ANNA Gatrell hates the thought of the elderly being alone at Christmas.

So the personal assistant at RM Education organises a free Christmas Day lunch for pensioners in the Didcot area. 

This is the eighth year running that Ms Gatrell, 55, has organised the meal, being held at Didcot Health and Wellbeing Centre in Britwell Road. 

The mother-of-one applies for grant funding from Didcot Town Council and charities to fund the lunch, which costs hundreds of pounds and includes a meal  and a  hamper to take home. 

Last year the act of kindness for about 30 pensioners led to a garden party invitation at Buckingham Palace. 

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Ms Gatrell, who lives with daughter Lydia, 20, in Didcot, said she started the tradition after getting divorced. 

She said: “When I got divorced my daughter would  go to my husband’s [for Christmas] every other year so I decided to set up this Christmas meal. 

“For three years we were based in a hall in Lydalls Road and then we moved to the wellbeing centre off Broadway. 

“Some pensioners come from the Meadows care home in Britwell Road.” 

After mince pies and the Queen’s speech on TV, all the pensioners are sent home with a food hamper. 

Ms Gatrell added: “Some people are lonely all year round so I am trying to make sure that some of them are not alone at Christmas. 

“Loneliness is the worst thing that can happen to anyone and I am trying to get people to think about how they can do more to look after the elderly all year round – a bit of company costs nothing.”

James Hart, a chef from Wantage, has volunteered to help her provide the meal, and others have also offered help after  finding the event on Google.

She added: “We have to limit this to the Didcot area because some people need lifts home afterwards. 

“There are still places available for the meal and still room for more volunteers.” 

Volunteers keen to help and pensioners who want to attend can contact her on 07789 428795. 

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