Funeral firm hands over £2,000 charity cheque

A Nottinghamshire funeral company took time out of a church service held to remember lost loved ones to hand over the proceeds of its annual Christmas tree memorial appeal.

Staff from Gillotts Funeral Directors gave a cheque for £2,000 to a local hospice, Treetops Hospice Care, after raising the money over the festive period.

The service was held at St Mary’s Church in Greasley over the weekend and attracted more than 200 people who came to pay respects to family and friends who died during 2017 and in years gone by.

The event was due to have been held in early December but was postponed due to heavy snow. During the service, families were invited to the front of the church to light a candle and staff also used flowers brought by each family to make four floral arrangements.

Once the service was over, Gillotts staff also released four white doves as a further act of remembrance.

The company raised the money by donating £1 for every message of remembrance left on the branches of Christmas trees erected in the foyers of its five offices across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Joanne Hutsby, a partner in Gillotts Funeral Directors, said: “All year long families tell us how much Treetops has helped and supported them, and have made a difference not just to the person who has passed away but to everyone.

“We donate money to good causes through our Christmas tree appeal and decided that it was time to recognise Treetops this time round.

“We’re delighted that once again our funeral homes were full of messages of remembrance and as a result we were able to give so much to such a worthy cause.”

Tina Roberts, community and events fundraiser at Treetops, who accepted the money on behalf of the charity, said: “On behalf of everybody at Treetops I would like to say thank you to Gillotts and everyone who helped raise the money by taking part in the appeal.”