School coach trips were always marked by the mischief-makers gravitating to the back seats and the responsible ones sitting up front near to the teachers though for the eagerly-anticipated Christmas visit to London, there was (perhaps) more Prosecco than schooldays. And so it was as 50 of us braved the M1 and North Circular to see the impressive London Gospel Choir supported by the London Symphony orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.

The sell-out concert did not disappoint with a seemingly endless flow of energy from musicians, soloists and choirs. We were treated to a surprise appearance from Emilie Sande but for many of us the musical highlight was the mesmeric singing of Michelle Johns who had inspired us at Grendon in October.

The excitement was not confined to the coach and the concert hall because we were treated to a tour of the Christmas lights and then a gymnastic display by Laura as she effortlessly negotiated the locked gates at 1am to enable us to reach our parked cars.