Thanks to all for your wonderful support

Through your Postbag, may I convey our sincere thanks to all those who made our Rotary fundraising activities over the Christmas season such a success. As you have reported, the Christmas Trees of Lights in Leamington and Whitnash raised £3,600 for Macmillan Cancer Support. In addition, our Father Christmas in the Royal Priors raised £430 for other Rotary charities. The trees enabled many people to remember their loved ones who could not be with them, while Father Christmas gave several hundred children the unique chance to talk with him.

Heading the list of people and organisations to whom we are indebted are yourself and your tireless Courier staff. Your articles supporting the Trees of Light described the important work of Macmillan in our community, featuring local personalities and local activities in particular. This is a prime example of your paper’s excellent community support.

We are also indebted to so many other people and organisations. In particular we wish to thank Warwick District Council and Whitnash Town Council and their staff for their whole-hearted support, Royal Priors manager Gerry McManus and his staff for hosting Father Christmas, Peter Smith of Tandy UK for his sound and lighting expertise at the Leamington Town Hall switch on and Jenny and David Mason and NS Booth Electrical Contractors for the sparkling Whitnash tree.

Our especial thanks are due to all those who have so generously donated to all our fundraising activities, not only recently but also throughout the years. With so many charities vying for contributions in an especially difficult economy, we are very conscious of the immense public support we enjoy for our Rotary charity activities throughout the year. Thank you. - David Swain, President, Rotary Club of Royal Leamington Spa.