Balloons and bubbly were the welcome guests received when they attended a grand party to celebrate the 40th birthday of Rhayader Luncheon Club.

The club which was formed in the late 1970s following a visit by two local ladies to GP, Dr McNair who advised them to make contact with the group of nuns resident in the town at the time. As a result a team was formed and on February 1, 1978 the first meal was cooked by Mrs Radziejowska, with Itnall Jones and Mrs L. Kinsey as helpers, and Sister Patricia Reynolds as the team leader.

During its existence nobody has been paid for helping, it has all been done by volunteers. Chairman Richard Tyler went on to list a number of people who had been actively involved in the club over the years. There was also a minute’s silence for two people who had given great service to the group, Ivy Dobbins and Barbara Lawrence.

Today the group, which meets each week at the Rhayader Community Centre, has a team of five cooks, together with a band of about 40 helpers who help prepare, serve and clean up afterwards. The group is led by Mr Tyler as chairman, with Ray Dobbins as treasurer and Christine Phillips as team leader.