PUPILS from Royal Wooton Bassett Academy served a Christmas feast to elderly people from the town yesterday.

Year 11 students welcomed more than a hundred of them into the school hall for the festive lunch, which featured a raffle, and live music provided by GCSE music students.

The Christmas meal has been staged for the past five years to help bridge the gap between the generations and give pupils the chance the give back to the community.

The oldest guest there was Gertrude Trippetts, aged 103, who managed to win a cookery book and tone of the bumper prizes in the raffle of Christmas treats, which were all donated by the pupils.

“I’ve been coming for several years, “ she told the Adver, “it’s nice to see all the young children.

“I won lots of good things, I’ll probably have to give the cookery book to one of my grandchildren I expect, I wouldn’t know what to do with it.”

Jean Lynch, who is in her 80s, added: “The children were all very nice and the ones that waited on us were really good. I’ll be coming again.”

Pupils volunteered to take part in the dinner, which was a welcome change to their normal afternoon lessons, but many gave up their spare time to stay until after school was over.

Jess Ferris said: “It was really good. It was nice to see everyone together, and was just a nice festive time for both generations who wouldn’t normally be in the same situation.

“I think its a good experience as well. My favourite part was seeing the older people talking together and enjoying the food and atmosphere.”

School receptionist Melanie Hopkins, who organised the meal, said: “I think it’s great for the students, they’ve been looking forward to looking after them for the afternoon. It gives them a chance to integrate with the local older people.

“It’s been growing every year since we started five years ago, a lot of them come regularly now. I think they enjoy the raffle just as much as the company.”

Mari Moore, head of year 11 at the school, added: “The pupils have been amazing, they’ve really got involved. Its was just a really good event to show themselves in the best light and for people in the community to get something back from the school as well.

“Just about every table said how nice the food was and how attentive the children have been.”

The older generations are looked after by the school which organises community activities for most of its year groups.

Year 10 youngsters take make harvest festival deliveries to the elderly every year.