Volunteers spread Christmas cheer
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
29/12/2008
More than three hundred of the borough’s pensioners were able to celebrate Christmas Day together thanks to the time and generosity of volunteers and local businesses.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s events team has been organising a special Christmas Day lunch at the Town Hall for more than twenty years, offering people who may have no family living nearby a place to come together for roast turkey with all the trimmings, Christmas presents and entertainment.
Thanks to the generous support of local businesses and volunteers, guests were chauffeured from their homes to the Town Hall where they were greeted with a drink and a traditional Christmas lunch.
Councillor Andrew Johnson, Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham said: “Christmas is a time for families to be together. Unfortunately not all of us are lucky enough to have friends or family around. That is why we host our annual Christmas Day lunch party for older people who would otherwise spend the day alone. We rely on the support of volunteers to make this special event possible and to me this truly demonstrates the spirit of Christmas.”
With a whopping 1,500 sprouts to boil, 60 kilos of turkey to cook, 500 stuffing balls to prepare and a massive 15 kilos of custard needed for the trifle, there certainly was plenty of work for the volunteers to do as the council’s Event Manager, Jem Kale, explains: “Our events team really do put a lot of work into the day but it is all worth it in the end. I know that the Christmas Day festivities live long in the memories of those who attend and that makes it all worthwhile to me.”
Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader of the Council, was on hand to serve food and chat to the Christmas Day VIPs. He said: “This really is one of the highlights of the year for me. The event sums up what Christmas should be all about – helping those in need. I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who volunteer on Christmas Day. Without their help it would simply just not happen. The council's events team also deserve special thanks for giving up their time and making this wonderful day the success that it is.”
The volunteers come from all walks of life and all have one aim in common – to make the Christmas experience memorable for pensioners who may otherwise have to spend the day alone.
Cyrillia Charles of Fulham Palace Road has been driving the elderly people to the Town Hall for the last six Christmases. She arrives at the bus depot at 8:00am on Christmas Day to make sure that all the busses are ready.
She said: “I am ferrying people to and from the Town Hall until 4:00 or 5:00pm. It is a very busy day but I really enjoy it."
Flora Stanbury of St Peter's Square, Hammersmith has been volunteering with her two daughters for the last six years. She said: “We just want to help and it is for such a good cause. I cannot think of a better way to spend Christmas Day. We really enjoy meeting the elderly people who come from all walks of life. We help to bring them into the hall and once lunch is finished we enjoy a dance with them.”
Pat Oldman, of Hayden Park Road, Shepherds Bush, has been serving food at the Christmas Day lunch for the last eight years. She said: “I love helping out and it gives me a really good feeling. It is wonderful to see all the pensioners with a smile on their faces. There is a brilliant community spirit and that is what Christmas is all about.”
» See the Christmas lunch photos on Flickr (opens new window)
The list of the donators for this year’s Christmas Day lunch includes:
WWT London Wetland Centre
Tesco, Shepherds Bush Road
Hotel Lily, Sunhope
Harper Collins
Sylvia Grey Drycleaners Ltd
Hammersmith Job Centre Plus
Hitchcock & King Ltd
Christopher Wray Lighting
L'Oreal
Prestige Couriers
Novotel London West
Polish Social and Cultural Association Ltd
Adel Rootstein
Charles Tyrwhitt
CMS Peripherals
Earls Court & Olympia
Nisbets
Eisai Ltd
BBC Worldwide
Chelsea Football Club
Coca Cola Ltd
Fullers Brewery
Coach House Studios Ltd
Tesco, Hammersmith Broadway
Marston Properties
Visit Britain
GHK Consulting Ltd
Thames Wharf Charity
Mrs Carolyn Parrish
The Walt Disney Company Limited
Island Records
Fulham FC
Marks and Spencer - King Street
Fulham Palace Garden Centre
The Queens Club Ltd
Mr David Butler
The Worx
HR
Hunters & Frankau
Banner Corporation
Shoots & Leaves
