A NEWPORT- based charity has brought a bit of festive sparkle to some of South-East Wales’ seriously ill children after a special trip to London, writes Heather Williams.

Dreams and Wishes, chaired by Newport businessman Tony Curtis, took the children and their families to the capital escorted by six Welsh Guards in their ceremonial reds, along with Anna and Elsa, characters from Disney’s Frozen.

The families, mainly from Newport and Magor, went to the House of Commons for lunch with the speaker, John Bercow, and received a visit from Father Christmas who handed out presents to them all.

Two families were taken to 10 Downing Street for a special Christmas party, before they all went to the London Eye for an exclusive private pod flight. The whole group ended the day with a trip to the London Aquarium.

Tony Curtis, owner of Blue Water Spas, has been working with charities for over 30 years, collaborating with various organisations including the NSPCC on their Full Stop campaign, for which he received his honour.

Mr Curtis enjoys watching the families enjoy the events, saying that the joy he sees is priceless. “Life is about creating magical memories, and this is what I try to do for these children,” he said.

Dreams and Wishes are run by volunteers, and were recently chosen as charity of the year by Wilkinsons Service Centre in Magor. The charity visited St Anne’s Hospice on Thursday December 18, before joining children at the Royal Gwent Hospital with the Welsh Guards and Father Christmas.