Bolton Wanders players & Loose Women panellist join thousands to sing

Bolton Wanderers players joined in the singing (Image: Newsquest)

With more than 10,000 in attendance, the stadium was filled with song as school children, supporters and Bolton Wanderers players joined the impressive show of community spirit.  

Although ‘The Big Bolton Carol Concert’ didn’t break the world record for the largest group of carol singers, special guests like Brenda Edwards, a singer and Loose Women panellist, ensured crowds were not short of joy.  

Essa School with Lofty the Lion (Image: Newsquest)

Siobhán Chaplow, the Chief Communications Officer at Bolton Wanderers, said: “We had this idea to do something big and exciting that would get the whole community here at this amazing time of year. 

Paul Hodgin, Joyce Welsby-Hodgin, Kelly Murray (Image: Newsquest)

“We have had an incredible response to it and have been overwhelmed by the numbers.  

“To get the world record would have been great but this was very much about bringing people together at this time of year.”  

Lofty conducts school singers at the concert (Image: Newsquest)

Amongst the crowds, Robert Stevenson and Kayden Lee Stevenson said they love coming to the club and couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to help raise some money and show support.  

Robert Stevenson and Kayden Lee Stevenson (Image: Newsquest)

Robert said: “We're delighted to be here at such a prestigious event, and we hope that everybody can help raise a lot of money for some really significant causes.  

Bolton players joined in with the carols (Image: Newsquest)

“It's amazing having so many come together from the community to do this, and for the club to put it on; they're absolute legends.” 

The Horton Family get ready to sing in Bolton University Stadium (Image: Newsquest)

Also in the stands were the Horton Family, who told the Bolton Evening News that they would be singing very singing loudly and couldn’t wait to share the festive spirit with everyone.  

Mum, Susan Wright was with her two children Olivia Wright and Oscar Wright (Image: Newsquest)

Mum, Susan Wright was with her two children Olivia Wright and Oscar Wright who said: “I’m really excited because I love Bolton Wanderers, so I wanted to come along to the Carol service.” 

Brenda Edwards, Loose Women panellist (Image: Newsquest)

Bucket collections were taken around the stadium to raise money for six charities, including the Jamal Edwards Self Belief trust, set up by Brenda Edwards.  

The Loose Women panellist set up the charity after her son's sudden death earlier this year and thanked organisers of the event after singing two incredible solos.   

Singers at the Bolton University Stadium (Image: Newsquest)

The other five charities included Bolton Wanderers in the Community, Urban Outreach Bolton, Backup North West, Age UK Bolton and 1point Northwest.