A Rotherhithe pensioner returned to his school after more than sixty years for a free Christmas lunch along with other local elderly residents last week.
Bacon’s College welcomed seventy local residents for a free Christmas lunch – including William Griffiths who left Bacon’s in 1958.
Guests enjoyed a three-course festive feast with turkey, all the trimmings and mince pies served by the sixth form students. The afternoon ended with a visit from ‘Santa’, Vice-Principal Tom Sargeant – who gave everyone a gift.
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They were treated to a performance from the school’s choir and carol singing accompanied by the school’s band.
The staff and students were “delighted” to find out that one of the guests used to attend Bacon’s College himself, having left sixty-four years ago. William Griffiths went to Bacon’s College when it was still a boys’ school on Grange Road in Bermondsey.
Other guests included residents of Rose Court Care Home on Lower Road, Rotherhithe and Greenhive Care Home in Peckham, plus neighbours of Bacon’s and some refugees being supported by Age UK.
The event was part of Bacon’s wider mission to reach out to the local community and to those who need extra help during the cost-of-living crisis.
The gifts given by ‘Santa’ were donated as part of Bacon’s annual Advent Appeal.
Rev’d Nicola Teverson, chaplain at Bacon’s College, a Church of England school, said: “Putting our faith into action means loving our neighbour as ourselves, having the eyes to see suffering and pain and loneliness, and responding in compassion by doing something to help.
“We also know that Christmas can be a time of intense loneliness for some too, so we were delighted that so many people were able to join us to celebrate together,” she added.
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