TABLES groaning with food, beaming smiles and chinking glasses, it was plain to see how the festive feast laid out before them had delighted these older people on Sunday.

Hundreds tucked into turkey and all the trimmings for Oxfordshire’s annual ‘Golden Sunday’ Christmas lunch for older people.

More than 350 guests were able to benefit as restaurants across Oxford threw open their doors to older people who might be lonely this Christmas.

But organisers said it was “heartbreaking” that around 220 elderly people could not be offered a place at the free event.

It goes to show the breadth of the issue, and that is why this year the Oxford Mail has joined forces with Age UK Oxfordshire for the Lonely this Christmas appeal, aiming to help an estimated 10,400 lonely older people across the county.

Jam Factory director Andrew Norton has run Golden Sunday for the last six years and said it was vital for helping old people battle loneliness by giving them places to come and make new friends.

Mr Norton said it was important to get more restaurants come on board and help provide more space to accommodate the high number of diners next year.

He added: “It’s heartbreaking that 220 people have had to be turned away.

“But it doesn’t take a genius to see how incredible an event this is for the people who are here.”

Age UK Oxfordshire’s head of area Ruth Swift stressed Golden Sunday was vital to support lonely elderly people with nowhere to go at Christmas.

She added: “It’s very worrying that we have had to turn people away and it has been really, really hard.

“Golden Sunday is important because it brings people together in a relaxed and welcoming environment where they can have fun and remember they are not on their own.”

But despite having too few spaces to accommodate the demand, jolly revellers packed into six restaurants across the city to celebrate Christmas early.

A total of 150 guests were given Santa hats when they sat down to dine on their turkey lunches at The Jam Factory.

Smiles shone around the city as people pulled crackers and raised glasses of wine, bucks fizz and sherry to toast an early Christmas.

Guest Lilian Burton said that elderly people in the town are very fortunate to have events like Golden Sunday in the city.

The retired 75-year-old from Cowley added: “It’s hugely important because if you’re stuck at home and you don’t go anywhere or see anyone you can get stuck in a downward spiral.

“A lot of people could be stuck at home if it were not for events like this.”

Mrs Burton is now the full-time carer for her husband, but said she is lucky to have lots of support available.

He added: “It’s invaluable for some of these people who would not otherwise get out.

“People have come to these lunches as lonely people and have left with groups of friends.”

Brenda Booth was returning to the Jam Factory for the second consecutive year after attending last year with her friends at the Dean Court Community Association’s Coffee Club.

The 73-year-old from Botley, said it was a marvellous meal and lovely people had gone to such efforts to support elderly people in the city.

Oxford Mail:

  • Organised: Sheila Glazebrook from Contact The Elderly at The Jam Factory

She added: “It is important to come to these events because people are putting it on and thinking about us. We want to show we appreciate it.

“They are giving up their time for us and looking after us and we all appreciate it, we really do.”

Lunches were also held at the Waterside Restaurant, Branca, Loch Fyne, Cherwell Boathouse and Vincent’s Club.

While logistics are taken care of by Age UK Oxfordshire, suppliers donate goods including turkey, pork and vegetables.

Joining 24 other guests for roast turkey and honey-glazed gammon dinners at the Loch Fyne restaurant in Walton Street was Shirley Allmond from Littlemore.

The 80-year-old said Golden Sunday was a great opportunity to get dressed up smart and go out.

She added: “I like to come because as you get old you begin to get isolated.

“This gives us the chance to get dressed up because when you get old you don’t get much opportunity to do it anymore.”