Around 100 guests, who would have been alone on Christmas day, enjoyed a Christmas party at the DoubleTree Hotel, Stadium MK, thanks to the charity Milton Keynes Christmas Day Party for the Elderly and other volunteers from across the city.
Elderly members of the community from across Milton Keynes were able to enjoy a party with food, entertainment and gifts to help them feel less lonely on Christmas day.
The Milton Keynes Christmas Day party has been a tradition for over 40 years now after the Mayor held a Christmas Party at Wilton Hall for 25 elderly guests in the seventies.
As the event grew, the venue moved to Argos Head Office on Avebury Boulevard in 1993 and became the Milton Keynes Christmas Day Party for the Elderly.
In 2006 an opportunity arose for a new venue in Shenley Wood and now, the party takes place at the DoubleTree, Stadium MK with over 100 guests.
The Christmas party takes place on Christmas day, allowing elderly people in Milton Keynes, who are on their own, to enjoy a good meal, quality entertainment, great company and a gift.
This event is for open for anyone over 60 and on their own on Christmas Day every year.
This year, guests were collected by MK Connect and dropped to their Christmas Party, along with the help of some volunteer drivers.
Upon arrival at the Doubletree Hotel in Bletchley, party guests were greeted by volunteers and escorted into the party.
Committee Member and Driving Co-ordinator Lisa Bardell said: "To see the enjoyment and smiles on their faces was a humbling moment that made all the hard work and preparation throughout the year so worthwhile."
The Mayor and Mayoress also attended the party at 2pm on Christmas Day.
"A big thank you to Razwan Hussain of Alexander Bradshaw for the loan of his personal car. Wayne Macpherson a team leader at Suzuki, and a volunteer driver for the event, picked his allocated guests up in Raz’s lovely vehicle. They thought they were royalty!," Lisa added
"MK Connect were tremendous in collecting our guests with mobility aids, some who required their specialist facilities on their vehicles. They provided two vehicles with drivers for the day to collect 13 of our guests and taking them back."
The event was hugely supported by Rightmove and Jim Marshall Charitable Trust. Donations also came from Eat Your Heart Out, Brioche Pasquier, SNR Audio, We Make Footballers, Options UK, Tattenhoe Traders and many more personal donations.
"Some local parish councils also supported guests from their areas, and we were extremely grateful for their support namely, MK Council (Bletchley Parish Council), Shenley Church End Parish Council, Stony Stratford Parish Council, Bradwell Parish Council, Great Linford Parish Council, Loughton & Great Holme Parish and Walton Community Council"
If you'd like to get involved and help make the Christmas Party happen for 2024, you can email Lisa on bardz1664@gmail.com.
