A MASS of sparkling lights will adorn Tavistock Town Hall again this year when Barry Smith, the president of the Lions Club of Tavistock switches on the ‘Trees of Light’ at 7pm on Friday, November 26.

Individuals and familes can sponsor a bulb on one of the three Christmas trees in memory of a loved one, a special occasion or in celebration of a happy event such as a birth.

All of the money raised will go to local charities which this year will be St. Luke’s Hospice, Children’s Hospice South West and Derriford Children’s Cancer Service.

The switching on will be followed by carol singing with accompaniment by Stannary Brass and a short service led by the local clergy. During the evening, the Lions will serve hot drinks and mince pies.

This will be the twenty-third year that the Lions Club have organised the trees and since it started with a single tree back in 1999, just over £126,000 has been raised and distributed to local charities.

For the eighteenth year, local funeral director Morris Bros. (Tavistock) Ltd. will be the main sponsor and directors Simon and Lucie Luke are delighted to be supporting the project once again. They said that they recognise the importance of the Trees of Light to Tavistock familes. Every penny of the money raised will go to the charities.

Lion John Noblet, the main organiser within the club, said that he was very pleased with the continued support from Morris Bros and the Tavistock Times Gazette for publishing the sponsorship form (see tomorrow’s Times). He said he was also grateful to the South West Lakes Trust for donating this year’s trees and the Tavistock Town Council and staff for their work erecting and decorating the trees.

To obtain additional sponsors and to raise more money, the club has distributed flyers to most of the houses around the town with an application form. Completed forms should be returned to John with the donation.

A full list of donors will be published in the Tavistock Times Gazette just after Christmas and all donors will receive a commemorative card in the New Year.