News

Donation of Christmas Trees

30 November 2009

Local Christmas tree grower Fred Smith’s has again generously donated a couple of beautiful Christmas trees to St Helena Hospice.

Mr Smith's Boxted-based business donates a tree every year to the Hospice at Myland Hall in Colchester and also to the St Helena Hospice Tendring Day Centre in Clacton where the trees form part of the Light up a Life Services. And this year is no exception.

Each tree will be decorated by patients and staff and enjoyed by everyone who not only attends the services but that also visits either the Hospice or Day Centre in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Kate Alden, Events and Community Fundraiser, St Helena Hospice, said:
“We are all so grateful to Fred Smiths for again giving us the Christmas trees to use at Myland Hall and our Tendring Centre. They have supported the Hospice for many years and our patients and staff really enjoy decorating the trees each year. They are also a really important part of our special Light up a Life events and look beautiful for everyone to enjoy.” 

The Hospice is holding several Light up a Life events in the run up to Christmas. These special events bring together people who are missing a loved one. Each event includes Christmas carols and readings.

In addition to the one being held at Myland Hall on Thursday, December 17 at 6.30pm, services are also being held at: St Andrew's Church, Parsonage Street, Halstead, at 6.30pm on Tuesday December 1^st; St Helena Hospice Day Centre, Jackson Road, Clacton, at 6.30pm on Thursday December 3^rd; St James' Church, High Street, Brightlingsea, at 7pm on Friday December 4^th; St Nicholas Church, Church Street, Harwich, at 6.30pm on Friday December 11^th.

Before the service at Colchester Castle, on Sunday December 13^th there will be a procession starting at 4.15 from the top of North Hill. St Helena Hospice would like to invite everyone to come along and join the procession which will go down the high street and lead to the Castle where the service will be starting at 4.30pm.

The last two services before the one at the Hospice itself are at All Saints' Church, High Street, Walton, at 6.30pm on Monday December 14^th and at St Peter and St Paul Church, High Street, West Mersea, at 6.30pm on Tuesday December 15^th.

For more information on any of these events, please contact the Hospice's fundraising office on 01206 791740.

For more information about Fred Smiths Christmas Trees visit www.fredsmithontheweb.com