Christmas Day Lunch – Marlborough at its best!

42 guests were welcomed to Marlborough Town Hall for the 23rd Christmas Day lunch and a further 28 people, who were unable to leave their homes, received a home delivery. This makes it the biggest Christmas Day lunch since its beginnings in 2002. Guests were full of praise and appreciation for the organisers, sponsors and volunteers who had created such a wonderful lunch and afternoon for them.

Masterminding the whole day were Vic and Claire Ellis, supported by their family including nan, Joy, as well as a huge number of volunteers and delivery drivers.  Janet, a volunteer for the first time this year, told Marlborough.news, “I just think this is such an amazing event and it’s been in the same family for three generations. They work so hard to make sure everyone has a fabulous time. It really is Marlborough at its best.”

As well as a three course meal, guests were given a present and a packed tea to take home. Entertainment included a raffle and Christmas singalong led by Cllr Emily Trow(Marlborough Town Mayor), Emma Kimber (Marlborough Town Crier), Neil Howard (Father Christmas) and David Levitt (cornet player and volunteer).

Vic said, “The lunch was founded by my grandparents in 2002 and was passed over to me and my mum in 2015. I’ve been a part of it since it started and can’t remember a Christmas without it. The Marlborough Christmas Lunch is a tradition I hope to keep in our family as long as we can and hopefully one day will have the opportunity to pass on to my own family. We don’t do it because we feel we have to we do it but because we genuinely love spending our day with everyone. We are an extremely close family and for Christmas we like to make sure all our guests feel like they are part of it too.”

Vic would like to thank all the sponsors for making the Christmas lunch possible: Bread & Butter Studio, Brearley & Rich Estate Agents, Fine & Country, Jones Robinson, Swindon & Marlborough Hearing specialists. Sumblers butchers for supplying all of the meat free of charge. Tesco for supplying all of the fruit and veg free of charge. Moo2Yoo for supplying all of the milk. Marlborough College for use of their mini bus kindly driven by Alan and Carol. Link for the help with transport from some of their drivers. Marlborough Town Council for free use of the town hall. Marlborough Catering for free use of their kitchen facilities and help with preparing the lunch. Again a huge thank you to the community for their support – whether that’s volunteering or donating raffle prizes.”

Valerie, who last year wrote and sang her own version of “We’ll meet again,” penned another song to sing at the end of the event which really summed up what everyone was feeling: “Now is the hour for us to say goodbye, soon we’ll be going near and far and wide, But while we’re away we’ll all remember you and thank you once again for this fabulous do. Good luck and good health and God bless you and keep you safe and warm until we meet again in Marlborough Town Hall. Hip Hip Hooray. “