A LARGE crowd gathered for the switch on of Malvern Rotary Club’s Tree of Light.

The annual campaign invites residents to dedicate one of the hundreds of lights on the tree to an absent lovedone in exchange for a donation to a good cause.

Rotary spokesman Sandy Gibson was delighted with the turnout at Priory Park on Monday evening.

He said: “The majority of people who attend the switchon are those who have made a dedication, so it makes for a very poignant event.

“We had a great turnout and people weren’t put off by the cold weather.”

Rotary president Paul Harris opened proceedings by welcoming those in attendance.

He handed out donations to two of its main beneficiaries.

Mandie Fitzgerald, of Acorns Three Counties Children’s Hospice and Hilary Al Rasheed, of Macmillan Cancer Support, were presented with provisional cheques for £3,750.

Rotarian Rev Roger Watson blessed the tree and then Mr Harris invited town couple Nic and Sue Peeling, longstanding supporters of the campaign, to switch on the lights.

Mr Harris expressed thanks on behalf of all supporters and his wife pressed the switch.

The Chase Brass Band, as they always do, played both before and after the ceremony – which was much appreciated by all.

The tree will be lit in the evenings until Twelfth Night, January 5, and the lists of lives remembered and their donors will be posted on the display boards at Malvern Theatres and the Hub in Malvern Library.

The list will be published in the Malvern Gazette on Friday, December 21 as well as on malverngazette.co.uk and malvernrotaryclub.org.