Photo of the week
University plays Santa to rescue senior citizens' party
Tuesday 13 December 2011
The Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council laid on a Christmas party to remember for the town's senior citizens at the weekend, despite a power cut threatening the cancellation of the annual shindig.
When Community Council volunteers arrived at the Town Hall to start setting up for the party on Friday afternoon, they discovered a power cut had left the venue without any heat or light.
Faced with calling off the annual treat for over 150 St Andrews senior citizens at the last minute, Community Council Chairman Kyffin Roberts made a desperate plea to the University for help. Within minutes, the University had opened up its historic dining hall, Lower College Hall in St Salvator's Quad, and an army of volunteers led by Kyff and Community Councillors Marysia Denyer and Audrey McAnaw began moving the party, guests, food and entertainment across town.
Staff from the University's Hospitality and Janitorial teams cleared their schedules and moved to help the Community Council team to set up tables and decorations and opened the kitchens to serve hot food.
Student volunteers, including President Patrick O’Hare, turned up in force to help out, along with pupils from Madras, serving tea and coffee to the guests.
Kyffin Roberts, Chairman of the St Andrews Community Council, said: “The Community Council is extremely grateful to everyone who helped make sure we didn’t have to cancel this annual tradition which goes back decades.”