Christmas lunch about giving people 'fabulous day'

Final preparations for a Christmas Day lunch for those who may otherwise be alone are firmly under way in parts of the South East.

Whether a tradition more than 20 years old, such as that at Tonbridge Baptist Church in Kent, or a new initiative at the Parkview Community Centre in Sheerwater, Surrey, the aim is to give people an enjoyable Christmas Day.

Margaret Bull, who organises the Tonbridge lunch, said: "My Christmases were beautiful days, happy, happy days, but that's not everybody's experience."

Martin Vodden, from the FoodWise charity putting on the Sheerwater lunch, added: "Christmas for many is a happy time, but it can also be a time of sadness for others."

Since the previous appeal, Mrs Bull said she had recruited four cooks and was promising "a party".

She said one of her favourite memories over the years was the way in which relative strangers joined forces to give people a special day.

"They don't even know each other but they work together brilliantly," the 73-year-old said.

The beauty of having run the Christmas lunch since 2003 is that Mrs Bull gets a lot of returnees, including volunteers.

She said: "Bob, who is the Father Christmas, rang me in 2004 after the first lunch, and said: 'would you like a Father Christmas?' He has been with me every year since."

As with every year, Mrs Bull is looking forward to this year's lunch.

"People are my life," she said.

Meanwhile in Surrey, Mr Vodden said FoodWise was motivated to start the tradition because, to the best of the team's knowledge, there "wasn't anywhere else in Woking doing a Christmas lunch".

The "ultimate principle" of FoodWise is about relieving financial hardship through teaching people how to cook and by running ShopWise, a scheme which offers food to families at a significantly reduced rate.

It said putting on a free Christmas lunch for up to 80 people was about creating a warm and welcoming space, particularly for the "older generation".

The charity, which is also celebrating its 10th year, said it had already received help from numerous organisations, including cooking equipment donated by construction company Mulalley and Co.

Mr Vodden promised a day full of fun festivities, including Father Christmas, gifts, carols and a quiz.

"We're going to do it every year," he said.

When asked whether he was looking forward to this first foray into Christmas lunch, Mr Vodden was unequivocal.

"I am, because I am determined that we will make it a fabulous day for everyone," he said.

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