TRADITIONALLY at this time of year, Phyllis Tuckwell holds its annual Light up a Life service, to remember loved ones who are sadly no longer with us.

To keep everyone safe, Light up a Life will not be held at the hospice this year, but instead will be live streamed from in front of Guildford Cathedral, at 7.30pm on Monday (December 7), so all those who would usually attend can instead watch it from home.

The service will include carols and prayers as usual, and 15-year-old Ruby Skilbeck, a finalist in the BBC’s Young Chorister of the Year 2020, will sing Silent Night.

A giant Christmas tree will be projected on to the front of the cathedral in place of the usual hospice Christmas tree which everyone would traditionally gather around – and during the service the tree’s lights will be ‘switched on’ in memory of all those who are sadly no longer with us.

Phyllis Tuckwell will also project on to the cathedral the names of all those who are being remembered this year.

Watch the service live at www.pth.org.uk/lualservice2020 and it will also be recorded, so it can be watched at a later date.

Ruth Masters at Phyllis Tuckwell said: “We are so pleased we are still able to hold our Light up a Life service this year, and are very grateful to Guildford Cathedral for hosting this special and poignant virtual event for us, and to Ruby for kindly singing for us.

“We hope that on the evening of December 7, people across our community will join with us online, and take a moment to reflect and remember with fondness all those we have loved but who are sadly no longer with us.”

The cathedral will be closed to the public during the service.

However, people are welcome to visit the cathedral next Tuesday or Wednesday when it will be lit up again between 5pm and 10.30pm.

Anyone who would like to remember a loved one – whether they were cared for by Phyllis Tuckwell or not – is invited to watch the service.

People can also dedicate a light on the hospice’s virtual night sky in memory of a loved one at www.pth.org.uk/lual

The annual Light up a Life service is provided free of charge, but any donations will help Phyllis Tuckwell continue to provide its vital care.