Shame on council for club closure

Dear Editor St Leonards Lunch Club had our final Christmas Party Lunch in the Bruce on Friday November, 25, and it was a very emotional day for us all.

Considering we have been meeting every week for over 20 years says it all and when we were originally set up down at the hall beside the library, our numbers went up as high as 55 for lunch some weeks and then our world crashed when we were moved up to Blacklaw School.

Yes, it was a hall with a kitchen attached. However, we had many problems during the changeover with the cupboard space and lay-out.

South Lanarkshire councillor Sheena Wardhaugh was the person who pushed this, telling us that it was built especially for us. However, we were never consulted on this move and had to make do with what we had.

Ill health, loss of staff, low numbers and the additional burden of SLC charging rent meant we have had to close this one and only facility for pensioners to meet each week.

They have had the opportunity to chat, have a laugh and get stuck in to my wife’s (Jean) homemade soup! Many said that it was worth coming for on its own, with a varied choice of menu each week with tea, coffee and biscuits made it a great afternoon out for everyone.

No more bus runs in May which took us all over central Scotland. No more Xmas lunches – they were the highlights at the end of our year.

More importantly, the club offered a place to meet and allowed these elderly residents an irreplaceable time in their lives to keep in touch with each other and at the same time enjoy good food in good company.

I have to say shame on our elected councillors for allowing this to happen as they gave us virtually no support and, more importantly, since we have closed, not one has written, phoned or spoken to either Jean or myself.

This shows a total lack of compassion and could-not-care-less attitude with the closure of our club and the loss of a necessary service in the community. Sorry to our suppliers, McCandlish the family butchers, for their good food and to Morrisons and Tesco, who will all miss our contributions to their turnover.

Thank you to all our members that supported the club over the years and trust that they survive the winter months and try and keep in touch.

That’s it, there is no more.

Jean and Graeme Macklin, St Leonards, via email