WINTER singing at two recent events helped to raise more than £260 for children with life-limiting conditions and their families . On Saturday, December 16, Marilyn Tucker and Paul Wilson from the Okehampton based folk and community arts charity Wren Music, led a group of singers out wassailing on Dartmoor. The group sang traditional winter songs in South Zeal, Belstone and Okehampton. Wassail is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning literally 'be healthy' or 'good health'. Wassail singers visit on a winter's evening, and perhaps receive food or drink, or collect a coin. Marilyn and Paul were joined by 30 members of Wren Music's community choir Voices In Common, which is based in Exeter. On Tuesday, December 19, it was standing room only in St James Chapel, as more than 100 people crammed into the ancient chapel, for a fascinating evening combining a service, with Christmas songs and stories in the folk tradition. The music throughout the evening proved popular with young and old alike. The two events raised more than £260 for Children's Hospice South West, the only organisation in the South West providing hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. More information on the Children's Hospice is available on http://www.chsw.org.uk">www.chsw.org.uk or from Judy Pride on 01837 52365 or email [email protected]">[email protected].