Mr Chapman said they had come up with the idea of collecting trees from neighbours in 1999 as a way to raise money to buy a new organ at Prestbury Church, where his son then sang in the choir.
Each chorister received a £10 incentive to get involved and the family trailer was used to pick up trees, with the £10 being spent on petrol.
“Everyone said it was a brilliant idea and asked if we’d do it again,” he said.
“Pete asked me the second year if we could borrow a van from where I worked, and the third year said he felt he was on to something,” said Mr Raymond.
“We needed a charity that would appeal to everyone in the area, so we decided to support the hospice.”
