WHITCHURCH Rotary has carried on its six decade long tradition of spreading joy on Christmas day with food and company for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable locals living alone.

For nearly 60 years volunteers have distributed Christmas lunches in an annual project that began in 1964.

Each year a team of Rotarians and supporters - including the local Inner Wheel club - get together on Christmas Eve morning to prepare vegetables, potatoes and ingredients donated by Whitchurch food businesses.

OTHER NEWS: 

Then, on Christmas Day morning, they meet again in the kitchen at Sir John Talbot School to cook a festive turkey meal with trimmings, pudding with brandy sauce, and extras including cheese, mince pies and chocolates.

At lunchtime, a team of drivers line up to hand-deliver the meals, in heat retaining containers, around the town and surrounding villages.

Whitchurch Herald: From left to right: Peter Williams, John Crowe and Tony Burch prepping potatoes and vegetables.From left to right: Peter Williams, John Crowe and Tony Burch prepping potatoes and vegetables. (Image: Whitchurch Rotary Club)Rotary club president, Graham King, said: "It's one of the most rewarding things we do all year.

"For some of the people who receive the meals it may be the only hot food they eat that day.

“And for others we may be the only people they speak to. 

"So we rarely go home without feeling we have, in a small way, helped make somebody's day.”

Purcell's butchers provide discounted turkey and pigs-in-blankets, paid for by the Jane Higginson Trust.

Whitchurch Herald: From left to right: Wendy Richardson, John Holland and Kath Park prepping potatoes and vegetables.From left to right: Wendy Richardson, John Holland and Kath Park prepping potatoes and vegetables. (Image: Whitchurch Rotary)

Whitchurch Community Hospital cooked and cut the turkey and Sir John Talbot's school gave use of the school kitchen; Gardiner's Fish and Chips provided the potatoes; Sainsbury's provided various items including vegetables; Walker's gave the mince pies, Christmas cake and stuffing mix; and the Beckett family contributed with Belton Farm cheese. 

The Rotary president added: "But none of it could happen without the generous contributions we receive from the Whitchurch community.

“We owe so many businesses, supporters, family and friends a huge thank you for helping to make it all possible."