Reverend's special message to residents as Rugby Rotary's Tree of Light continues to raise money for charity

Rugby Rotary's Tree of Light project continues to receive support from residents as we edge closer to Christmas.

Every year the The Rotary Club of Rugby gives residents the opportunity to sponsor lights on the tree outside St Andrew’s Parish Church in dedication of the memory of loved ones.

Residents send a donation with their request - and since the project's start 22 years ago £91,000 has been raised for Myton Hospice.

Reverend Pam Gould of St Andrew's Ministry Team said: "Sadly, this year we are unable to gather together in St Andrew’s Church to light candles while holding before God those so dear to us whose names will be inscribed in the Book of Remembrance.

"This year many of us will not even have felt safe to travel into Rugby town centre after dark, to see for ourselves the lights shining bravely on the tree outside the church.

"Yet, we know that those lights are there as a sign that there is hope in these dark times and that our loved ones are still close to us through our thoughts and, our memories.

"May I suggest to you that on the date and time we would have held our Tree of Lights Memorial Service, Tuesday, 15th December at 7pm, you may find comfort from spending a

moment in quiet in your own home? You might wish to light your own candle and feel that you are not alone.

"You may even wish to find on ‘Youtube’ the song we have been used to singing together, “Longing for light, we wait in darkness” by Bernadette O’ Farrell, and listen to that as you watch the light of your candle flicker.

"Lastly, may I assure you that your loved ones will be held in prayer within the church on that day, and that all involved in Myton Hospice will be remembered too.

"May God bless each of you during this Christmas time, and the days and time to come."

Sponsor forms can be found print editions of the Advertiser.

Forms can also be picked up at Albert Street's Blackham Opticians.

The completed Sponsor form and your donation cheque or Postal Order (minimum of £5 per dedication) payable to ‘Rotary Tree of Light’, should be sent to:

‘Rotary Tree of Light’, c/o 2 Bawnmore Court, Rugby CV22 7QQ

or taken to: (please knock and wait to be invited in)

Blackhams Opticians, 21 Albert Street, Rugby CV21 2SD - marked ‘Tree of Light’

If you are a UK tax payer you may also indicate that you wish your donation to be Gift Aided to increase it by 25 per cent.

Sponsor forms and donations will be accepted up to Monday, December 21.

This week's dedications are as follows:

