Telford Tree of Light 20th Birthday
Tree of Light Trustees, organising committee members and sponsors shared a 20th Birthday cake with Hospice staff at the Severn Hospice in Wellington. Severn Hospice Chief Executive Paul Cronin thanked the Telford Tree of Light for its support over the past twenty years and hoped it would continue to thrive. He presented the Tree of Light Committee Chairman Peter Seaward with a celebratory birthday cake in the shape of a tree. In response Peter Seaward said how grateful he was for the warm welcome from the Hospice staff and he looked forward to presenting them with the cheque at the end of this year’s campaign. He added that it is hoped that the generosity of the people of Telford will enable the Tree of Light appeal to reach a 20 year total of £500,000 distributed to local charities.
The photograph shows Paul Cronin, Founder member of the Tree of Light John Rice and Peter Seaward.
Preparations for the Launch of the 2015 Appeal
Preparations for the 20th year of the Telford Tree of Light are well under way ready for the switch-on which takes place at Telford Town Centre on Thursday 12th November at 4.30pm. The Tree of Light will be switched on by Tom Watkins, Coach of Telford Tigers Ice Hockey Team with Christmas carols being played by the Salvation Army Band.
The Telford and District Tree of Light, which is run by the Rotary Clubs of Ironbridge, Telford Centre, Wellington and The Wrekin, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with its 2015 campaign. There is also the distinct possibility that this year the ‘Tree’ will reach the magic figure of £500,000 raised for charities over the past 20 years.
Telford Tree of Light Goes to School
As part of the 2015 Tree of Light Appeal Chris Broad has been visiting schools in the area to tell them about the Tree of Light and how it helps those less fortunate than ourselves.
Part of the process is to leave a Tree with each school visited so that they can use it while considering how we remember loved ones and others. The visits took place in early November to fit in with the school’s Remembrance Day activities.
The photograph shows the event at Wrekin View School.
Telford Tree of Light ‘Switched On’.
The 2015 Telford Tree of Light was switched on by Telford Tiger’s coach, Tom Watkins on Thursday 12th November while the Salvation Army Band played Christmas Carols around the Tree.
Chairman of the Tree of Light, Peter Seaward, welcomed everyone to the ‘Switch On’ and thanked the people of Telford for supporting the Tree over the past 20 years. He also thanked the sponsors of the Tree and the four Rotary Clubs of Telford who work hard to ensure the Tree’s success. He then introduced Tom Watkins who, supported by members of his team, ‘Switched On’ the 2015 Tree of Light.
Photographs from the left: Chairman of Tree of Light Peter Seaward launches the 2015 Tree of Light Appeal; The Tree has been ‘Switched On’ by Tom Watkins of Telford Tigers; Telford Tigers with Tom Watkins at the ‘Switch On’.
Telford Tree of Light Presentation Evening
Telford and District Tree of Light held its presentation evening, hosted by Rotary Club of The Wrekin President Jacqui Wordsworth, at the Hadley Park House Hotel.
Telford Tree of Light – Rotary engaging with the community.
This year the Telford Tree of Light, which is run by the Rotary Clubs of Ironbridge, Telford Centre, Wellington and The Wrekin, celebrated its 20th Anniversary. Chair of the Telford Tree of Light organising committee, Rotarian Peter Seaward, said, “We are delighted to announce that this year the Telford Tree of Light will distribute £41,000 to local charities. This sum brings the total amount presented to 44 different charities over the twenty years to over £500,000. This is thanks to the wonderful generosity of the people of Telford who donate to The Tree of Light to remember their loved ones at Christmas time.” Chair of the Trustees of the Rotary Clubs of Telford & Wrekin Trust Fund, Rotarian Paul Booth, under whose auspices the Tree of Light operates said, “ To achieve the magnificent sum of £500,000 is real testament to the hard work and commitment demonstrated over 20 years by Rotarians engaging with the community for the benefit of the community. Very well done to all concerned.”
The names of those remembered are displayed around the Tree of Light in Telford Shopping Centre, in Wellington Market, at the offices of Tranter Lowe in Dawley and Oakengates and at Truffles Cafe in Ironbridge. The names are also published in the Telford Journal and on the Tree of Light website. Since 2001 the Severn Hospice has received half of the funds donated with the remainder donated to charities that serve the people of Telford. These are chosen by each of the four Rotary Clubs. The full cost of the appeal is met by the business community, other organisations and the Rotary Clubs themselves. This means that the entire amount donated by the public is distributed to the good causes.
At the presentation evening on 11th February the success of 20years of the Telford Tree of Light was celebrated by the award of certificates of appreciation to organisations which have sponsored the Telford Tree of Light over many years – Telford Shopping Centre, Telford Journal, Single Source, Telford Reprographics, The Wellington Market Company and Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors.
Apart from District Governor Richard Green and members of his team, two of whom were involved in the early stages of the campaign, honoured guests included Sir Algernon Heber Percy KCVO, Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire and President of Severn Hospice. Sir Algernon received a cheque on behalf of the Hospice for £20,500 from the Telford Tree of Light Committee Chair Peter Seaward. The Presidents of the four Rotary Clubs presented cheques of £5,125 to their chosen charities. President Max Clowes of the Ironbridge Club to Transhouse which helps rehabilitation of those with spinal injuries; President Frank Curry of the Rotary Club of Telford Centre to the Telford & District branch of the MS Society; President Peter Seaward of the Rotary Club of Wellington to 2nd Wellington Scouts, for the upkeep of their Headquarters and the camp site on the Wrekin and President Jacqui Wordsworth to the Princes Royal Hospital coronary care unit.
