The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Round-up of events for the festive season
What have Peterborough folk been up to during the build-up to Christmas?
RETURN TO SENDER
After receiving a Christmas card, every year for the last twenty years, David Housden, 90 is desperate to reunite with a long lost friend.
After moving to Elton around 25 years ago, David and his wife, who has since passed away, befriended a young woman named Collette. The couple took Collette in and helped her to rebuild her life.
He said: “She was going through a hard time and we looked after her, another Christmas has gone by and I’d love to make contact.” Sadly though he cannot remember her surname.
For years, David has received Christmas cards from Collette, though each year there has never been a return address. However there is some hope for a reunion as on every card there has been a Peterborough post mark on the envelope.
He said: “The cards have always been the first to arrive, I believe she’s married now to a man called Mervyn and has had children. Though those names aren’t on the cards anymore, they’ve probably all grown up and left home.”
It is expected that Collette would be around 50-60 years old now.
If you believe you know who David is searching for then please send an email to: rosie. boon@jpimedia.co.uk
COLD TEMPERATURES DRIVES WARM GESTURE FOR HOMELESS
On a cold evening Melissa Hardy, saw the homeless around the city centre and she knew that she had to do something to help. Struggling with the cold herself she couldn’t imagine how they felt. She said: “There’s so many of them often without coats, bedding and food. When I was out, I really felt the cold.
As winter is setting in, it’s only going to get worse. I knew I had to do something.”
Using her own money, and urging friends and colleagues to donate to the cause. Melissa and her friend Jummal, will be handing out care packages to the homeless. She said: “By doing this I want people to realise there is always something that onepersoncando.Wecanalways domore.Ablanketorsomefood, doesn’t seem like a lot to us, but that’sonenighttheywon’tbecold or hungry. Peterborough is our home so let’s make it a home for all of us together.”
Melissa wants to continue helping the community throughout the year, and considers Christmas 2019 ‘just the beginning’.
PETERBOROUGH CHIPPIES SHUT DOORS TO FEED THE HOMELESS
Fish and Chip shops across the city are closing their doors to cook meals for the homeless free of charge.
TheteamsatHamptonPlaice and Fletton Fish and Chips are hoping to tackle hunger across the festive season by feeding the homeless.HamptonPlaice,with the help of their loyal customers are collecting pillows, clothing and other essentials to hand out with their food. Joining up with theSikhcommunity,theywillbe sharing their meals on the 22nd across the city.
Dave Singh, who owns the Hampton Plaice, has worked tirelessly throughout the year on other food handovers. He said: “It’s my first year of business and it’s something I wanted to do. I’ll lose a day of takings, which is around £800 but I want to help as many people as we can. We all don’t realise how much we have. We go to work, come home, have a hot meal and a roof over our heads which many do not. I think if all the takeaways did this, one day a year, we could feed the homeless for nearly the whole year.”
Sharing more goodwill, Fletton Fish and Chips will be sharing their meals on Christmas Day. Like Hampton Plaice, they willalsobehandingouttoiletries and other essentials.
Yassar Mohammed, who owns the shop said: “I’ve been in the business a long time and wanted to give back. I really hope that the word gets out, so anyone who’s homeless knows they can have a hot meal on Christmas Day.”
The shop which will be open from12-2.30pm,areofferingfree hot meals to all those who come in. The chippie is based at: 124 High Street, Fletton, PE2 8DP.
For more information you can call the shop on: 01733 555950
LIGHTS OF LOVE
On Sunday 15 December the people of Peterborough came together to remember their loved ones at the Lights of Love service at Peterborough Cathedral. Hosted by Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, families and friends united in carols as they celebrated their loved ones in the beautiful lit up cathedral. Around 1000 people attended the service, which let memories of loved ones shine bright.
A special touch were the donation stars hanging on a Christmas tree during the service with heartfelt messages of love. As well as a number of lanterns that lit up the service in remembrance.
The Thorney community choir and the Peterborough Concert Band, filled the cathedral with blissful music to pews filled with people. Compassionate readings were delivered by the Hospice Director, Allison Mann,staffandpeoplewhohave benefited from their support.
JoelyGarner,InterimHeadof FundraisingatSueRyderThorpe Hall Hospice, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who joined usatLightsofLove;itwasareally special evening.
“A particularly poignant part saw guests writing messages to those they wished to remember on dedication stars and hanging them on the Lights of Love Christmas trees – by the end of the evening, there were hundreds of dedications. Guests were also able to light a
candle in memory of loved ones.
“We are very grateful to everyone who made a donation on the evening. We hope to have raised several thousand pounds, which will help us to continue to provide our expert palliative care for local families.”
If you were unable to join the service, a dedication can still be made at sueryder.org/love.
SPECIAL SCHOOL IN PETERBOROUGH DONATES HUNDREDS OF PRESENTS TO CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Pupils at NeneGate school raised hundreds of pounds to buy gifts for disadvantaged children. The school which only has 44 pupils in total, donated a staggering 125 presents. The presents which have been handed over to the Stamford St Martins Rotary Club, will be distributed to different charity groups across the city.
Jon Blundell, Headteacher said: “I’m absolutely filled with pride. We do it each year and we used to get around 20-30 presents, which is still so good. This year I wanted to show them another incentive, to show them empathy and that people have it worse off and the difference we can make.”
Overall, the pupils raised over£700fromsponsoredwalks, swims and car washes. With one student, phenomenally raising over£400himself.Givingthepupils more independence, this year the pupils went on to buy the presents and wrap them. This was especially important to Jon, as all the pupils at school have disabilitiesorspecialeducational needs. The school hopes to continuebuildingontheirdonations next year and raise even more.