St Barnabas Hospice is a local independent charity and every year they support more than 10 thousand people across Lincolnshire affected by a life-limiting or terminal illness.
We deliver free, high quality, compassionate end-of-life care and support to patients, their families and carers. We aim to enable them to live as fully as they are able for however many days, weeks, or months they have left. Source
For several years now they have been organising a special event near Christmastime: A torchlight procession throughout the streets of Lincoln, which culminates in a short service of remembrance outside Lincoln Cathedral.
The reasons are twofold: 1, it is an opportunity for the charity to raise their profile and attract more donations. And 2, it provides an opportunity for the general public to join in and take the time to reflect on memories of people who have passed.
It was certainly an emotional evening, and it was a real privelge to be invited with other members of the local Camera Club to capture the event.
[technically, I'm not actually a member, my partner is. But she was going to be wandering about the streets in the dark, and potentially on her own, so I went to keep her company, and decided to take my camera along too]
It started around 7pm, and the first task was to light all the 'torches' which were big wax candle things. After everyone was 'lit up' the procession started, and people started to make thier way along the 1 mile route towards the cathedral.
There was a small brass band leading the way at the front, but we couldn't see that as we were positioned somewhere near the middle of it. I was worried about how to take pictures at night time, but in the end the torches burned so bright it was relatively easy, and I didn't need to resort to flash
The procession arrived in front of the cathedral just after 8pm and the huge crowd of poeple were treated to a short and well written service helping to remember those who were lost. There was also a choir over to oneside, but I could tell you what the song was (going deaf in my old age)
On the right hand side you can see the 'tree of life' which is a focal point of the service.
For the final act, people were invited up to the tree to write small messages and hang them onto the tree itself.
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