Tis the season to be jolly – and plenty of senior citizens have had a jolly good time at Adams College.
Around 90 seniors enjoyed a free Christmas lunch and mince pies made by Food and Nutrition students at the event at Stanier Hall in High Street, Wem on Friday (Dec 11).
The annual event, organised by students at the college, also featured a raffle, bingo and performance from the school choir with the visitors joining in carol singing.
Herbert and Jean Ikin, 85 and 77 of Wixall, were there for the first time and won several prizes in the raffle.
Herbert said: “It has been really lovely, top notch food.
“Our granddaughter used to be a pupil here so it’s great to come back.”
Margaret Moores, 87 of Wem, came for the first time last year having only moved to Wem two weeks beforehand. She said the students made her feel so welcome she couldn’t wait to come back again this year.
Jean Smith, 77, and Betty Ford, 78, both of Wem, have been going to the event every year since 1965.
Jean said: “We love it, the children are so lovely and kind, they come and talk to you and we have a laugh together.
“We never see anyone of that generation otherwise so we look forward to this each year and know that it will always be nice.
“We try and get new people to come each year as well.”
Kenneth Lovegrove, 85 of Wem, went for the third time this year.
“It is always a good meal, I could do with a doggy bag,” he said.
Barbara Sands, 87, of Tilley, used to live in the bungalow on the school site as her husband was caretaker there for 20 years. She was picked up and dropped off by students from the college.
She said: “It’s one of those things where you think it takes a lot to get out of the house but once you’re here you have such a great time.
“I know everyone there and it is always great fun, so lovely.”
Ciara O’Flaherty, 18, is chairwoman of the 14-strong college student committee which organised the lunch.
She said: “It has been very busy planning this but the committee is great, everyone wants to help out.
“It’s a tradition, you want it to be as good as possible because you like making people smile.
“It is like Christmas spirit, makes you happy that you manage to do something that makes people smile and cheery around Christmas.”
Tom Beever, 17, treasurer of the committee, said they started planning the event in July and spent two days setting up the hall.
The committee rely on volunteers from the school to help out on the day serving dinner and distributing prizes, as well as manning the sound and lighting desks and putting on entertainment.
“It is nice to have a connection with the seniors in the community of Wem,” he said.
“It is important to support one another in events and this is one of the highlights of the year.”
Director of Adams College Lorna Withey said this year was another huge success.
“The students thoroughly enjoy putting on this event, it has always had a good buzz about it.
“It went fantastically well, there were lots of people having fun.
“There were far more students from Thomas Adams School involved in the music performance this year too so it was great to see the college and lower school pupils working together as well.
“Everyone enjoyed themselves – we look forward to doing it all again next year.”
Senior Citizens enjoying themselves at Thomas Adams
