Norwich Sinfonietta and Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital Gala – St Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich

This year marks 170 years of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Jenny Lind Children’s hospital.

On 3 April 1854 the doors opened to its first young patients and the NNUH is putting on a number of events throughout the coming months to mark this anniversary year.

The signature event is a glittering orchestral gala taking place at St Peter Mancroft Church on Saturday 6 April when musicians from Norwich Sinfonietta will be performing children’s favourites Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, and Debussy’s Children’s Corner.

The event will showcase professional sopranos Ella de Jongh and locally based Rebecca Kaznowski who will sing popular opera arias and oratorio, some written for Swedish Opera singer Jenny Lind herself and featuring composers such as Dvorak, Mozart and Mendelssohn. The event will be narrated by actress Emma Laird Craig, a direct descendant of Jenny Lind.

All money raised will go to the N&N Hospitals Charity to raise funds for the latest campaign for parental accommodation at the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital. To buy tickets, visit Norwich Sinfonietta’s website. The event starts at 7.30pm.

There will also be a JLCH Takeover of the Colney Park Run at 9am on that Saturday morning and Paediatric Consultant Surgeon AB Mathur and Children’s Matron, Alice Cook are training hard for the London Landmarks Half Marathon on the Sunday.

Throughout the spring and the summer, Paul Dickson is running a series of Jenny Lind walking tours with unique opportunities to visit where the singer stayed and the remains of the first Children’s Hospital in Norwich. Paul is donating ticket proceeds from two walks to JLCH and will invite donations on all walks.  Tours can be booked now at Paul Dickson – Jenny Lind and Norwich

And anyone who has a story to tell about their experiences with The Jenny – be they staff – past or present – patients, fundraisers, or supporters in general, are invited to share their stories and pictures by emailing JLCHBirthday@nnuh.nhs.uk

There is also a special 24-page anniversary magazine, packed full of patient and staff stories.