In the run-up to Christmas the Club staged its Tree of Remembrance in the Wulfrun Centre.

Since 2003 The Tree of Remembrance has raised well over £100,000 for City charities and good causes while, at the same time, providing people with the opportunity to honour lost loved ones in their Christmas celebrations.

The Tree, positioned close to the Dudley Street entrance of the Wulfrun Centre became the focal point for many seeking an opportunity to express their sense of loss and gratitude to deceased family members and friends.

This year’s activities were hampered by the cost of living crisis and postal strikes but, thanks to generous donations from Wolverhampton citizens and sponsorship from Millers Jewellers, Peter Posh Menswear, FBC Manby Bowdler LLP, Treadsetters Tyres of Halesfield, Sandford Carpets & Curtains and The James Beattie Charitable Trust, the Tree of Remembrance maintained its record of boosting the funds of city charities.

At a recent lunch, hosted by Club President Sylvia Morgan, cheques for £1,700 were presented to Hayley Powell (The Haven), Emily Thompson (Compton Care) and Paula Anderson (The MS Therapy Centre), with the Club’s charitable Trust benefiting by the same sum.

Lorraine McCarthy, who headed up the team of Rotarians who staged this 6 week event says, “The continuing support of the Wulfrun Centre management and the Express & Star, made the event possible.  We are indebted to them and to the other sponsors who so readily gave their support.  Although the event is now over, the messages which were displayed around the Tree and in the Express & Star will continue to be featured on the Club’s website until November, and can be viewed at –  www.rotaryclubwolverhampton.co.uk/tree-of-remembrance/” 

Club President Sylvia Morgan presenting the cheque to Hayley Powell (The Haven),

Club President Sylvia Morgan presenting a cheque to Paula Anderson (MS Therapy Centre).

President Sylvia presenting a cheque to Emily Thompson (Compton Care)

The Wolverhampton Music School again offered their premises and a good crowd attended for this return of the competition with no fewer than eight participating clubs.  Three vocalists (a fourth having dropped out with tonsillitis) and nine instrumentalists ‘faced the music’. Catherine Chung was declared the best singer by the adjudicators with her two pieces by Henry Purcell and Gabriel Fauré. Judging was more difficult with the wide range of instruments ; percussion, piano, violin, oboe, clarinet and French horn. They opted for Leo Barnett playing Gilbert Vinter and Sergei Prokofiev on the French horn. They (Phaedra Nicholls and Simon Platford) also congratulated all the participants while criticising them positively. Richard Green was our skilful MC, giving us information about Rotary activities between performances. Bob Stolz from Bilston and John Mottram (organiser of Vocational Study Exchange) also chipped in and Paul Lockley had produced the well designed programme. The candidates : Preston Ssekandi, Caroline Smith, Megan Dobson, Ema Kelpsaite, Charlotte Anderson, William Tyne, Sophie Adams, Lucy Horne, Edie Beech and  Jasamar Gakhal will all have benefited from the experience. The winners Catherine Chung, sponsored by the City of Wolverhampton club and Leo Barnett, sponsored by Bilston and Wolverhampton West will now proceed to the District Final on 23^rd March.