John Davies Treks To Trefonen Post Office to Post the Final Tree of Light Cheques

The Rotary Club of Oswestry is delighted and grateful to have received over £4,700 from their Christmas Tree of Light Appeal this year - all to be donated to local charities. This annual appeal has seen donations from members of the public commemorating a significant event in their lives plus sponsorship from local businesses without which the event could not take place.

This year the Club were supporting The Severn Hospice, The Oswestry Stroke Club, The Movement Centre, Oswestry Young Carers (now Crossroads Together) and the Midlands Air Ambulance who will each receive £800 from the appeal with the remaining amount of over £700 going to local charities throughout the year.

The Club has also chosen to add funds raised from street collections and the Club's other activities, acting swiftly to donate £500 to West Mercia Search and Rescue (who were very active in the floods at the start of the year), £200 to kinokulture to support them as they have closed for business due to the lockdown and £100 to Oswestry Stoma Support Group

Members of the Club usually present cheques to the Tree of Light charities in person allowing the opportunity for members to find out more about their operation however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all such presentations have been put on hold and all donations have been posted by cheque.

Determined to complete the distribution of the appeal funds despite lockdown, Club member and Trefonen resident John Davies recently made a special trip to Trefonen Post Office to post the final cheques.  John said: "We are delighted to have again had the support of members of the public in raising this terrific total during difficult times and we thank them all for their support.  This year, we are particularly grateful for the support of local businesses who respond to our appeal for help each year and without whose help we could not run this event. 

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank both the members of the public and local sponsors Oswestry Life, Oswestry Town Council, Lloyd's Animal Feeds Ltd, Dairi-Pak Ltd, Lanyon Bowdler, Starbuck Management, Bowen Son & Watson, Morris Cook & Co, David Davies & Sons, D.R.E Accountants, E.C.Hollywell, Woodhead Sales and Letting, The New Saints FC, Majors, Celt Rowlands and Select A Skip UK Ltd.  Thank you - we couldn't do this without you!

"We can see that in this lockdown with businesses closed, staff on furlough and general uncertainty, it is now our turn to support our local businesses.  Some of our members have been supporting local cafes and restaurants as they switch to takeaway food or delivery and shopping through home deliveries and, as our Club is not meeting until at least the end of the lockdown, some members have chosen to donate to the Oswestry & Borders Foodbank in lieu and we are pleased to have raised £500 for them already."