Noëleen Morritt, Learning Disability Lead for Children and Young People, Samantha Purser, Senior Occupational Therapist, Sean McAteer, Senior Sonographer and Katharine Kay, Specialist Nurse for Children in Care, described the atmosphere on Friday night as “electric” and Samantha admits; “I am still pinching myself, trying to believe it was real!”

They danced the night away as Nurses in the section of the ceremony in tribute to the NHS, Noëleen said “our role was caring for mischievous children before being zombified and rescued by Mary Poppins.”

Samantha said; ‘I could barely breathe when I stepped out into the stadium full of people on Friday night, and had to put the prospect of the millions watching on TV to the back of my mind.” However, all four admit to having felt more nervous when they performed to their proud friends and family during the technical rehearsals earlier in the week.

Katharine says “backstage felt like a mini festival with the hundreds of volunteers, dancers and children getting along fantastically.”

Volunteers were sworn to secrecy about the contents of the ceremony and the organiser’s efforts to save the surprise paid off as even our volunteers were amazed by Mr Bean’s orchestral debut, and the Queen’s starring moment as a Bond girl!

Sean said it is slightly “depressing that the three solid months of hard work has come to an end, and we’re going back to a normal routine. But we have had an incredible experience and been left with many amazing memories.”

Photo (from left to right): Samantha Purser, Sean McAteer, Katharine Kay and Noëleen Morritt