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Crisps and kerb-jumping as Kate joins village hall group for lunch
The royal joined around 50 residents for lunch and marked the community transport service’s 50th year of helping older people avoid isolation.
On Wednesday, the Princess of Wales visited Pulborough Village Hall in West Sussex, helping transport local residents as the West Sussex Minibus Service celebrated 50 years of supporting rural communities.
Operating from eight village hubs, the service acts as a vital lifeline for residents with mobility challenges, utilizing 284 volunteers and 11 minibuses to support the weekly lunch club.
The Princess helped collect 94-year-old Stella Drewett before joining diners for soup and crisps, where she bonded with 75-year-old Lynda Jones over the importance of community connection.
Local residents expressed appreciation, with Jones describing the event as an 'absolutely marvellous privilege' and noting such gatherings make "a lot of difference if you've lost your partner."
Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the lunch club, the event reinforced the vital role such organizations play in reducing isolation and fostering friendships among residents across the district.