The Hyde family and helpers do lunch for 70 people
THE true spirit of the festive season was on show at the Salvation Army Fortress at L’Islet on Christmas Day as volunteers cooked a feast for around 70 people.
The aim of the event goes beyond delicious food because it brings people together who may otherwise have been alone on Christmas Day, and the sound of laughter and chatting could be heard from the back of the car park.
Five turkeys, each weighing six kilos, two sacks of potatoes and pigs in blankets were part of the three course dinner being prepared and cooked to piping hot perfection in the small kitchen.
Julie Hyde, a food lecturer at the College of Further Education, was head chef.
‘It’s something I can do, it’s my job, there are lots of people who would panic cooking for so many, but this morning it’s been all hands on deck, we all mucked in, and it was great.
‘I’ve got my family in here – my brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew and my daughter’s fiance – and my daughter and my husband are doing the entertainment afterwards.
‘So it’s a real Hyde family affair, I couldn’t do it without them.’
Starter was either a tian of prawns with salad, or melon or parsnip soup.
The main course was traditional turkey with all the trimmings, or for the vegetarians there was ratatouille and mixed nuts filo pastry.
Dessert, which was made the day before by students at the CFE, was meringue with fresh fruit, cream and marshmallows.
As well as food and entertainment, the guests watched the Queen’s Speech at 3pm and everyone received presents and gift bags put together by staff from Mourants Advocates.
Volunteers Jenny Tasker, Jackie Collis and Ros King were taxi drivers, waitresses and washer-uppers for the day.
This year Mrs Tasker had remembered to bring her Marigolds.
‘We’re helpers, or Santa’s helpers, there’s bound to be a lot of plates afterwards.
‘It’s nice to do something useful, there’s always a lovely atmosphere and it’s good to go and collect a couple of people from their homes to bring in.’
The main organiser, Major Jamie Hill, who heads the Salvation Army in the island with his wife, Claire, said the event showed how much the Guernsey community cares for people.
‘The Salvation Army runs the event but it is very much supported by the community, we couldn’t do it without the help that we’ve been given, the public have been so kind with donations.
‘It’s getting bigger every year, we used to do it at Clifton Hall with around 50 people coming, now there’s around 70, so there’s obviously a need.'
