A mother from Whitchurch will be sharing her family on Christmas Day, by hosting a special lunch for elderly and vulnerable people who would otherwise be spending Christmas alone.

Lucy Hughes told the Ross Gazette that she has hired Whitchurch and Ganarew Village Hall, where she and her family will be cooking a Christmas dinner and spending the afternoon and evening making sure their guests feel a part of their family.

Lucy, who works at Waitrose, was inspired by their advertising campaign this year, in partnership with John Lewis, which features an elderly man, alone on the moon.

Lucy told the Gazette that she knows there are already certain schemes run by charities for elderly people, to try to help prevent loneliness.

One of these schemes is the Spare a Chair project for volunteers to invite someone to join them for dinner, but Lucy said:?“How would you choose only one person? I live next to the village hall, so I hired it out.”

Lucy explained that her family have all got behind her project. She has got a large, multi-generational family. She and her husband Nick have four children, Morgan, Lauren, Maisie and Henry. They live with Nick’s mother, Sue and her partner Chris. Nick’s great aunt, who is in her 80s also lives nearby, and joins them for Christmas.

“It should be entertaining,” Lucy said. “Every Christmas is the same, and I just thought this would make it a bit different.”

Lucy also said that if this Christmas Lunch is a big hit, there is the possibility it will become an annual event.

Waitrose have donated some of the food and drink for this Christmas Lunch, but Lucy would welcome any more donations, or to hear from any businesses who would like to help with the day.

If you, or someone you know, would like to join Lucy and her family for Christmas lunch, it would be best to give her some prior warning. Please email:?[email protected]