Hundreds turn up to Light Up a Life in memory of loved ones

Over a thousand people lit up torches and marched through Lincoln to celebrate and remember loved ones who have lost their lives.

The annual St Barnabas Light Up a Life procession started at 7.30pm from Clayton’s Sports Ground and people walked shoulder to shoulder around uphill Lincoln with others.

Due to the works at Lincoln Cathedral, the procession stopped at the Lincoln Hotel to pay respects and write messages of love at the Tree of Life.

Photo: Stuart Wilde

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

The parade then made its way to Lincoln Cathedral where the new LED lighting system was turned on for the first time.

As a special nod to St Barnabas Hospice, which organises the parade, the cathedral lit up with yellow and blue.

Photo: Stuart Wilde

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

Charity celebrations will also be held at another eight towns across Lincolnshire:

• Boston Celebration – Sunday, December 1, 2pm, Salvation Army, 59-61 High Street, Boston, PE21 8ST.
• Gainsborough Celebration – Tuesday, December 3, 6.30pm, United Reformed Church, Church Street, Gainsborough, DN21 2JR.
• Skegness Celebration – Sunday, December 8, 2.30pm, St Paul’s Baptist Church, 19 Beresford Avenue, Skegness, PE25 3JD.
• Sleaford Celebration – Sunday, December 8, 3pm, Sleaford Methodist Church, Church Lane, Sleaford, NG34 7DF.
• Louth Celebration – Sunday, December 8, 3pm, Louth Methodist Church, Nicholl Hill, Louth, LN11 9NQ.
• Grantham Celebration – Tuesday, December 10, 6pm, St Wulframs Church, Church Street, Grantham, NG31 6RR.
• Sutton Celebration – Saturday, December 14, 2pm, St Andrews, Sutton Road, Hannah cum Hagnaby, LN13 9QL.
• Spalding Celebration – Sunday, December 15, 3pm, St John the Baptist Church, Hawthorn Bank, Spalding, PE11 1JQ.

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

Louise Cotton, Event Lead, said: “On behalf of everyone at St Barnabas Hospice, I would like to say what an amazing evening we had at this year’s Torchlight Procession.

“The community came together to remember loved ones in a beautiful way and the weather was perfect. A huge thank you goes to all of our volunteers who supported the event in various ways.

“There was also an incredible amount of local businesses that offered their support.

“The Tree of Life will be outside The Lincoln Hotel until the first week of January and we welcome members of the public to visit and spend a quiet moment remembering their loved one.

“We heard some amazing stories and there were some truly wonderful people being remembered last night.”

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography

Photo: Stuart Wilde Photography