Music lover Elisabeth Pugh puts the band back together to raise over £3,000
Five years ago, after receiving the devastating diagnosis of an incurable brain tumour, music lover Elisabeth Pugh decided to ‘put the band back together’ for what she thought would be one final time.
Five years later, and the Ex-Bromley Youth Chamber Orchestra has just performed a fifth comeback concert, raising more than £3,000 for St Christopher’s and with Elisabeth in its midst, playing the viola, accompanied by nine-year-old Martha the eldest of her two daughters.
With an average life expectancy of 12-18 months for people with Glioblastoma Multiforme, Elisabeth is convinced music and the annual goal of playing in the concert with lifelong friends, has played a major part in her making it past her 40th birthday and another Christmas, following her diagnosis in 2020.
“It’s given me something to
live for and to think about
for next year.”
“Most of us started playing together when we were six, all through school until we went off to university. Some of us hadn’t seen each other for 25 years. Then, when I was diagnosed, I just wanted to play together again one more time.”
Unlike Elisabeth, many of her fellow musicians have moved far away from Bromley. For this year’s concert, people travelled from Sydney and Los Angeles and across the UK for the one-off performance.
“We’ve made a lot of memories together, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It’s made everyone reassess how they feel about life. I stood up and thanked the orchestra for what they’ve done by giving me extra hope that I’ll make it to Christmas.”
“I was introduced to my nurse, Agnes and social workers and I’ve also been offered reflexology. We’ve also been to visit and look around at Orpington and Sydenham with Martha and Freyja.
“It feels so calm and all the staff are incredibly welcoming. I’m so glad we eventually reached out as it’s great knowing St Christopher’s is there 24/7 if I need them and that they’ll be there for Mike and the girls.
If reforming the orchestra was an inspired decision, it’s with a little regret that Elisabeth didn’t take up the offer of support from St Christopher’s earlier.
“I think it was down to the fear associated with the hospice and preconceived ideas that meant Mike, my husband, and I just avoided it. I just didn’t realise all the services that were available,” says Elisabeth, who contacted St Christopher’s after doctors told her in September that there was no more treatment available, after five brain surgeries and more than rounds of chemotherapy.
“I want to be at St Christopher’s
when it happens rather than
at home. But I’m not going
anywhere just yet.”
While Elisabeth hasn’t been able to work for some time and does suffer with fatigue, she still drops off and picks up her daughters every day and cooks, gardens, goes to the gym and attends gigs – with four in the diary before the end of the year.
“Music is life. It goes right back to my grandparents. Mum played the piano, Dad was always into music, Mike plays guitar and both the girls play.”
Another driving force in Elisabeth’s life now is the desire to share the knowledge and experience she has gleaned.
“If I can help someone and stop them suffering the pain I have, then that will be a positive. I am speaking up and advocating for people with brain cancer and now I’m also telling people to speak to their local hospice at the earliest possible opportunity. It gives me a purpose and it’s helped me keep going and stay as positive as possible.”
While a measure of mobility has deserted Elisabeth, her sense of humour certainly hasn’t as she jokes about her motivation for raising money for St Christopher’s. In addition to the £3,000 raised at the concert at Christ Church, Petts Wood, husband Mike raised £1,365 running a 10km and is hoping to complete a marathon in 2026 too.
“I said to Mike maybe this will help me get a room at St Christopher’s with a view of the garden and a nice set of pillows.”
Speaking three weeks before Christmas, which Elisabeth planned to spend surrounded by 15 members of her family, she also offered a serious reflection on her situation: “I’m now at a stage where I’m just excited to wake up in the morning and find I have another day, another chance to see my family and friends. I feel like I have plenty still to do.”
A video recording of the Ex-Bromley Youth Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 Christmas concert, featuring Elisabeth Pugh, is available to watch on YouTube.
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