Children, donkeys and Santa visits hospital for Christmas light switch on

20/12/2022

Mold Community Hospital switched on its Christmas memory tree lights, for people to celebrate and remember loved ones and patients who are no longer with us. 

The hospital held a special event for their patients inviting local school Ysgol Bryn Gwalia, Father Christmas, donkeys and family members. 

Everyone enjoyed a special visit from Father Christmas and the school’s choir sang Christmas songs for the patients and staff. The Moel Famau Donkeys, Rosie and Nancy, also took a walk around the outside of the hospital so all the patients could see them from their windows. 

The Christmas memory tree was set up last year by Diane Sweeney, Activity and Wellbeing Co-ordinator. In 2020, Diane found a photo bauble with a name on the back on their Christmas tree outside the hospital. Diane found out the bauble had been placed on the tree by Jean, from near Mold, in memory of her daughter, Phillipa.   

In 2021 Diane arranged the hospital’s first switch-on of ‘Phillipa’s Memory Tree’, and it’s become a new annual event. 

Diane said: “I’m so delighted to have made this a new tradition for the hospital. In 2020 we were donated a real Christmas tree which we put outside the building, as we couldn’t have our usual tree and decorations inside due to COVID-19 infection prevention measures.  

“When I was taking the decorations off the tree, I found a bauble with the name Phillipa on it, I then found Jean who had placed it on the tree in memory of her daughter, who had passed away at the hospital many years ago. After chatting to Jean we came up with the memory tree.” 

Father Christmas and the Mayor of Mold Councillor Haydn Jones turned on the Christmas tree lights this year, and there was plenty of hot chocolate, mince pies and Christmas cake to enjoy. 

Diane added: “We are encouraging others to place a bauble with a name on it in memory of their loved ones too. This year’s light switch-on was so lovely, it was great to see the children and patients being so happy seeing and stroking the donkeys. The children sang beautifully too for us. 

“I’d like to thank the community for their donations, the schools that got involved and the support from our Matron and all the staff at the hospital, we couldn’t have done this without them.”