Festive spirit brings generation together at St Peter’s Christmas dinner

St. Peter’s Community Gathering once again brought festive cheer to Ashton-under-Lyne as it hosted its much-loved annual Christmas Dinner and Afternoon Party for senior citizens.

The event took place on Tuesday, December 9, from 1pm to 4pm at West End Methodist Church on Trafalgar Square, filling the venue with warmth, laughter and a strong sense of community spirit.

Organised by committee members Cllr Joyce Bowerman, Atta Ul-Rasool, Nicola Woods of Ashton Pioneer Homes and Steve Crompton, the celebration brought together residents, volunteers and local organisations to ensure older members of the community enjoyed a memorable afternoon.

Guests were treated to a traditional Christmas meal prepared by Allens Bakery in Audenshaw. The afternoon also included hot drinks, desserts, raffle prizes and an energetic game of bingo, creating a welcoming and homely atmosphere for all in attendance.

Members of the St. Peter’s Neighbourhood Policing Team were also on hand to support the event, with neighbourhood police officer Dan and PCSOs Andy and Lewis helping to serve meals alongside committee members and volunteers.

A highlight of the afternoon came from 30 pupils from St. Peter’s Church of England Primary School, whose choir delighted guests with a selection of festive songs. The children also presented two beautifully arranged hampers and gifted each senior citizen a thoughtful “magic jar” message filled with words of hope, comfort and positivity.

The Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr Shibley Alam, attended the celebration and thanked the organising committee for their dedication, while praising the school choir for their uplifting performance.

The committee expressed its gratitude to everyone who helped make the event such a success, including those who donated raffle prizes and made financial contributions, as well as Ashton Pioneer Homes for their support in the lead-up to the day.

Special thanks were also given to Minaz Aslam from the Neighbourhood Engagement Team at Jigsaw Homes, who donated a selection box for every senior citizen and each child in the school choir, and provided invaluable support throughout the afternoon.

Appreciation was extended to the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the event ran smoothly, and to Nigel from the Tameside Reporter, who spent the afternoon capturing the highlights and preserving the memories of the day.

Reflecting on the success of the event, the committee said: “We love putting on our annual events like this, bringing people together is what we’re all about. After a well-deserved rest, we’ll be back in the new year planning and preparing for our free Annual Family Fun Day in summer 2026. We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.”