Councillor swaps Wolverhampton for Royal Albert Hall gig
A soprano soloist swapped her council duties for the bright lights of London during a special charity gala.
Councillor Jane Stevenson was in high spirits after celebrating the 30th anniversary of the British Police Symphony Orchestra (BPSO) at the iconic Royal Albert Hall.
The former Wolverhampton Girls' High School student donned her finest gladrags for the fundraising concert, which featured more than 670 performers.
Councillor Stevenson, who was elected to the Tettenhall Wightwick ward last year, said: "I have sung with the BPSO before - at Symphony Hall and at the Lichfield Proms in Beacon Park.
"I am keen to support and promote the orchestra, who do a regular concert in Symphony Hall every December and in Lichfield in September.
"It received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service last year and do so much for charity, and arts education."
The anniversary concert raised cash for Lichfield-based charity Care of Police Survivors (COPS), as well as the National Foundation for Youth Music.
Hundreds of police officers and staff, including teams from the West Midlands, came together to create sweet-sounding music earlier this month.
The concert was presented by the orchestra’s very own PC Danny Mizon, of the Metropolitan Police, alongside television presenter Nick Knowles.
Legendary music icon Rod Stewart joined the festivities with his wife Penny Lancaster, who is a patron of COPS.
Finn the Police Dog, a contestant on this year's Britain's Got Talent, also made an appearance just a month after Finn's Law was given Royal Assent.
The new legislation - inspired by the dog after he was stabbed in 2016 - makes causing unnecessary suffering to a service animal a criminal offence in England and Wales.
Councillor Stevenson, who trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, added: "It was a huge honour to sing in the anniversary gala and to support the incredible charity work.
"I was especially excited to meet Finn the police dog, who has recently helped change the law for service animals."
Councillor Stevenson won the Gold Medal, the London school's most prestigious prize, during her six years of studying before receiving a full scholarship for postgraduate opera studies.
She has been professionally singing for more than 20 years, with her opera and concert work taking her to more than 40 countries across the globe.
The BPSO was founded in October 1989 by former Pc Alex Roe MBE, of West Midlands Police.