Christine Vickers ; In loving memory of Joan and Frank Woodley "gone but not forgotten" ; In loving memory of Nora and Frank Drakeford "gone but not forgotten" ; In loving memory of Ida and Bert Hughes "gone but not forgotten" ; In loving memory of Esmew Fail "gone but not forgotten" ; Jennifer Turner "Mum I will always miss you" ; Phyllis Mochrie ; Andrew Mochrie ; Gordon Mochrie ; Keith Warren ; Stephanie Warren ; Michael Wragg ; Albert Cleaver ; Margery Cleaver ; Ada & James Clements ; Evelyn & Cyril Ward ; Cynthia Cheatle (1932-2017) "missed and never forgotten" family circle ; Nigel Caffrey ; Roy Bennett - beloved Husband & Dad ; Kenneth Pinks-Snape ; Mum and Dad Pinks-Snape ; John Harry Wells "missed & loved everyday" ; Gordon Parkin ; George & Hilda Parkin ; John & Mary Farkas ; Our dear Mum & Dad, Kathleen and Frank Badger ; Sue Whittaker ; Betty & Maurice ; Clarence Hollis ; Mary Hollis ; Patricia Davis - loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandy ; Richard Wright, loving Husband, Father & Grandad "sadly missed but never forgortten" with love always from Margaret & family XX ; May and Ted Coles "thinking of you" ; Steven Bell "always in our thoughts" ; "Loved ones" ; Mark Lennon ; The Ludlow Family ; Vincent & Eileen Deery ; Kath Roberts ; Edward Mickleburgh ; Dorothy Mickleburgh ; Nellie Powell ; Clara Townsend ; Beryl Draper ; Laura Brown "beloved Daughter & Sister" ; David Fitzgerald "never forgotten" ; Christopher Fitzgerald "beloved Son & Brother" ; Mrs Betty White (love always) ; Grandma Pritchard (never Forgotten) ; Mum & Dad Ogden (with love) ; Tony Ogden (we miss you) ; Beloved Bill Petrie ; George and Minnie Timms ; Mr R Conway "love & miss you always" ; Mr David Conway "love & miss you always" ; Chris Widdows "best husband, best Dad and Grandad" ; George Bartlett ; Harriet Limmage ; Anthony West ; Francesca Castiglia ; Muriel Walker ; Dot Wills ; Bob Wills ; Iris Page ; John Sherwood Page ; "Loved & missed always" Stella Margaret Edwards ; "Loved & missed always" Chris Edwards ; "Loved & missed always" Thomas and Irene Bowes ; Angus Ritchie ; Carol Ann Kent ; Mr W H Kent ; Mrs B Kent ; Raymond (Pete) Griffiths "love & miss you more with every passing day" your loving wife Jennifer and all your family ; Michael Coombe "loved and remembered" from Sandra & family ; Charles Thorburn ; Brenda Smith ; Joan Bethell ; Charles Bethell ; Patricia Martindale ; Treasured memories of a beloved Mum, Doreen Ashby "sadly missed & remembered always" daughter Christine & son Michael ; Treasured memories of a beloved Dad, Cecil Albert Ashby "sadly missed & remembered always" daughter Christine & son Michael ; Jock & Nellie Hunter ; Lois Hunter ; Robert Hunter ; Deceased Oram family members ; Gillian Cooper "dearly loved friend" ; Jean & Danny Makin - reunited after 11 long years ; In memory of those who have died due to COVID-19 ; Memories of Vera and George Gardner ; May and Denis Hamnett (Mum and Dad) ; James Fairey (Uncle Jim) ; Peter Phelps ; Mary Phelps ; Effie Pitt-Pulford ; Peter Marriott ; Sandra Joy Marriott ; Jim & Betty Mitchell "forever in our thoughts" ; Joe Rivett (Dad) ; Adrian Finch "loved & missed every day" ; Iris & Alwyn Defferd - wonderful parents to Trevor "let's face the music and dance" ; Remembering Linda Hill, who died 2 weeks ago. We were in nursing training together. RIP from Bridgette ; SACMark Fairgrieves ; Derek Fairgrieves ; Gloria Fairgrieves ; Nicola Wallington "miss you so much. You are always in our thoughts" love always Mum & Dad XXX ; Paul Simpson "loved and missed always" RIP ; Daniel O'Neill "loved and missed always" RIP ; David Foot RIP "dear Dave" ; O'Neill & O'Shea families deceased ; Peggy Simpson "dear Mum" RIP ; Nina Martin "dear friend" RIP ; David Foot - A loving Husband "miss you so much" RIP ; Paul Simpson "missed & loved always" RIP ; Daniel O'Neil "missed & loved always" RIP ; Tim Grant RIP ; O'Shea & O'Neil families RIP ; Patrick & Beryl Glasheen ; Norah McGuinness ; Robin Humphries - Husband, Dad & Pappy "always loved & missed" ; Beloved Sister Joy Tredennick ; Margaret Heale loving Sister "always remembered" ; Paul Kimber ; Pat Haywood ; Osman, Rene and Rodney Evans "much missed and loved" Dad, Mum & Brother XXX ; Ted and Peggy Hardy "missed every day" ; Colin and Beryl Langham "special couple" ; Christine Vickers "her words were kindness, her deeds were love" ; Fred 'Freddo' Osborne (Dear Friend)

Correction: Last week the Advertiser wrote that Rugby Lions are the organisers of the project. This was an error. The tree has always been organised by Rugby Rotary.