Pupils from a public school and a private one joined forces yesterday to add some festive cheer to Hamilton.

Twenty children from Mount Saint Agnes Academy and Dellwood Middle School, took part in the second annual Dr EF Gordon Square tree decorating event, held at the junction of Court Street and Dundonald Street.

Aquiyie Richardson, 13, from Dellwood, said: “We are here representing Dr EF Gordon because he did a lot for Bermuda.”

Sue Moench, the MSA principal, said: “It’s a great opportunity for us to work alongside our neighbours, and it’s really in the true spirit of Christmas — giving back to the community.

“To be able to decorate a tree in our community is an important part of what goes on at Christmas time.”

Nishanthi Bailey, the acting deputy principal of Dellwood Middle School, added: “We are very thankful for the opportunity to come out and appreciative to be able to give back in this manner.

“We enjoy partnering with our several community partners to engage in the holiday spirit.

“Any time we are called on or invited to participate in something that gives back to the community, especially during the holidays, we jump at the opportunity.”

She added: “The children definitely enjoy it. Any time we are called on to give back, our young people graciously and willingly come to lend a hand.”

Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, said: “The idea for this came from the residents’ committee.

“We were having issues with the tree, we felt that in some ways the Christmas tree was being disrespected by beer bottles and miniatures being hung from it. Rather than taking what would have been the old way of thinking and getting rid of the Christmas tree, we felt ‘how can we enhance it and give it more meaning for the community?’.

“We want to, hopefully, pass on that wonderful Christmas feeling that children have, to the residents in this area. We are hoping to do this for many years to come.

“We want to make it a tradition.”