The run-up to Christmas saw St Cadoc’s Church Raglan decorated with an amazing display of Christmas trees in an exhibition in which many local businesses and community groups took part by bringing along a decorated tree to adorn the church.

In all 19 trees formed the exhibition which bought nearly 400 visitors to the church over the weekend they were displayed. There was a free Christmas hat for all children, refreshments and a raffle in which more than 50 presents were donated as prizes by members of the local community.

Visitors from as far and wide as Bath, Aberdare, Cwmbran and Cardiff joined local residents in having a cuppa, voting for their favourite tree and counting the baubles on one of the trees. Everyone was also invited to purchase and personalise a bauble for £1 to adorn the Church tree, and this raised £239.

The total amount raised over the weekend was more than £1,270. This in addition to the £231 collected during the Raglan School Carol Concert, £69 collected from local shop donation boxes plus an additional amount donated from The Beaufort Arms Hotel from Christmas Tree sales has enabled the Raise the Roof Campaign community fund to exceed its end of year target of £30,000!

The committee would like to express a sincere thanks to all those mentioned above with an special thank you to the following: Sylvia Price and Jean Langley for organising the Christmas Tree Exhibition, all the ladies who served the refreshments over the three days, Julie Wyer and family who sat and decorated the purchased baubles for the Church tree, all those who donated Christmas presents for the raffle plus all the local Raglan business and community organisations that took time to decorate and exhibit trees of which the winner was announced as Raglan Ladies Group whose tree was decorated traditionally with a food theme.