Celebration to switch on the lights of the Hospice Memory Tree

On Thursday 22 November the lights of the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice Memory Tree were switched on at a special celebration to mark the start of the Light up a Life services.

This is the first time that there has been a permanent Memory Tree decorated with the stars that have been dedicated with names and messages to loved ones, the tree will be in the Hospice café at Goldsworth Park until January and all are welcome to add a star for a loved one.

Switching on the tree lights were Madeleine and Marnie Lopez whose Granddad Derek was cared for at the hospice in August. Derek’s wife Noreen, son Frank and Sister Yvonne also attended the light switch on with his two other grandchildren Mollie and Ruby.

Claire Lopez Mum to Madeleine and Marnie commented “We felt very privileged for the girls to be asked to switch on the lights in memory of my Dad, they were amazing and made the whole family feel very proud. The hospice is such a fantastic place with such wonderful staff and nurses”.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of Derek’s family, for attending the light switch on and to Madeleine and Marnie for doing such a fantastic job” commented Jayne Cooper CEO of Woking & Sam Beare Hospices “It was a wonderful afternoon and we were so pleased that the Major of Woking Will Forster, Micheal Aspel our patron and so many of our supporters and staff were able to join us. Our Light up a Life services are very special and are open to the whole community to attend. We would also like to express our thanks to Woking Funeral Services for donating our Memory Tree and printing the order of services for Light up a Life”.

Following the switch on of the lights we were entertained with a beautiful selection of Christmas songs by singing group Quintessential, the perfect start to our Light up a Life Services.

The dates and times for the Light Up a services are as follows

Sunday 2 December St Dunstan’s Church Woking 4.00pm

Friday 7 December, Nonreligious service at Woking Hospice, 6.30pm please note this service will be held outside in a marquee.

Sunday 9 December, St Johns Church Egham 3.30pm

Sunday 16 December, St Marks Church Whiteley Village, 4.00pm

You can find out more information at www.wsbhospices.co.uk/lual

If you would like to add a star to the Memory Tree they will be available in the Hospice Café until January or contact the In Memory team who will be able to help you on 01483 742773 or email   in-memory@wsbhospices.co.uk