feature – The Thursday Luncheon Club

feature

The Thursday Luncheon Club

David Childerley

Eileen Martin Eileen Martin

Mary Dayne The Thursday Luncheon Club is run, most successfully, by Nikki and Julie, and everyone has a good lunch, a good chat and good fun! Nikki and Julie stress that they run the Club for the members, and want everyone to enjoy themselves.

If you feel you would like to give it a try, then please contact us, (mobile no 07599292327) . There are special celebrations at Christmas and Easter, and we celebrate birthdays, (some very special ones), all in a happy relaxed atmosphere.

Or if you would like to become involved, either at the lunch, or driving members, then please do get in touch, we are always grateful for extra hands, especially in the run up to Christmas!

The Luncheon Club started as the Self Help Group in 1980 when David Childerley, the then Adult Education Tutor at Melbourn Village College, was looking for someone to help with a proposed voluntary service, mainly for older people. Eileen Martin had just arrived in Melbourn, she was 70 at the time – and ran the Club for the next 20 odd years! It was initially held at the Village College, where the lunch was prepared by the College catering staff, and later at Vicarage Close Community Centre.

The group began in a small way, with eight people meeting once a week to eat together, at a modest price, and get to know each other. It was initially helped financially by contributions from ‘The Toppers’, a group based at the Dolphin, which raised money for good causes by running a weekly Sunday raffle.

After the group moved to Vicarage Close the lunch was cooked by Mary Dayne, who ran The Pantry at the Cross, (now an estate agents), helped on a regular basis by the late Janice Guest. When Mary emigrated to New Zealand to be closer to her daughters in 2009, catering was taken over by the staff at Moorlands – and very good it is too!

After Eileen Martin retired, the group was run for two years by Doreen Hadrill and Elizabeth Hughes-Jones. After this Margaret Hunter took over. Sally Wright then ran the group from 2002 to 2007. From 2007 to 2012 the group was run by Jayne White with Neil Wilson as Treasurer, then briefly by Sharon Canelletti of CATalyst until taken over by Nikki Cross and Julie Myles in 2013. Nikki and Julie wish to express their thanks to Jayne, and the late Neil Wilson for all the help they received from them.

From the original group of volunteer drivers has evolved the Car Transport Scheme, which is now based in Royston and provides transport at a very moderate cost for those needing to keep medical appointments, shopping and for social reasons. Initially this was also run by Eileen, followed by Margaret Hunter and then by Sally. It proved to be very time consuming, as calls had to be taken and recorded and accounts prepared, and Sally eventually incorporated that part into the Royston Car scheme.

The Thursday Luncheon Club is a very friendly and happy place to be, so do come along and join us!

Doreen and Jack Hadrill Doreen and Jack Hadrill

Elizabeth and Nevin Highes-Jones Elizabeth and Nevin Highes-Jones

Margaret Hunter Margaret Hunter

Sally Wright Sally Wright