Leamington Rotary Club’s Trees of Light illuminated for the first time this year

Crowds gathered at St Margaret’s church in Whitnash on Saturday and outside Leamington town hall during the town’s Christmas lights switch-on event on Sunday to see the lights on the giant trees switched on.

Both events included carol services and speeches from dignitaries from the respective towns.

At the Leamington event Cllr Michael Doody, chairman of Warwick District Council, said: “I would like to thank the Rotary Club of Royal Leamington Spa for organising the Tree of Light and lights switch on in aid of The Myton Hospices.

“To me, the Tree of Light signals the start of the festive season, and after the switch on, the countdown to Christmas truly begins.

“The Tree of Light helps us remember loved ones who are no longer with us at this important time of year and highlights the reason for our Christmas celebration, the birth of Jesus Christ.”

The Trees of Light enable people to remember relatives or friends who will not be with them this Christmas who have died, are in hospital or living abroad.

The lists of names will be displayed in the church porch and library in Whitnash and outside the town hall and inside the Royal Priors in Leamington, from the switch-ons and into the New Year.

The Myton Hospices care for up to 1,000 patients and their families each year.

They do this at their hospices in Warwick, Coventry and Rugby, and out in the Community with their Myton at Home service.

Donations can be made to the Trees of Light campaign using the brochures available at locations and stores around Leamington and Whitnash, forms published each week in the Courier and online.

{http://www.justgiving.com/treeoflight2015|www.justgiving.com/treeoflight2015