The elves and the shoppers
Mobility help with gift lifts – and lunch
THE ANNUAL assisted shopping event, coordinated and run by Hillingdon Shopmobility, was another great success.
Running for more then 14 years, it is designed to make Christmas shopping accessible to those who are housebound and/or disabled who would otherwise find it difficult to get presents for their loved ones.
At the same time the guests enjoy companionship with like-minded guests and have the opportunity to interact with young people from sixth forms at a number of Hillingdon schools.
Following a festive shopping spree guests were treated to a twocourse Christmas lunch in the Middlesex Suite, Uxbridge, followed by carols with St Andrews’ School Choir and musical entertainment from The Salvation Army.
Key sponsors of the event are Barclays, Intu Uxbridge and Pavilions with support from other local retailers, particularly Tesco, Poppies Flower Stall and Boots.
The event also has had valuable input from St Margaret’s Church, Uxbridge Forward, Hillingdon Transport Services and Hillingdon Community Transport, and the Rotary Club of Uxbridge.
And Father Christmas, en route from Lapland, arrived on his sleigh with his elves in tow and gave every guest a present.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Hillingdon Cllr John Hensley and Mrs Diane Hensley drew a raffle and presented a hamper to one lucky guest on each of the seven buses, before all guests returned home by minibus under the stewardship of the bus marshals.