A TEAM of volunteers will make sure those in the Marlborough area will have a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day by serving up a traditional meal in Marlborough Town Hall.

The annual Marlborough Christmas Lunch began in 2002 when Victoria Ellis’s grandparents Joy and Nigel Kerton heard that a local lady was alone at Christmas with just a can of fish. Organiser Victoria Ellis, 18, said the town council give the town hall for free while local businesses donate food for the meal, and the event is run by a team of volunteers.

She said: “I’ve been involved with it since it started when I was a toddler, but since 2015 I took it over along with Mark Shire, Lisa Farrell and a small committee. This year it is me, my mum Claire Ellis, Mark Shire and Jessica Nixon who is 16 and from Dauntsey’s School.”

This year the cooking is down to Mark. He said: “We set up the day before with a team who come in on Christmas Eve, and we use all fresh vegetables, so everything is prepared and peeled and left in cold water over night. Roast potatoes are par-boiled the night before, so are ready to roast on the day. We also make sandwiches for them to take home for their tea and soup as well for Boxing Day.”

Last year more than 50 people had the traditional three course meal. The meat is cooked and provided by Slumbers Brother’s the butchers as well sponsorship from Event Exhibition and Design and Waitrose plus many more. It means the diners don’t have to pay anything and the event is free apart from the time given by the volunteers.

Mark arrives early on Christmas Day to start cooking, then Victoria and the team arrive next, followed by the diners at 11.30am. The meal is usually finished by 3pm said Vicky. She said volunteers are very welcome and forms to attend the event are available Jubilee Room or Mustard Seed Café in town. For more information call Victoria on 01672 556316.