THE front of Tavistock Town Hall will be a mass of sparkling white lights at the end of the month, when at 7pm on Thursday, November 29, the day before Dickensian Evening, Alan Wroath, the President of the Lions Club of Tavistock will switch on the 'Trees of Light'.

Bulbs on the three Christmas trees will have been sponsored by an individual or family in memory of a loved one or a good cause with all the proceeds going to local charities which this year will be the Triangle Centre, HeartSWell and the Chestnut Appeal.

The switching on will be followed by a short interdenominational service led by local clergy.

This will be the 14th year the Lions Club has organised the trees and to date almost £58,000 has been raised and distributed to local charities.

Tavistock-based funeral company Morris Bros. (Tavistock) Ltd. will be the main sponsor and Simon Luke, a director of the family-owned company, said he was delighted to be supporting the project once again as it does ensure that all the money donated is given to the nominated charities.

Lions Club member Steve Lethbridge, the main organiser within the club, said he was very pleased with the continued support from Morris Bros, the Times for publishing the application form in its paper and Tavistock Town Council and staff for their assistance in erecting the trees.

This will be a particularly poignant year for Steve and his family, as they will be having their own very special light on one of the trees in memory of Steve's father, Roger, a fellow Lions Club member, who died earlier this year and who had organised the trees for the last 12 years.

Three years ago, the Lions established a charitable trust which enabled the club to reclaim the tax on any donation made by a UK tax payer.

A total of £5,850 was donated last year and a rebate of £1,050 was repaid by HM Revenue and Customs which enabled the club to give £2,300 to each of last year's charities.

Steve has already written to those people who participated in 2011 asking if they wish to do the same this year.?If anyone else would like to sponsor a light on the trees, they can obtain a sponsorship form by contacting him on 01837 54697 or by e-mail to [email protected]">[email protected] or by completing the form on this page.

To ensure the club is able to reclaim the tax, it is important that the UK tax payer completes the form and also writes the cheque.

A full list of donors will be published in the Times just before Christmas with each one receiving a commemorative card in the New Year.