THIRTY "generous and essential" volunteers were entertained to a fine lunch last week by Brightwells Gostrey Centre.

Some volunteers drive the centre's buses to collect the largely elderly clients from their homes and return them after a hot lunch.

Others escort those who have mobility problems or are in wheelchairs to and from their homes and into the centre at the end of the journey, while a third group help in the kitchen and the servery.

Stephen Inman, the centre's chairman, told those at the lunch the centre simply could not do its work without the volunteers' generous gift of their time and effort.

He paid tribute to them all, and mentioned Margaret Duddridge, who was present at the lunch, and who was still coming into the centre once a week to help. Mrs Duddridge, who is 85, was recently honoured by the Queen with the award of the BEM.

The centre always needs more volunteers. Anyone interested in contributing an hour or two to its interesting and satisfying work, is asked to contact the centre's manager, Maggie Groves, on Farnham 725330.