Make a date
Sales from this year’s Boughton Monchelsea’s calendar, which costs £5, will go towards the repair fund for the roof at St Peter’s Church in Church Hill. People can buy a copy after the weekly Sunday service or from the village Post Office in Church Street. Christmas came early for 35 people facing the prospect of spending December 25 on their own.
A free five-course meal was laid on for them at The Wheatsheaf pub in Loose Road, Maidstone, on Tuesday.
It is part of a long-running tradition that landlord Rossa Kenny set up with his wife Renee 30 years ago.
One of the first things they did when they took over the pub in October 1984 was organise the meal for the elderly and those struggling with money.
Since then it has grown in size each year, from modest beginnings.
Mr Kenny, who is now in semi-retirement, said: “It’s something that we have done instinctively from the start. We have kept it up since.
“Pubs are the focus of public life and it’s important to do something for the local community and most of our guests are alone on the day.”
Money for food and entertainment is collected during the year through raffles and donations. Every attendee gets a gift as they leave.
In addition the pub has raised £1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society, its charity of the year.