The children were Harry Jenkins, seven, from Port Talbot and his mum Deborah, Jack Silcocks, nine, from Newport, and his mum Sam, seven-year-old Roman Davies and his mum Gemma from Bridgend, Sonny Jones, seven and his mum Jessica from Dinas Powys, five-year-old Laiah-Rose Palmer and her dad Mike from Newport, Eleri Shearn, eight, and her mum Becki, from Caldicot, five-year-old Nancy Kent and her dad Ian from Merthyr Tydfil, Eryn Gough, five, from Tonyrefail, her mum Rhiannon Hill and three-year-old Olivia Finch with her mum Kelly, from Port Talbot.
The group had lunch with Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle and his wife Catherine, with a very special appearance from Mr Claus who had brought along some wonderful presents for the children who have all had a tough year of hospital visits and stays. Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: "Opening up the State Rooms to children being cared for by the Dreams and Wishes charity has gladdened the hearts of every Speaker since Bernard Weatherill – and today was no exception.
"My wife and I were honoured to welcome nine seriously ill young people to Speaker’s House with their parents - and to witness their excitement when they were greeted by soldiers from the Welsh Guards, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards - and Father Christmas." It is the 31st year that Tony Curtis MBE has organised for the charity to take a group of children receiving treatment to London, but there was some disappointment that it was the first time in 20 years that the group was not invited to visit Downing Street.
Tony said: “I have been doing this trip each year for the past 31 years. As usual, the children and their families were just absolutely amazing. Events like this are things that we will never forget and they are really treasured memories. It was a magical day and very much worthwhile."
Harry's mum Deborah, who also celebrated her birthday on the same day as the trip, said: "As parents we have this bombshell dropped on us, but the charity makes it so much easier for us, and we want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. We had the most wonderful day making memories with our children. Seeing their faces when Santa was giving out the presents was just magical."
Seven-year-old Roman said that the best bit about the day was "the presents", while five-year-old Nancy "loved the princesses" who had been waiting to greet them in the House of Commons and accompanied them to the London Eye. The last word was from five-year-old Eryn who when asked to describe her day said it was "phenomenal"