“WATCHING down from heaven with the other angels, our Chris would have been thrilled tonight."

Gary Davies’ emotive words followed a truly wonderful tribute concert to his son, the 22-year-old Irish Guardsman killed during an ambush in Afghanistan two and half months ago.

Staged at Carmel College’s Dalton Theatre, before a sell out crowd of 200 people, including many of the soldier’s loved ones, this was a night when dozens of brilliant young performers were a credit to St Helens.

It is said that Chris, a charismatic lad and exemplary soldier, loved nothing better than belting out a song on karaoke.

And if, as his dad believes, he was looking down on the singers and dancers who lifted the spirits and stirred the emotions last Friday night, he surely wouldn’t have been able to resist clapping along.

Taking centre stage was his precious six-year-old daughter Lucy, who showed she is a chip off the old block by singing with her Queens Park Primary school classmates.

They were joined by pupils from Chris’ former schools, St Thomas of Canterbury Primary and De La Salle, plus Carmel College.

From the action packed opener – a dance sequence from the Queen-themed musical We Will Rock You – to little Anthony Wright and De La Salle bandmates blasting out Living on a Prayer, to the stunning vocals of Carmel’s Susannah Dean performing People Get Ready and ex-pupil Katie McLoughlin, Fields of Gold, the talent shone as brightly as the photograph of Chris which rested beside a burning candle on the stage.

Their warmth, maturity and passion conveyed by the showed they are acutely aware of the sacrifices being made by British troops overseas and epitomised how St Helens has responded to the loss of ‘one of our own’, by showing compassion and kindness to the Davies family.

“We want to thank everybody. That was absolutely inspirational, the enthusiasm of the children and the range of talent – it was sensational,” said the fallen soldier’s father after the choir closed with a rendition of the David Bowie classic Heroes.

“We have drawn strength from seeing the children enjoying themselves so much.”

The concert raised £2,000 for the charity Help for Heroes.

Concert: De La Salle School dance department and school choir; Joseph Walker (DLS); Amy Fazakerly (DLS); Queens Park Primary; St Thomas of Canterbury; Lucy Fazakerly (DLS); Olivia Parr-Singer (DLS); Christopher Bradshaw Stephen Yeldrem, Liam Bowyer, Joe Thompson, Anthony Wright (DLS band); Laura Burton (DLS); Sam Caldwell (DLS); Isabelle Wood (DLS), Carmel College brass group, woodwind group and choir; Julia Wells (Carmel); Amelia Harper (DLS), Kathryn DeLappe (ex-DLS) Susannah Dean (Carmel); Jessica Taylor (DLS), Mollie Meredith (Carmel); Ellie Stubbs and Estelle Huntley (Carmel); Catherine Sayer (DLS), Michael Markey (DLS).