On Saturday (December 3) Chepstow Rotary Club held its annual Torchlight Carol Service at Tintern Abbey. This most popular family event is always well supported and this year almost 1,000 adults and children attended.

Families joined the queue to buy their programmes, flaming torches and glow sticks and after lighting their flambés and illuminating their light sticks the people formed a very, very long procession on the road adjacent to the Abbey, indeed it reached all the way from the event entrance at the CADW shop all the way to the A466.

The assembly, led by Rotarian David Burr, slowly marched off down the side of the ruins, their glow illuminating the Abbey with flickering light adding to the stillness and ambience.

Wyedean School choir joined in the service. This was a most wonderful sight with the flaming torches held high, the Abbey ruins floodlit behind and the voices becoming ever more strident.

The event was opened by the Reverend Mike Kippax after which carols were sung. The choir of The Ukrainian Community Hub also sang for the assembly.

Rotary President Paul Durant thanked everyone for supporting the event and wished everyone a very happy Christmas and made an appeal for donations to The Ukraine Community Hub