ALL three of Oswestry’s Rotary Clubs are gearing up for a proper Rotary Christmas this year after 2020 saw restrictions placed on their activities by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tree of Light Appeal 2021

The Rotary Club of Oswestry will be bringing back its Tree of Light appeal centred once more on the Christmas tree on Festival Square outside the Square One Cafe Bar.

Early Christmas revellers can grab a cafe table on the square, buy a drink and see close up the tree lights being switched on by Oswestry Town Mayor Cllr Mark Jones at 5:00pm on Friday 26th November when they will be able to join in with traditional carol singing by a choir from The Marches Academy.

Santa Claus and his elf helper will also be there mingling with the crowds to have their photo taken with the spectators.

The Appeal itself not only launches the Christmas season but more importantly raises much needed funds for local charities. This year the headline charity is the Midland Air Ambulance with other local charities chosen being Young Carers in Oswestry, Severn Hospice, Lingen Davies and the Marches Riding for the Disabled group.

Donations of £5 may be made to the Appeal funds by texting TREEOFLIGHT to 70085. Multiple texts are welcome with each one costing only £5 plus one standard rate message. Donors are able to add 25% Gift Aid to their donation during the process.

Traditional donation by cheque is also possible by downloading a sponsor form (where a dedication can be made to remember a significant life event from 2021) from the Club’s website www.rotarycluboswestry.co.uk.

The Appeal will run until Twelfth Night – January 5th 2022 – and the Club is hoping for much public support.

Sticker Competition

Many businesses around Oswestry are also supporting the Tree of Light campaign by becoming Appeal Sponsors or hosting Tree of Light collection boxes to receive Christmas shoppers’ loose change.

Grateful for this support, Club President Dave Griggs has also been pleased by Oswestry’s shop owners’ enthusiasm for his campaign to ask businesses around town to display a “We Support The Rotary Club of Oswestry” sticker in their window.

Praising the business community Dave said: “Oswestry businesses have been wonderful supporting our ‘Tree of Light’ and ‘Sticker Competition’, helping us to raise much needed money for local charities. To you all, a big Thank You.”

Celebrating the season, and the success of the sticker campaign, Dave has announced a Rotary Club of Oswestry Christmas Competition with a prize of £25 to find the winning entrant who can spot the most stickers around town.

With a closing date of 31st December 2021, entries should be made on a sheet of paper with the entrant’s name and contact details together with the list of businesses where the stickers have been spotted.

A £2 entry fee per entry should also be enclosed and dropped off with the entry form at John Davies Investment & Mortgage Services, 22 Willow St, Oswestry, SY11 1AD – just opposite The Post Office.

All proceeds from this competition will be donated to the Tree of Light Appeal for local charities.