A RETIRED accountant is working on plans to set up a Melksham Community Meals charity to succeed the Melksham Lunch Club which closed yesterday (Thurs, 20 December).

Sue Mortimer, 66, aims to replace the lunch club with a service that will operate three days a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

She hopes to attract between 20-25 people on Wednesdays and Fridays and 40 people on Sundays.

“I have had a meeting with Rhys Schell, Wiltshire Council’s community engagement manager, and he is agreed it is a viable proposition.

“He thinks my ideas are workable.

“We hope to attract more than 80 members, including about 40-50 on the busy days, and are looking to keep the lunch club going.

“It is a way of them meeting up with other people and keeping up the social side of things,” said Mrs Mortimer, who lives in Webbs Close, Melksham.

She is a certified accountant who used to work for the Theatre Royal in Bath and for Adrian Wood and Monahans in Melksham until she retired on November 30.

Mrs Mortimer is now trying to set up a charity to offer the community meals service, with members playing £7.95 for a meal on Sunday, or £6.95 for a small meal. Desserts would cost £3.95 each and tea or coffee would cost £2.

She has already spoken to Elvey Schofield and Sue Hutchinson, the Wiltshire Council catering staff who run the Melksham Lunch Club about her plans.

“The prices will be the same but we are hoping to reduce wages costs from £74,000 to just under £20,000 and use volunteers to lay out the tables and do the waitressing.”

Mrs Mortimer has already had approaches from 16 volunteers and hopes to launch her new service at the end of January or early February at Melksham Assembly Hall.

“Discussions are ongoing but the feedback I have had so far has been very positive,” she said.

“I am very passionate about Melksham and have used the lunch club in the past. My discussions have shown that it does matter and that people do care.”

Mrs Mortimer has also had talks with W J Beavan, the Melksham butchers, about continuing to supply meats and with Waitrose to see if they will offer support through their charity token scheme.

To register your interest, or to volunteer, please contact Mrs Mortimer on 07719 935883.