© 2026 Buckland Newton Community Website Committee Last updated 15th September 2026 08:50 Website design and update by Jeremy Collins
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, or
£12 when we eat out at a pub.
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. When we eat out at a pub (in
alternate months) the cost is £12, with the remainder of the cost 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.
The Lunch Club Afternoon Tea
You’d expect a good spread for an afternoon tea, wouldn’t you? A glass of
pink bubbly with a good choice of sandwiches was accompanied by a
plethora of savouries and cakes on proper cake stands, with so much variety
and colour, and beautiful table flower arrangements.
Jenny Ferreira is our star organiser for this event and provides authentic tea
services and lovely place mats and serviettes; she’s so clever. Everything
was delicious. There were lots of pretty frocks being worn, and Carol’s
fascinator stole the show. We’re lucky to have such a good team of helpers.
With no one being told what to do, the return of the Village Hall to a tidy and
clean state was a bit like a bunch of elves going in there overnight and
performing a miracle - we were shipshape in no time. And we have a new
member - hope you’ll be back.
September’s Meeting
We are already booked for Folke Golf Club for the 11th September.
Roast beef with the usual accompaniments or ratatouille gratin for
vegetarians followed by apple crumble with custard or ice cream, or lemon
meringue pie. Sounds really delicious.
Lifts provided for you if necessary. Do get in touch if you feel like joining up
and joining in.
Cathy Shippey
Email: catherineshippey54@gmail.com
Phone: 01300 345339 or 07391 195754
If you’re looking to make friends and meet some nice people, and have a
good chat and laugh, come along and have a delicious home-cooked meal
for £10 a head, or £12 for a pub outing. All you need to do is to contact
Bridget Hodges on 01300 345493, or email her at
bridget.hodges@btinternet.com, to join the Club. We’d be very pleased to
see you.
Similarly, if you’d like to find out more about being a helper for the Club,
please contact Bridget or myself. It’s a very rewarding activity.
Cathy Shippey (01300 345339).
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
