LOVED ones were remembered during a poignant candle-lit vigil in Princes Risborough on Sunday.

More than 100 people gathered at the Duke Street gardens to say prayers and remember loved ones lost before the chairman of Princes Risborough Town Council Cllr Alan Turner illuminated the Tree of Light.

He said: “It’s one of the best events of the year and each year the attendance seems to grow, which shows how important people think it is.

“It gives residents the opportunity to come together and each of them has their own reasons for coming and memories of loved ones, it brings the community together and that is extremely important as well.”

The event, one of eight around the area, is jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Princes Risborough and Iain Rennie Hospice at Home.

More than 200 people left dedications to loved ones this year, which is a new record for the charity which receives a donation for each one made.

Penny Crosswell, Iain Rennie Community Fundraising Manager, said: “It is an opportunity to remember someone loved and lost, it is a special and poignant time, and an opportunity to be together to represent those that are no longer with us.

“The amount of people we are caring for is going up, it has levelled off, but over the next four-to-five years we expect that to go up further.”

Among the charity volunteers at the event was David Coles, whose wife Anne was cared for by Iain Rennie nurses before she died in 2004.

The Downley resident will have a dedication to his wife at the High Wycombe event but he was handing out candles yesterday.

He said: “We remember people we’ve lost and give thanks to Iain Rennie, as most people here would have used and been supported by the nursing service at home, where they’d much rather be.

“It’s for anyone to remember someone they’ve lost, it doesn’t have to have any association with the charity. This is a lovely event.”

To make a donation, visit the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home website at www.irhh.org.