So the eight weeks of another season have once again flashed by. We’re back in the well practised hands of Sir Andrew Davis tonight (perhaps we’ll find out if he can sing any G&S other than the Major General’s song?), with soloists from Canada (Gerald Finley) and Cumbria (Jess Gillam).

But of the course the question on everyone’s lips(?), is “Will the PMC collection once again manage to beat last season’s total?”

That total was £116,876.40. After Prom 74 (Handel’s Theodora) the 2018 total stood at over £112,800 meaning that we need to collect around £4,000 to beat the record. 2017’s Last Night collection was £4,700 (the largest ever individual prom total). In addition to tonight’s collection we also need to process the foreign currency that has been donated over the course of the season, and we will also receive a share from the retiring collection that follows the Proms Service at Holy Trinity, Prince Consort Road tomorrow (9 September).

The service is at 3pm and will be a quiet reflection on the themes of the season, in particular this year the centenary of the first women joining the Parliamentary franchise, and the struggles for women’s suffrage that led to that point.

Finally one last reminder of this season’s charities: Live Music Now (charity no 273596), Voices Foundation (charity no 1029834), Drake Music (charity no 1034374) along with regulars Help Musicians UK (charity no 228089) & CLIC Sargent (charity no 1107328).

Thanks to all who have donated this season, and also to all those prommers who regularly give up time to hold a collection bucket, and then help with sorting and counting the collection.

****UPDATE****
After Prom 75 (The Last Night of the Proms) you have donated over £116,700. This is very slightly less than last year’s final total but more than the equivalent last year which stood at £115,900 immediately after the Last Night 2017.