Senior Citizens' Christmas Party December 2023

Christmas came early to Withington this year, when on the 6th December Withington hosted its annual Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party. The evening saw over 150 senior citizens from the local community come into school for a to enjoy a music concert, a catered tea party and each guest received a gift at the end of the evening. All transport to the event, if required, the food and the gifts are organised and funded by Withington Girls' School. Funds are raised via various fundraising events in school. Food is donated and baked by members of the school community and served by the girls and staff. Gifts are also collected by the school community so that every member of the audience returns home with a gift.  

Staff and students enjoyed preparing the food, making a range of delicious sandwiches and festive themed cakes. Musical performances kept the guests entertained, with contributions from the senior choir, the staff choir, the ‘Rat Pack’ and senior orchestra. And students and staff were also on hand to welcome our guests, serve them food and chat to them throughout the evening.

Withington’s Director of Music and organiser of this event, Mrs Gilly Sargent, who has led rehearsals praised all involved for their effort and commitment.

It is always a pleasure to hear from our guests after the event and to appreciate what the concert means to them. Guests have been in touch with their thanks for the evening. “Wow! Another wonderful evening well spent at the WGS Christmas Tea Party; it just gets better and better!” said two of our returning guests. Also, a local community group that brings a number of its members said:

“Thank you to everyone involved in making last week's Christmas Tea Party such a memorable and enjoyable occasion; an enormous amount of hard work and preparation will have been involved, but, as always, everyone was given a very warm welcome and it was a real delight to have been present”.

£400 was raised during the event from a raffle and additional gifts and food were donated to The Booth Centre and Emmeline’s Panty.