21
Dec
Spirit of Christmas shines brightly in Knaresborough with free dinners
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Anyone questioning whether the spirit of Christmas still exists should stick their head around the door of The Hub in Knaresborough on December 25.
About 100 people will be tucking into a free dinner, courtesy of an army of volunteers that steps up every year to help those in need or lonely.
The Knaresborough Christmas Day Dinner is a testimony to the town’s willingness to look after its own. Every year, volunteers provide a full Christmas dinner, with all the trimmings, to anyone who requests one and deliver free meals to those who can’t make the party.
It began in 2019 when former firefighter Bruce Reid was on duty at Harrogate Fire Station on Christmas Day and thought it would be a good idea to open the doors and feed those in need.
About 30 people attended and Bruce decided to repeat the exercise in 2021. As he wasn’t on duty on December 25 that year he provided free meals instead at Gracious Street Methodist Church in Knaresborough, the town where he lives.
Since then, the dinner has moved around the town and this year takes place at The Hub, which is the former church hall on Vicarage Lane.
Bruce Reid (left) working at a previous Christmas dinner.
It’s become a huge community effort: Two Brothers Takeaway on Chain Lane provides the home deliveries, and various groups, including Knaresborough Lions, also provide support. Some 50 or 60 people get involved with preparing, delivering, serving and washing-up on the day.
People requesting meals are not means tested — they just have to book in advance. Bruce says:
We will feed anyone, regardless. I will never say to someone, ‘we won’t feed you’. I refuse to cap the number. I won’t turn anyone away. If we don’t have enough capacity at the venue, we will still offer them a delivery. It’s no questions asked. I’m loathe to introduce criteria because it’s not just about money. People have all kinds of reasons for coming — sometimes they just don’t want to eat on their own on Christmas Day.
Two Brothers Takeaway oversees the deliveries.
This year’s fundraising appeal, which you can support here, has raised a healthy £2,000.
That's enough to provide guests with a turkey dinner with the trimmings plus dessert, and to pay for a present for children. For the first time ever, there will also be entertainment, courtesy of local singer Liam Gray, who is giving up part of his Christmas Day to help others.
Bruce says: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see people who have never met before sat there talking. So many people say afterwards they have never enjoyed Christmas Day so much — that’s why we do it.”
Singer Liam Gray will perform at this year's dinner.
Bruce, 60, was a firefighter for 30 years before retiring so he is no stranger to working on Christmas Day. A keen fundraiser, he also organises an annual bonfire in York for the Fire Fighters Charity, which raised £42,000 this year.
The Christmas dinner requires a lot of planning and work on the day. Bruce normally gets up at 5.30am and puts in a long shift but it's better organised these days.
He says:
“I expect to be home a bit earlier this year and have said to my wife we will definitely sit down together and have our Christmas meal at home for the first time in about eight years.”
After that, Bruce will be able to put up his feet knowing he has brought more Christmas joy to Knaresborough than possibly anyone except Father Christmas.
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