More than 360 senior citizens attending a charity festive lunch on Christmas Day left with a smile on their faces after New Covent Garden Market traders donated fruit and plants for take-away gift bags.

Organised by local charity the Rotary Club of Battersea in an event marquee at Battersea Park, the Christmas lunch event supported elderly people who live across the Borough of Wandsworth. All attendees would have been alone on Christmas Day without the Rotary Club’s support, which included transport to and from the venue.

Fruit and Vegetable Market business Direct Delivered Produce donated delicious easy-peeler oranges, while flower and plant wholesaler Green and Bloom supplied small plants from the Flower Market, for every diner.

Over 200 volunteers were on hand to support the occasion, as was the Mayor of Wandsworth, Juliana Annan. “Thank you so much for organising and gifting the small plants as well as the easy peelers,” said Ré Johnson, the Rotary Club’s secretary. “It is very generous of New Covent Garden Market and brought a smile to the faces of our elderly guests and gave huge Christmas Cheer on Christmas Day.” 

The event’s slogan ‘No Elderly person should be lonely this Christmas’ was replicated up and down the country as The Rotary Club of Battersea Park is one of 1,850 Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland running events across the year.