Blandford Lunch Club Christmas Dinner

On a very cold windy December lunch time, 68 people gathered for Blandford Methodist Church Lunch Club's Christmas Dinner. Amongst those assembled were Reverend Pauline Crispin, Mayor Lynn Lindsey and her consort Tory with her husband Craig, and Glenda & Hayden White representing the William Williams Trust, who each year support the Lunch Club with a very generous donation.

The cooks for the event were our two regular supervisors, Mark Lilley and Nadia Allen along with 6 fantastic young men who between them laid the tables that David had kindly put up earlier, helped prepare the lunch, waited on the Lunch Club folk then washed and cleared up.

Those partaking of the meal were treated to turkey crown, roast potatoes, parsnips, pigs in blankets, stuffing, sprouts, swede & carrot, mash and gravy; and for the vegetarians with us there was a delicious homemade nut roast, made by Mark's wife Christine.

For each guest there was a Christmas cracker, a fun sheet produced by David Wild that contained jokes, Christmas facts and a Christmas word search. There was also a Christmas card signed by the regular helpers, Rona, Pat, Brian, Sheila & Joyce, a box of biscuits to be taken home and a Christmas joke card to entertain folk whilst waiting for the lunch to be served.

Mayor Lindsey spoke for a few minutes before wishing everyone a Happy Christmas then Reverend Pauline Crispin the new Minister at Blandford Methodist Church said the grace and the munching began. Between courses, Sheila played the piano whilst we sang several carols, there was a little bit of quiz before we tucked into Christmas pudding or fresh fruit salad topped with either cream or custard.

Finally, the meal was washed down with a cup of tea or coffee before chocolates gifts were presented to those who had helped though out the year. Julie, who could be found in the kitchen when we were short staffed; Margaret (who sadly was ill on the day) always wipes down the tables after every Lunch Club and Hanna, though in her 91st year, still takes the money twice a week with amazing accuracy and efficiency. There were thanks also to Rona, Sheila, Pat & Brian but the longest and loudest applause was saved for Nadia & Mark and the lads who had done us proud.

After all this, there was just time to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas.

!More photos at the Gallery!