Gritter team answers plea to ensure Sandwick Christmas lunch club event goes ahead

A plea from the President of the Sandwick Community Association was answered by the Council’s gritter team at the weekend – meaning around 55 over 70s from the area were able to enjoy a hot, tasty, free Christmas lunch.

President Steven Sinclair said: “The wintry weather left the car park at the Sandwick Hall a sheet of ice and it would have been too dangerous for folk to have attended at the dinner on Sunday, or for the onward delivery of meals on wheels.

“I shared a last-minute plea to the Council on Saturday night, and we were delighted to see the arrival of the team on Sunday morning which meant the show could go on! Thank you so much to all involved, it was greatly appreciated by us. We got everyone in, and an enjoyable day was had!”

The Association has been running a lunch club for a number of years for the over 70’s every month in Sandwick. During the pandemic, the club was postponed for a time and the door-to-door deliveries began – which appealed to many folk in the community and the numbers have grown.

Steven added: “We returned to the hall for in person lunches in April 2022 and we’ve continued deliveries to folk unable to attend in person. Thanks must also go to our Secretary, Kristen Norquoy, who is the mastermind of the cooking operation along with her helpers. For the Christmas dinner we received a generous grant from the local Community Council and tatties from Michael Brass, enabling us to give the lunch for free.

“On Sunday they were entertained with music by Liam Muir and we do a free raffle of a refreshments. Yesterday we also sang Happy Birthday to one of those attending – all in all a great day!”

Councillor David Dawson, Chair of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, said: “The season of goodwill is upon us, and I’m delighted to hear that the lunch club was able to enjoy a get together and a Christmas meal thanks to the Council team playing their part.

“The team have worked tirelessly this past week during the period of bitterly cold weather and although there’s some respite at the moment, the Met Office are forecasting another cold spell, so there’s potentially more disruption ahead.”