CHEF'S chief Joyce Dobson has sadly served up her final course

Joyce, of Leighton Street, Atherton, with her happy band of volunteers, has been involved in serving hot meals to the elderly for nearly 30 years.

But now time has run out for the service they deliver in Atherton and Hindsford under the Atherton Old People's Welfare Committee banner.

Wigan Council Social Services are not renewing the group's contract because of tightening regulations.

This week, as Joyce and her volunteers prepared their last dinners for clients, she told The Journal: "It's sad. The people know us and enjoy the company. They like a little chat with possibly the only person they will meet all day,

"I know the meals service will continue - but I feel the personal touch will be lacking.

"For the past three or four years Wigan have been trying to get everybody to have frozen meals, taking seven at a time. But we found people didn't want them and a lot had nowhere to store frozen food.

"Now they have decided to take over the service from us, using prepared frozen meals but delivering them hot."

Joyce (pictured with volunteers) first became involved 29 years ago when Atherton UDC asked her to prepare meals at her Market Cafe. Soon she was in charge of organising delivery of an average 75 meals a day and secretary of the town's old people's welfare committee.

Currently 16 volunteers deliver over 300 meals per week throughout the area.

A Council spokesman said:"We should like to thank Mrs Dobson and her volunteers for the excellent work they have done over the years for the old people of Atherton.

"However the meals on wheels service is now subject to strict regulations which make exacting demands on those providing the service.

"We are obliged to ensure the same standards are applied everywhere. This requires considerable application of the regulations. Unfortunately this is difficult for small groups such as Mrs Dobson's.

"We discussed with Mrs Dobson the possibility of continuing the delivery of meals to old people but she felt this was something she did not wish to carry on with."

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