.

The evening raised £10,000 and £45,000 in donations which will support world-renowned eye research at University Hospital Southampton. Professor of Ophthalmology Andrew Lotery talked about the pioneering work being undertaken at the Southampton University Hospital to help combat blindness and explained that the money raised will help support critical research projects such as a clinical trial of a new therapy for dry macular degeneration. Professor Lotery thanked the guest speakers and retired ophthalmologist, instigator and concert organiser Dr Philly Sargent and the ladies on her committee.

Canon Sledge and all the Romsey Abbey helpers led by Edna Rowland also received Professor Lotery’s thanks.

The Abbey has already been booked for next year’s concert on Friday, December 11.