A SPECIAL effort ensured a dale village’s older folk did not miss out on some much-needed Christmas cheer this year.
Money raised by Eggleston’s carnival committee normally covers the cost of an OAPs’ festive lunch at the village hall. With fundraising efforts proving impossible this year and a lunchtime get-together currently against Covid-19 Tier 3 restrictions, it looked as though it would be not such a merry Christmas for the village’s senior citizens.
However, Eggleston Parish Council, the area’s two county councillors, staff at a popular cafe and a team of volunteers stepped in to help.
Cllrs Richard Bell and Ted Henderson donated almost £600 from their neighbourhood budget to cover the cost of providing boxes of tea-time treats to 77 OAPs, which were distributed at the weekend.
Cllr Wendy Greenfield, a member of the parish council, said: “Eggleston is no exception to having to cancel our usual activities where people of all ages meet, mix and enjoy time together.
“We have cancelled our monthly community coffee mornings, annual carnival, church fair and seniors’ Christmas party.”
She added: “As a parish council we are very aware that many of our parishioners live on their own, have been isolating since March, have lost their spouse in the last 12 months, have dealt with serious medical problems or have no family living locally.
“So we decided the particular senior citizens needed a lift coming up to Christmas and we came up with the idea of a tea box.”
Each tea box contained a range of sweet and savoury treats.
They were put together by Clare Moss-Clennell and her team at the Coach House cafe at Eggleston Hall Gardens.
Cllr Henderson, who is also chairman of Eggleston Parish Council, said: “All the parish and county councillors are delivering them. They have been given a certain patch and a certain number to distribute.
Cllr Greenfield said: “We cannot thank them enough.”
