CANCER survivors have represented a community choir at a royal garden party.

Rising Voices Wessex, a choir for people whose lives have been affected by cancer, was invited to send a representative to a Buckingham Palace Garden party celebrating the creative industries.

Noeline Young, an original trustee and co-founder of the charity, and shortly to be elected chair of trustees, attended the garden party on May 15 with her daughter Hannah.

Both Noeline and Hannah have had cancer.

Noeline said: “The whole choir was extremely surprised and honoured to be invited to attend the garden party.

"We were nominated by UK Music, the umbrella organisation representing the production side of the UK’s commercial music industry.

“We recently made contact with UK Music and are planning to do some exciting work with them to raise the profile of singing for people affected by cancer in the future.”

She added: “We saw the King, Queen and Prince Edward and a variety of guests from the creative industries including television, such as the presenters Tess Daly and Vernon Kay, the comedian Lenny Henry, and the actor David Harewood.

“It was a wonderful experience, and I took lots of pictures of guests, the tea and the wonderful gardens, which have been shared to our members and supporters via Facebook.”

Rising Voices Wessex performs regularly at events across the county.

Anyone who has experience of cancer, either personally or who has supported a loved one, can join the choir which rehearses on Tuesday evenings in Parkstone.

For more information visit www.risingvoices.org.uk