Hundreds gather for Lights of Love |
| Thursday, 04 December 2008 |
 Cold weather failed to deter hundreds of people from attending the Peace Hospice’s annual Lights of Love ceremony on Wednesday evening.
The event gave visitors an opportunity to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one. The Reverend Maureen Hider, Associate Minister from Croxley Green Baptist Church, led the non-denominational service. Attendees sung a number of Christmas carols that included a performance by the Watford Philharmonic Choir of the Christmas hymn ‘Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light’.
A young local vocalist, Charlotte Smith making her third appearance at Lights of Love (and a pupil at Royal Masonic School) performed a solo of ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ during the switching on of the Peace Hospice Lights of Love. The lights were switched on by a local 10 year old girl, Tammy whose Mum died earlier in the year at the Hospice. Tammy said ‘I’m here for my Mummy. I’m really scared about switching on the lights.’
One of the visitors, Renate Romer from Bushey whose husband died in 2002 said ‘This is my third Lights of Love service. My husband was in the Hospice for over 6 months and the care he received was excellent. I’m so grateful, as it saved my life and made a massive difference to us as a family’.
Event organiser Gill Crowson said ‘I was pleased that so many people chose to attend Lights of Love on such a cold night. I would like to especially thank our supporters Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s dome roundabout, the Watford Philharmonic choir, the Colosseum, as well as all Hospice staff and volunteers who supported the event’.
The service included a number of readings entitled ‘Our Memories’ by Moira Murray (staff nurse in day care), ‘At Rest’ read by Emma Watson (the Hospice’s former community fundraiser), ‘Remembrance’ by Michael Tylden-Pattenson (son of senior social worker, Doreen and Yosef Shahar (the Hospice’s new senior healthcare assistant).
The next big Hospice event to take place is the Christmas coffee morning on Saturday 13th December between 10am - 1pm. Further details are available by visiting www.peacehospice.org.uk
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