Many thanks to all those who contributed in so many different ways to making this year's Christmas lunch a great success.

On Christmas Eve an army of gallant helpers gathered throughout the day to peel and chop vegetables, cook and carve meat, prepare sauces and puddings, decorate the upper hall and lay tables, decorate the Christmas tree, chill wine, prepare schedules, panic and reassure each other that all would be ok and that yes, 7 turkeys and 8 hams would be enough and that the freeze was thawing so our guests would show up and would make it across the car park on their feet. As all of this activity was going on a steady stream of promised turkeys and hams were delivered and the various donations of wine, mince pies and other Christmas necessaries were brought across from the presbytery. The result of all this wonderful activity was that as a new army arrived on Christmas morning (some fresh faced and some battle scarred from the day before) we could prepare for the lunch with a feeling of calmness and take time out to have a cup of coffee, to meet new friends and to make sure that everything would proceed as smoothly as we had hoped.

There was a bit of panic about the potatoes and how they would all be cooked, and we did have a slight delay to the tightly planned schedule as some of the guests (and the mayor) arrived a little later than expected but that was more down to the great work put in the day before that we could even think of keeping to the timetable!

So it was that at 12.30 (or so) after coffees and biscuits and a glass of something bubbly our 70 odd guests plus various helpers and parish team members sat down to lunch. As is traditional they sang carols for their lunch accompanied by various able musicians on piano, brass, voice and strings. The mayor came and stayed for a long time chatting to guests and helpers and Fr McMillan gave a welcome speech. Lunch was traditional Christmas fare, a starter of melon and ham followed by turkey and a thousand different trimmings and then Christmas Pudding and fruit salad. The cooking was superb, both that done on the day and the various meats cooked by kind volunteers in the days before.

At 2.30 Fr Christmas arrived and gave presents to all the guests, ably assisted by a band of eager elves. Afterwards coffee and tea were served (and a bit more red wine) and a few more carols were enjoyed.

The guests were a great mix of the old, the sick, the lonely, friends and family, parishioners and non-parishioners, Christmas lunch regulars and new comers. All helped in their own way to make the day a really warm, loving and, above all, happy day.

As the guests departed around 4pm those helpers that had not eaten with the guests sat down and served each other a second sitting which still tasted great!

Huge thanks should go to everyone who contributed in any way to the lunch, helping on the day or Christmas Eve, donating food, wine or money, organising presents for everyone, making music, spending time with the guests, driving people around, phoning round the guests and volunteers. We have deliberately not mentioned any names as this was a great team effort on behalf of the whole parish to which so many people contributed their own part. One special mention should go to the various children who came along and helped - to see so many of you happy to give up your Christmas Day, to fetch and carry, clean and serve and sit and chat to guests all day was really amazing.

So to everyone a huge thank you and well done and we hope you all felt even a little of the joy your generosity and effort created on Christmas Day!

Louise Cooper and Richard Martin