RAINHAM’S elderly residents were treated to meals fit for a King at two free Christmas dinner events last week.

Around 56 pensioners turned out for a slap up meal with all the trimmings at the Mardyke Community Centre in South Street, Rainham on Friday December 10 and then another 50 got tucked into a festive feast at the Royals Youth Centre in Viking Way, Rainham in Viking Way, Rainham on Wednesday December 15.

Cllr Mark Logan (Independent Local Residents’ Group, Rainham and Wennington) who organised one of the events said: “Elderly people are the forgotten part of the community and I don’t always think that they are looked after enough.

“Their needs need to be taken more into account and the Christmas dinner was a good way of helping them out.”

The event at the Mardyke Community Centre included a three course meal consisting of a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and entertainment from a choir singing classic Christmas tunes.

The meal was orgnaised by Jeanette Ogborn with donations from stores like A13 Food And Wine, Sainsburys and Crown Catering.

Jeannette said: “We do a lot of things for children and young people, so we thought it was nice to do something for a change for the elderly residents.

“It was just an amazing event, everyone really enjoyed themselves and we have been inundated with messages from eveyrone thanking us.”

Around 50 elderly residents were also treated to a three course Turkey dinner at the Royals Youth Centre last Wednesday December 15.

The event saw the residents being served up their meals by about 6 young people from the local area, they also had entertainment from an Elvis Presley impersonator and they had a special visit from Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas.

The dinner was funded by Cllr Mark Logan with some help from the Tesco store in Viking Way, Rainham who donated a flat screen TV for their raffle.

Cllr Mark Logan said: “It was a brilliant event and it was probably one of the best things that I have done this year.

“Although it was for elderly residents we had the help of some of the young people and it was really nice to see the two groups mixing well together.”