Memorial service to remember lost loved ones

Families travelled from far away to pay their respects at the event, which was held at St Mary’s Church last Sunday.

The service, led by the Reverend Dave Marvin, was organised by Gillotts Funeral Directors.

Families took it in turn to step forward to light a candle while Joanne Hutsby, a funeral director in Gillotts Funeral Directors, read out the names of everybody who was being remembered.

Linda Staniforth, from Langley Mill, brought roses to the service, in memory of her mother and father, Muriel and George Whaley.

She said: “I lost my mother in June and I wanted to come along and light a candle for her and my father. I brought two roses because our family had a nursery and we always used to grow them, so they are very appropriate.

“The service was lovely. Life is so busy so it’s nice to take a minute at Christmas to reflect on everything.”

Joanne Hutsby said: “It was wonderful to see so many of our families coming together. We had more people than ever this year and there was standing room only by the time the service started.

“We first decided to hold this event because we recognise how hard the first Christmas can be for families who have lost a loved one. The flowers and the candles are an extremely fitting way for them to remember them.”

Gillotts Funeral Directors has also erected four Christmas trees in its offices, in Eastwood, Kimberley, Stapleford and Heanor, and is inviting families to hang a message of remembrance on their branches.

The company will donate £1 to charity for every message that is sent, with all the money raised this year going to Kimberley cancer charity the Ryan Lee Trust.