Luncheon club volunteers serve up over 100 Christmas dinners

Denton Luncheon Club served up more than 120 Christmas dinners plus all the trimmings for older folk at the town’s Festival Hall.

Denton Luncheon Club served up more than 120 Christmas dinners plus all the trimmings for older folk at the town’s Festival Hall.

The annual event has grown and grown over the years with the club serving the community for 12 years now.

From small beginnings in 2012 and serving just 13 pensioners at its very first gathering in Victoria Park Community Centre, the monthly offer has grown in popularity beyond all recognition.

Founding member Denton North East Councillor Denise Ward said: “The luncheon club was initially formed to bring older folk together each month who might be lonely, to enjoy a free meal plus bingo and a raffle.”

From humble beginnings the monthly meetings eventually outgrew the community centre, with the club moving across to the Festival Hall in more recent times to cater for growing numbers.

Cllr Ward cooks up and provides the monthly meals herself with meat and potato and cheese and onion pies on the menu offered alongside seasonal desserts, like apple crumble and custard, plus tea and coffee.

Above all it provides an opportunity for older folk to come together, enjoy some company and make new friends.

The monthly gatherings have grown in numbers to over 100 on occasions with the club cooking up Christmas dinner for 200 (including a small army of volunteers now needed to help serve up the dinners and clear the dishes).

This Christmas was no different with a traditional festive lunch followed by mince pies and cream or Christmas cake.

Entertainment included live music from the Bridgebeats who had everyone up singing and dancing, a visit from Santa plus bingo and a raffle with some wonderful prizes.

“We had a full Christmas dinner with turkey, stuffing and pigs in blankets. We’ve been serving Christmas dinner for 200 people every year for several years now and it’s always a free event,” said Cllr Ward.

She thanked all of the volunteers involved in helping on the day, from setting up, serving meals, clearing up and donating prizes for the raffle and bingo. Among those assisting on the day were volunteers from Hays Travel Denton plus the National Highways and Tilbury Douglas team delivering the M67 St Anne’s Bridge scheme.

Special guests were the Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Betty Affleck and her consort Declan Fitzpatrick.

A cheque for £135 was presented by the club to Tameside and Glossop Macmillan at the Christmas dinner. The sum was raised by the luncheon team at a separate fundraiser earlier in the year when the team made cakes and biscuits for donations to Macmillan.