Lunch Club

Over 90 or 80? Maybe in your

seventies? Living alone and no longer

driving, except to potter around the

village? You have a disability or long-

term health problem, and would love

to get out to meet old friends or make

new ones? If so, we would be

delighted to see you at the Second

Friday Lunch Club, which meets every

month alternating between the Village

Hall at Buckland Newton and a local

pub. The cost is £10 for 2 courses.

For the few who have not heard of The Second Friday Lunch Club (so named because it takes place on the second Friday of each month) it was formed many years ago to reach out to people who were living on their own, maybe feeling lonely, isolated or perhaps didn’t drive. We usually arrive about 12.30 pm for a 12.45 pm start. From the beginning it proved a huge success. Our members were, and still are, able to enjoy a lunch in our village hall prepared and cooked by volunteers. In the early days members paid £5 for a lunch which consisted of a fruit juice, a choice of two main courses and also a choice of two puddings. Lastly, they enjoyed a cup of coffee or tea. Nowadays members pay £10 which is still very good value. On alternate months there is an outing to a pub and as we all know, a meal out would be hard to find for £10, although this is what our members pay, and the rest is subsidised by the club. That of course means fundraising. We are fortunate that we get a very welcome boost from the annual Village Fete, and we have in the past tried several ideas to increase our funds. Last month (November), on a really wet Friday, Lunch Club members had a most enjoyable outing to The Gaggle where they had an excellent meal followed by the AGM. At the AGM it was agreed that from January 2026 the charge to members when we eat out would be £12 (an increase of £2). This month we will meet for our last get together in 2025 on Friday 5th December, 12:30 p.m. for a 12:45 p.m. start. We are back in Buckland Newton Village Hall for a traditional Christmas dinner brought to us by caterer Helen Furness. So, no cooking for our helpers but unfortunately there is no escape from the washing up. Every year we have a Secret Santa moment when we each bring a wrapped present to go into a sack, and everyone has a chance to pick something memorable. It has been suggested that members might like to spend between £5 - £10 on a gift. Please indicate on the outside of your present whether it is for a male or female. For those perhaps new to the area, the Lunch Club reaches out to people who may be feeling lonely, isolated or perhaps no longer able to drive, but who would welcome the chance to enjoy a home-cooked lunch and perhaps get to know other village folk. It’s not always easy to take that first step and decide to join a lot of strangers for a meal, but I’m sure you already know that Dorset people are some of the friendliest you could hope to meet and that is certainly true of our Lunch Club. It is only £10 (£12 from January 2026 when we eat out, rather than in the Village Hall) for a home-cooked two course meal. There is a fruit juice on arrival and a choice of two main courses and puddings. And lastly Tea or Coffee. Lastly: If you would like to join us and have not already done so, please contact Bridget Hodges (01300 345493). You do not have to be resident in Buckland Newton to join us, so even if you live in one of the outlying villages do get in touch if you would like to make new friends.

Could you help?

DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT LIKE TO JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER HELPERS? The 2nd Friday Lunch Club is looking for a few more volunteers to join our lovely team to generally help with our lunches. Lunch events are shared between Buckland Newton Village Hall and local pubs. Village Hall Lunches: We usually cater for approximately 30 people, cook and serve 2 main course and 2 pudding choices. The first duty of the day is to lay up the tables with cutlery and place settings. When everyone has arrived and are settled, each table is then served. Lastly, there is plenty of washing up to look forward to. Volunteering is not an onerous job as our guests truly love and appreciate getting together and enjoying a good home cooked lunch. Might you have a few hours to spare once every other month when we get together in our village hall? Rubber gloves and tea towels provided! For more information, please contact Bridget Hodges on 01300 345493. Janet Sealy

Buckland Newton Community Website

in the heart of rural Dorset