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 £8 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. As well as cooking many of the lunches over the years our past Chairwoman has successfully held a nearly new stall from her home and followed it by doing the same at the Village Fete. She has also hosted coffee mornings and tea parties. Sadly, for the lunch club Susan has now decided she needs a break, and she will be much missed. Our August get-together was a “Ritz” style tea party in the village hall and this time the tables were transformed with porcelain tea sets, pretty napkins and place mats, all beautifully co-ordinated. The 3-tier cake stands held sandwiches, scones, cakes, meringues and in the centre of each table was a beautiful posy of garden flowers. The tea party was the brainwave of Jenny Ferreira and was very enjoyable. Our September lunch (on the 8th) will again take place in the village hall and Bridget Hodges (01300 345493) is the person to contact if you would like to come along. 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?

The team of volunteers who organise the lunch club are looking for new people to help. Once every two months the team cooks a meal for about 25 people which is served in the village hall and on the alternate months the club goes out to a nearby pub. The jobs for the village hall months are: laying up the tables; serving the food; cooking or preparing one of the dishes or vegetables; clearing the tables; washing up; tidying the kitchen; chauffeuring a member and having a good old chat to everyone there. It is a lovely way of getting to know some of the older members of our community and hearing their tales, including what life was like in Buckland Newton in their youth. So, if you have any of the skills needed and a couple of hours or so to spare on the second Friday of the month, we look forward to hearing from you.