Staff and residents at the North London Hospice celebrate a very special Christmas gift as members of the Proms at St Jude’s committee hand over a £15,000 cheque.

Hospice chief executive Pam McClinton, on the left holding the cheque, was delighted to receive the bumper donation raised by Proms 2015.

Proms committee members, along with representatives of the hospice’s Suburb-based NW Support Group, later enjoyed tea and cakes – complete with resident pianist – in the centre's newly redesigned and welcoming open-plan living room.

NW Support Group chairwoman Ros Berg on the right is holding the cheque next to the Proms’ Niamh O’Donnell-Keenan.

The next big Proms charity handover will be on Friday January 22 when a £45,000 cheque will be presented to the festival’s other charity cause, Toynbee Hall in East London.

Organisers are already hard at work on next year’s programme which runs from June 25 to July 3.

Highlights will include Nevill Holt Opera performing Donizetti's charming Elixir of Love, a Russian evening with the London International Orchestra (including Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano Concerto) and a concert of American music featuring Copland and Gershwin.

Top jazz, choral works and piano recitals are also lined up. And the popular Last Night of the Proms will include Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.

Proms fans can enjoy priority booking as well a supporting this great community event by becoming a Friend. Full details at promsatstjudes.org.uk