MARIE Curie nurses and hundreds of residents gathered at Thaxted Parish Church last Thursday for the annual Lights to Remembers Service.

Father Raymond Taylor led the remembrance service during which Christmas carols were sung and all present – including The Lord Lieutenant, Lord Petre, and High Sheriff of Essex Michael Hindmarch – were invited to light candles in memory of loved ones.

The event is held as a fundraiser for the Marie Curie Cancer Care Essex Nursing Appeal which is aiming to raise �538,000 this year to fund its 63 nurses who are working throughout the county.

And it proved a success: over �2000 was raised on the night, �470 from donations.

Marie Curie Nurses work in villages, towns and cities all over the UK providing free specialist nursing care and emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families at the end of their lives. Often working through the night, they make it possible for people to live their last days at home, rather than in a hospital.

For more information about Marie Curie Cancer Care or the Essex Nursing Appeal visit mariecurie.org.uk/appeal or call Anne Hillion on 01920 468956.

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from the support of a Marie Curie Nurse please speak to your GP, district nurse or discharge liaison nurse.