Christmas Day Lunch at the Gostrey Centre
25th December 2006
The Christmas lunch went ahead after a hiccup in the arrangements. The Chairman of Churches Together in Farnham, Roy Graham, made an appeal for a Chef on ‘96.4 The Eagle’ radio station and this was heard by Aldershot businessman, Paul Foy, who arranged for and paid Chef, Victor May, to come and cook the Christmas Lunch.
We are grateful to Paul Foy for providing the Chef and to the Dempster Trust and individuals for donations towards the costs of the lunch. We are also grateful for the team of volunteers who helped with transport, the setting up of the room, food preparation, serving and waiting as well as a multitude of other tasks, without them the event could not have gone ahead.
The room was set up on the Saturday morning by a team of volunteers. On the Sunday morning, another team came in to prepare all the vegetables ready for the Chef and the kitchen team early on Christmas Morning.
The transport team delivered those who couldn’t make their own way to the Gostrey Centre and then the room team helped to make everyone welcome and made sure they had a drink and were settled doen ready for the lunch.
Our local MP, Jeremy Hunt, went round all the tables chatting to the 60 or so guests and the helpers as did Father Tony Whale from St.Joan of Arc Church. Father Whale who also gave thanks for the meal before the meal was served.
The table hosts were on hand to make sure everyone had all they needed and the team of waiters were ready to bring the food round to the tables and clear up as the meal progressed.
Jeremy Hunt gave a short speech including Christmas jokes before rushing off to another engagement in his constituency. The Mayor of Farnham, David Attfield also gave a short speech.
After the meal there was a time of carol singing before Father Christmas arrived to give a small present to each of the guests. The transport team were then on hand to takes people home, while the rest of the volunteers helped clear up the room and complete the washing up.
Churches Together in Farnham is very grateful to all the volunteers for giving up their Christmas Day to help provide this lunch for those, most of whom would have otherwise been on their own, on Christmas Day.
