Early Christmas meal a cracker
Food, friendship and festive cheer were on the menu as Christmas dinner came early for a lucky few Nelsonians.
This year the traditional Mayors’ Christmas Dinner became Nelson’s Christmas Celebration, promoted as an event for senior citizens who would otherwise be spending Christmas alone.
After an acknowledged decline of numbers in recent years, 93 tickets were snapped up for yesterday’s occasion.
The Christmas Celebration returned to its traditional home at the refurbished Trafalgar Centre, with festivities taking place in its northern extension.
Normally held on December 25, the date for this year’s dinner was moved following difficulties securing a chef for Christmas Day.
Joining Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese to help serve meals were councillors Mike Rutledge and Kate Fulton, and Nelson MP Nick Smith in a festive but ironicallycoloured red and green suit.
Back for her second year leading a merry team of volunteers, coordinator Katrina Kidson said this year’s event had been ‘‘a lot calmer’’ than 2016 after a temporary power overload at the Founder’s Park venue had caused some issues.
‘‘I just really enjoy putting it on for the community and I know that those that attend it get a lot out of it,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s amazing what they’ve been served.’’
The three-course meal prepared by chef Steven Coyne of Harbour Light bistro, consisted of smoked king salmon canape entrees and roasted sirloin, glazed ham, roast chicken and Yorkshire pudding with seasonal veges and gravy for mains.
For those who had room left for dessert, pavlova, fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream was on offer.
Guests were entertained throughout the afternoon by songs from the Nelson Youth Choir, before an appearance from the busiest senior citizen of all, Santa Claus, to hand out gifts and conclude the afternoon.
Brian Lapwood of Stoke was one of the regular attendees to the dinner and said he had enjoyed everything from the meal right down to the obligatory crackers to share.
‘‘I’m on my own this year because my son’s going up north with his partner’s family – I have been a few times except when they were doing this place up – it’s a cheap meal but it looks alright, doesn’t it?’’
Also in attendance was Lewis Stanton, who said he was looking forward to a quiet Christmas and a few rides on his new electric bike, which he had nicknamed ‘‘e-Barney’’.
Kidson said the event would not have proceeded without the generosity of 24 local organisations who had donated goods, gifts or funds to make the day a success.
She said the chance to enjoy a good meal and make new friends had led to romance for at least two attendees last year.
Kidson said the ease of securing resources for a pre-Christmas date meant there was no reason to suggest holding future celebrations before December 25 could not be the way forward.
‘‘It’s hard to say – I think it’s a lot easier for us to organise it now and there are a lot of things that have helped us by having it today.
‘‘At the same time I can understand those that say it would be better on Christmas Day, so who knows.’’