It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Walsall Manor Hospital after a hat-trick of young sporting heroes teamed up to switch on its tree lights this afternoon!

Local Team GB sporting heroes swimmer Tully Kearney (Paralympic silver and gold medallist) and boxer Ben Whittaker (Olympic silver medallist) joined Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s interim Chief Executive Professor David Loughton CBE to do the honours.

And the Sister Dora Staff Choir led a Christmas sing-a-long with Chaplaincy providing a Christmas blessing and mince pies served outside the Fundraising Hub in the main atrium. Ben Malpass, winner of this year’s Trust’s Got Talent also entertained with a special seasonal song.

Professor Loughton said: “After another challenging 12 months for our communities it is my absolute pleasure to be able to welcome such inspirational sporting heroes to Walsall’s Christmas lights switch on.

“We feel so honoured to have such a line-up of great talent here – all of whom have not only made us proud of their sporting achievements but also their willingness to spread some cheer to others today.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of our staff, our patients, and their families a happy Christmas and a healthy new year while sending my thoughts to those who will find this Christmas a difficult time.”

Ben and Tully thanked staff for supporting their efforts in this summer’s sporting events and all wished staff a Merry Christmas before posing for photos.

The lights switch on, organised by the Fundraising Team, was not a public event but organised for staff and patients who happened to be attending appointments only to minimise infection risk during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.