The committee at Upton Village Hall is considering establishing a weekly Luncheon Club. This would be a community social gathering offering a set cooked lunch for a modest cost

An open event last Friday, February 28 was well attended by potential customers and local people and organisations offering their help and support.

Upton-by-Chester High School teacher Karen Smale, who organised the school’s community Christmas lunch, expressed enthusiasm in supporting this initiative.

She said: “Our students value the opportunity to contribute to their community and this is one excellent way in which they can expand on this”.

Laura Horsefield from the Upton Spar supermarket attended, along with three other members of staff. They demonstrated their support for the venture by bringing along a donation of soups and other food and drink offerings.

Age UK Cheshire attended in an advisory role, sharing their ideas and experience in setting up social lunch clubs in the area.

Caroline Condliffe she was impressed by the strong community spirit and commitment to the project and Age UK Cheshire would be more than willing to advise as the ideas were developed.

The gathering had no difficulty in concluding that this proposed venture was worthwhile and further promotion should be undertaken alongside resolving the various supply side issues. One or two pilot luncheons are being considered for early summer and if all issues can be resolved then the club may be started in the autumn.

Once up and running, the organisers will then address the issue of how the more housebound and isolated elderly members of the community can be identified and how a service can be arranged to ferry them in.

Local residents David and Audrey Taylor said they would be very interested in joining in these luncheons on a regular basis.