AT a tough time when money has been short and uncertainty prevails the people of Ludlow dug deep to support the tree of light appeal.

Tree of Light is an appeal that is run every year to support a good cause and enable people to remember a loved one in a special way.

The response this year was even better than last year and Hands Together LUDLOW will benefit from over £600 once the Gift Aid has been refunded by HMRC.

Lots of the loyal supporters continued to donate joined by some new names. This year many chose to donate online using the Golden Giving website.

A Book of Remembrance is now on display in the Lady Chapel at St Laurence’s church. The church is open every day from 11am – 1pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and from 1pm – 3pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Face coverings should be worn and other safeguarding measures will be in place.

The money will help Hands Together LUDLOW maintain the many services it offers to those within the community in need.

Help includes delivering prescriptions and doing shopping as well as looking out for people and providing a befriending service.

The group continues to maintain the Help line number on 01584 817250, with calls answered Monday to Saturday 9am until 5pm, and an answerphone outside of these hours.

After the lifting of the first lockdown it was thought that the service might not be needed but this has been anything but the case with a lockdown in November followed by the one that started after Christmas.

The Hands Together meal machine ramped up a gear at the end of December to produce a massive 60 Christmas dinners for people alone on Christmas Day.

Tesco supplied enough vouchers to buy all the veg and accompaniments to the meal and a selection of Santa suits for the delivery drivers.

The turkey was donated by Ludlow Farm Shop; they have been generous in the past and this year was no exception - they donated 15kg of turkey roll!

A full Christmas menu was served with turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, carrots, peas, red cabbage, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy followed by Christmas pudding or trifle and cheese and biscuits.

Some Rotarians joined the volunteers to deliver hot Christmas lunches and a goody bag crammed with treats donated by local producers.