Food lovers from Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland who joined the record-breaking 8.5 million people in the Big Lunch this year, are being praised for helping to make it the most successful ever. The recently released figures show that 6.5 million more people than last year sat down for a communal lunch on Sunday 3rd June.
This year, Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) formed a partnership with the Big Lunch because of a shared concept of strengthening communities which remains the driving ethos behind both organisations. Claire Crooke, spokesperson for Big Lunch, said: “RIBI believes that society works best when people work together and so does the Big Lunch. We’re so pleased that lots of clubs got involved this year.
“The results of working together as organisations demonstrate the importance of community and collaboration with RIBI and the Big Lunch worked well, with Rotarians across the country organising some brilliant Big Lunches.”
A host of Rotary clubs took advantage of the simple idea and held a variety of Big Lunches this year, from traditional street parties to BBQs in back gardens and picnics in local parks.
Highlights include the extravaganza in Scotland where the Rotary Club of Elgin embraced the Big Lunch ethic with enthusiasm, making it part of their celebratory weekend for the Jubilee. Brodie Ross, one of the organisers, said: “We started off with our street pageant which travelled the length of the High Street. I am advised that the crowd was five deep. When the pageant got to Cooper Park, the Big Lunch began. We estimate that 2,000 people were there.”
Guests had great fun playing petanque and practiced their golf chipping at a garden party held by the Rotary Club of Dunbar’s president. A collection on the day also raised £175 for a number of charities supported by the club.
Travelling down the country, other highlights include a Big Lunch street party in the town centre of Cockermouth, Cumbria, organised through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Cockermouth and the town’s Chamber of Trade. Entertainment on the day included stilt walkers and lots of music. Nearby, in the neighbouring town of Windermere and surrounding areas, Rotary club members individually hosted a number of Big Lunches, inviting their communities to get together in Rotary and Big Lunch spirit.
Rotary clubs in Preston were key supporters of the Preston Sikh community’s cultural Big Jubilee ‘Langar’ . The term, effectively means ‘free kitchen’ and aims to provide free food to people of all backgrounds, upholding the principle of equality.
Hundreds of people attended the Big Jubilee Lunch extravaganza at Northfield Park supported by the Rotary Club of Blaby and other community groups whilst the center-piece for the Rotary Big Jubilee picnic in Gorleston-on-Sea was the town’s impressive bandstand where bands played a mix of music all day.
If you would like to hold a Big Lunch in 2013 on Sunday 2nd June 2013, find out more by visiting The Big Lunch or contact your local Rotary club.
