ALMOST 100 people sat down to enjoy lunch together at the Strand Centre in Dawlish.

Organised every year, the festive feast of traditional turkey is provided for people in the town who would otherwise be on their own for Christmas.

This year, 96 people sat down to the dinner and all the trimmings, cooked by centre manager Paul Lentle.

Father Christmas, otherwise known as John Birch, popped in on his ‘sleigh’, or scooter, to hand out gifts to everyone there.

Mayor of Dawlish Lin Goodman-Bradbury and her consort went along to join in the festivities.

Musical entertainment was provided by Stephen Nash on piano and Alison Foden on violin.

One of the organisers Marie Whitehead said: ‘A very happy Christmas Day was had at the Strand Centre.

‘Thanks to Ducky Delish who donated generously again this year.

‘Many people said how good it was to have company for part of this special day.’

It has been a very busy Christmas season at the centre.

Ahead of the big day and getting everyone in the spirit of Christmas, entertainment supremo Tony Liddington was back at the centre with his candlelit reading of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol.

It was Tony’s adaptation of the timeless tale of Scrooge, the spirits, and the true meaning of Christmas.

The lunch was just part of the Strand Centre’s year round activities.

It’s efforts were rewarded before Christmas with a cash award from the Co-op’s Winner Shares It All prize draw.

Each month 10 Co-op members win the £5,000 cash prize for their chosen Local Community Fund cause.

Opened in 2011, the centre, run by the Strand Community Trust, is a multipurpose hub, providing entertainment, craft fair, farmers’ market, food and weekly meetings for groups.

Some of the winning money is to be used to improve disabled access, such as getting a stairlift to rooms on the upper floor.