LIGHTS of love will be shining across the county from November as St Richard's Hospice invites people to dedicate a light in memory of someone who is no longer with them.

There will be five Lights of Love events throughout the county in the run up to Christmas giving people the chance to continue the legacy of their loved ones by having a light just for them.

The main event takes place at Worcester Cathedral at 7pm on Friday, November 14.

Following the main service, where the RGS choir will sing, many of those attending walk to the St Richard’s Hospice Christmas Tree in St Andrew’s Spire where the dedicated Lights of Love will be switched on.

The tree lights illuminate the dedicated names of loved ones which are written on boards around the Spire, in books of Thanksgiving placed in Worcester Cathedral, the Priory in Malvern, Pershore Abbey and Droitwich Library throughout December and they will be published in Your Worcester News, if you wish on Christmas Eve.

There will also be an afternoon service earlier in the day on in the Cathedral at 3pm led by the new canon Michael Brierley and featuring the choir from Kings Hawford school.

Anyone who has lost a loved one is welcome to dedicate a light and attend the moving services, not just those who have a connection with St Richard’s.

Jem Cooke, from Worcester, is one of those who is comforted by the Lights of Love services.

He said: “St Richard’s was a huge part of our lives when my dad, Dennis, was ill. The help and support they gave us was phenomenal. Dad spent a week in the hospice after an operation to remove a brain tumour. But dad really wanted to get home before Christmas.

“Because dad was so ill, my step mum, Pat and myself took turns to sit with him overnight. At the drop of a hat, St Richard’s would send someone out to care for him at home and give us a bit of a rest.

“It was a very hard time but I’m grateful that St Richard’s was so supportive of my whole family as well as my dad. We all needed their emotional help during that time.

“Lights of Love is a family event that helps us carry on dad’s memory. We feel connected with all the other people there, who are all going through the same experience as us. It’s such a beautiful ceremony.

"Walking down to the St Andrew’s Spire, my boys Jacob and Oliver can take time to light candles and put them in the ground by their grandad’s name. They talk about him for days afterwards."

For the first time this year there will also be a Lights of Love service taking place at Pershore Abbey on Thursday, November 27, at 2.30pm.

Lights of Love services will also be held at The Sacred Heart Church, Droitwich on Tuesday, November 25, at 6pm with a choir from Dodderhill School and the St Richard’s Singers.

There will be a service at The Great Malvern Priory on Tuesday, December 2, at 6pm, which includes a choir from Malvern St James school performing.

Those who donate will also receive a special photo decoration that can be hung on the Christmas tree at home.

To make a dedication visit strichards.org.uk/lightsoflove or call t01905 763963.