Photographs from the left: Rotary Club of Telford Centre President Frank Curry presents a cheque for £5,125 to Kate Pountney and Sue Cottell of Telford & District Branch of the MS Society; President Peter Seaward of Rotary Club of Wellington presents a cheque for £5,125 to Alison Peel of 2nd Wellington Scout Group; President Jacqui Wordsworth of the Rotary Club of the Wrekin presents a cheque for £5,125 to Ann Redstone and Lesley Drayton of PRH Coronary Care Unit.
Photographs from the left: Chair of the Telford Tree of Light organising committee, Rotarian Peter Seaward, with Sir Algernon Heber Percy KCVO, Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire and President of Severn Hospice. Sir Algernon received a cheque on behalf of the Hospice for £20,500; President Max Clowes of the Rotary Club of Ironbridge with Transhouse President, Professor Wagghi el Masrin manager Fae Dromgool and administrator Margaret Kynaston; President Peter is shown with the District Governor’s Award for Special Achievement which was presented to the four Telford Clubs in recognition of 20 successful years of the Tree of Light with over £500,000 being raised for local charities.
Charities You Supported in 2015
The main Charity recipient of the 2015 campaign was again the Severn Hospice, which received £20,500 (half of the proceeds).
Severn Hospice is the region’s leading provider of specialist palliative and end of life care; we provide care and support to patients across Shropshire and Mid Wales. As one of the busiest hospices in the UK, our specialist team cares for thousands of local people. We are committed to providing care to patients in the place where they want to receive it. The loving care we provide goes beyond the four walls of our buildings, as well as caring for patients in our Shrewsbury and Telford sites, our nursing teams also care for, and support, patients choosing to stay in their own homes. Over the last 12 months, we have developed and expanded our community services to enable us to meet the ever-changing needs of those who rely on our care. Last year, for the first time, we cared for almost as many patients in their own homes, as on our wards in Telford and Shrewsbury. All of the care we provide is free of charge, but not without cost. Thanks to the unwavering support of the people of Shropshire and Mid Wales, we are able to raise nearly £7 million each year to fund our vital services, enabling our highly trained teams to be there when it matters most for local people.
In response to the generosity of so many Telford donors, the other half of the proceeds is shared between local charities, chosen by each of the four Telford Rotary Clubs, namely Wellington, Ironbridge, Telford Centre and The Wrekin. Their charities which received £5,125.00 each this year are:
The Coronary Care Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital
The Coronary Care Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital Telford, is an acute area where we place acutely ill patients who have various Heart problems such as Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) ,Heart Arrhythmias and any other acute Heart problems, in fact the list is vast. On admission they require an ECG and regular ECG’s are done throughout their stay in hospital. We also have a 20 bedded Cardiology Ward where this Machine will be greatly appreciated.
Telford MS Support Group
Telford and District Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society began in 1971 and aims to offer friendly help and support to anyone touched by MS. The Branch has a dedicated MS Support Team who can be contacted on the Branch Helpline 07866628593 or email telford@mssociety.org.uk / telfordsupport@mssociety.org.uk. The team are trained to provide information, offer help and are able to award discretionary grants to people needing financial help towards home adaptations, mobility or domestic equipment, and anything else required because of their MS.
Transhouse (spinal injury rehabilitation)
Transhouse is a registered charity for people with spinal cord injuries. We provide short-term accommodation and advocacy support for our clients, while helping them to find and adapt suitable long-term accommodation in their chosen area. The charity has two bungalows, located in Oswestry Shropshire Each of these properties is fully equipped for use by people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities and are able to accommodate up to eight people at any one time. Our aim is to provide a service that enables each individual to achieve their maximum level of independence and quality of life.
The 2nd Wellington Scout Group
2nd Wellington Scout Group is a thriving voluntary organisation that is currently providing fun and learning for nearly 100 young people between the ages of 6 and 14 years in our Beaver, Cub and Scout sections. We also have Young Leaders aged between 14 and 18, who help the adult to run the meetings and are learning to become our leaders of the future. We provide our young people with new experiences, both indoor and outdoor, although we love to be outside when we can. We regularly camp at our own campsite on the Wrekin, but also camp and attend sleepovers with other local groups. This helps our young people to grow in confidence while they are making new friends, learning new things and achieving challenges that they never thought were possible.
Wrekin campsite was use in 1931 but made a County camp site by a lease from the Raby estates in 1937. An application to construct a swimming pool was made in 1936. The lease was for 1 shilling paid on each ladies day and the trusties where Hennery Dudley Ossulston retired Major from Linley Hall and Thomas Clive Tanner wine merchant. 2nd Wellington Scouts was formed in 1930 as the Westlian Methodist group, in 1935 to District group, Parish church in 1945 and then in 1951 to an open group. At one time there were 7 scout groups in the Wellington area. Leslie Wheeler from the pet shop ran 1st Wellington Methodist group and later went on to be the district commissioner. Colonel Herbert was the county commissioner and he later became the earl of Powys.
Future plans:- At the Wrekin camp site we plan to under fill the toilet and shower block as there is a 3 inch gap under the floor, although the foundations of the walls are all right. We also wish to put an electric supply into the wellington building and heating into the two accommodation buildings. Wellington HQ. building has a cracks in the walls and floor. These cracks have occurred since the Station car park was built. The council have been checking the cracks and over resent time no more movement has been noted although the building is 4 inches lower on the Station car park end. The plan is now to repair the cracks and replace cracked bricks in the rear wall. The council will take no responsibility for the subsidence and the scout insurance say they no longer cover subsidence. We are very grateful for your donation which we will use for the good of the young people of our area by investing in the Wellington head quarters and the Wrekin camp site.