THE front of Tavistock Town Hall will once again be a mass of sparkling white lights when the 'Trees of Light' will be switched on at the end of the month.

Bulbs on the three Christmas trees will be sponsored by an individual or family in memory of a loved one or a good cause, with all the proceeds going to local charities.

This year the local charities are the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Chestnut Appeal and the Tavistock Triangle and Chemotherapy Outreach Project.

The switching on will be followed by a short interdenominational service led by the local clergy and during the evening the Lions Club of Tavistock will be serving hot drinks and mince pies.

This will be the 16th year that the Lions Club has organised the trees and president Steve Grummitt said that he is delighted to be switching on the lights at 7pm on Thursday, November 27, as he was the first to switch the lights on when it started with a single tree back in 1999 — since then nearly £71,000 has been raised and distributed to local charities.

For the eleventh year, local funeral director Morris Bros. (Tavistock) Ltd is 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 for families in memory of their loved ones and that the Lions Club does ensure that all the money donated is given to the nominated charities.

Lion Steve Lethbridge, the main organiser within the club, said that he was pleased with the continued support from Morris Bros, Jo and Graham Moule of Mount Tavy Cottage who donate the main tree, the Tavistock Times Gazette for publishing the application form in its paper (see right) and also the Tavistock Town Council and staff for their 'sterling work' in erecting the trees.

Five 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 £5,400 was donated last year and a rebate of £930 from HM Revenue and Customs enabled the club to give £2,100 to each of last year's charities.

Steve Lethbridge will be writing to those people who participated in 2013 asking if they wish to do the same this year and if anyone else would like to sponsor a light on the trees, they can obtain a sponsorship form by calling 01837 54697, by e-mail to [email protected]">[email protected] or by completing the adjacent form. To ensure that the club is able to reclaim back 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 Tavistock Times Gazette just before Christmas with each one receiving a commemorative card in the New Year.