As 2015 draws to a close, P&O Ferries choir member Lawrence Blomfield has reflected on a successful year after standing up on stage for the first time.

Mr Blomfield, a father-of-three of Turketel Road in Folkestone, lost both of his legs from the knee down after a road accident in March 2009.

The senior analyst programmer at P&O was riding his motorbike on the B2011 in Capel-le-Ferne when he was in collision with a car.

His left leg was removed at the scene, and the other later that night.

Since then Mr Blomfield, now 51, has had more operations on his legs and attends rehabilitation sessions but now, after having major work done in 2014, the singer uses prosthetic legs which has given him a new lease of life.

He has been a part of the choir since April 2014 and has toured with them in a wheelchair, which he said doesn’t really allow him to project his voice properly when singing.

He said: “Joining the choir was a good step and it has been an amazing time since then.

'Joining the choir was a good step and it has been an amazing time since then.' - Lawrence Blomfield

“The company has given me model support, and you can’t always guarantee that you are going to get that support.

“This year has been a year of progress as I had a lot of work done last year.

“The first time I stood on stage was this year in Calais, it was great to be able to do that.”

The choir has performed nationally and internationally since winning the BBC television series Sing While You Work with Gareth Malone in December 2013.

New faces have also come on board, while others have left.

May’s concert at the Eglise Notre-Dame de Calais in France was one that was notable for Mr Blomfield, as it was the first time he walked onto the stage.

Last Thursday was the choir’s annual carol singing event at Dover Town Hall, and it was there that he stood for the longest time of an hour.

“It was a wonderful experience,” he said.

“I think the one in Calais was our concert of the year, but it is probably more special to me because I was able to
project fully with them.”

He hopes that with his new legs that he will be able to walk for years to come.

“There is such a massive difference from being able to walk small distances to not being able to walk at all.”

He praised his colleagues and choir friends and said that they have been wonderful in the help they have given him.