Sally Army cookery team stands down

A team of volunteer cooks at a lunchtime club are stepping down.

Mrs Thelma Tingle, 76, Mrs Dorothy Baumber, 76, and Mrs Patsy Moore, 81, all of Collingham, are retiring from their roles at the Salvation Army Centre, Balderton.

Mrs Tingle was the first to decide to retire and her colleagues decided to join her.

Mrs Tingle and Mrs Moore have prepared and cooked meals for the weekly lunchtime club for around 18 years, having followed the church from Albert Street to Hawtonville and then Balderton.

They are on a rota with other teams and work once a month preparing meals for around 60 people. The club is aimed at the elderly, disabled and homeless and offers a two-course meal with tea or coffee for £3.

The trio teamed up in the kitchen around five years ago.

It was Mrs Tingle’s job to come up with a menu and buy all the ingredients as well as helping in the kitchen.

She said many of those who attended the lunch club were regulars.

“You get to know these people over the years,” she said.

“It’s nice to come out and meet people and the lunches are something we can lend a hand with.

“We have got one or two new cooks who are going to take over from us and we decided to let them have a go.

“We also have a very good team of volunteer supporters and they are all very much appreciated.”

Captain Matt Elsey, of the Salvation Army, said he was grateful for all the hard work the team had put in.

“You cannot put a value on it when you have teams as good as they are,” he said.

“The quality of the meals are very tasty and they are going to leave a big hole to fill. We wish them well.”

The lunchtime club is open every Tuesday from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Louise McAleese on 01636 892833.