On Sunday 29th November 2015, Cherry Lodge Cancer Care held its annual Lights of Love event in The Spires Shopping Centre, Barnet. Fortunately for us, the Spires’ management had kindly allowed the use of an empty shop, which made life a lot easier and kinder as the wind was fierce and the rain cold and wet! The organisers were delighted to see so many people had turned out on such an unpleasant evening.
The Cherry Lodge Singing Group began the proceedings with two songs. These were followed by the reading of a poem written by one of our members, further musical contributions, another poetry reading and two more contributions from the Singers. The Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet and a Patron of Cherry Lodge, then switched on the lights on the tree, which were of course the focus of the evening. At this point, everyone in our gathering was encouraged to activate their Glow Sticks, which added an almost surreal light to the, by now, very dark Spires courtyard.
A change from tradition this year was the reading out of the names of all the people for whom lights had been lit – those who had died and whose memory we were cherishing and also those who were very much present and loved. The list was long but reading it out added to the overall purpose of this yearly event. A minute’s silence was then held before the concluding carol, after which mulled wine and mince pies were served while people had the opportunity to chat before they dispersed.
Thanks to Theresa Villiers for never letting us down and to all of those who helped at this event.
Click on the small images below to see larger, complete photographs.
