The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Kind-hearted staff at a Spalding eatery proved they were a chip off the old block this Christmas by providing a special feast for those who might not otherwise have had one.
Westlode Fisheries in Westlode Street opened Christmas Day to serve free fish and chips to the homeless.
Staff also delivered meals to several pensioners they knew of who were on their own on December 25 and who were unable to cook for themselves.
And they also took it upon themselves to deliver to Spalding Fire Station. The family-run business has been open just over a year and is led by wife and husband Fardous and Sajid Ali.
They are going to donate 10 per cent of all takings on Christmas Eve to a local charity and following their efforts in Spalding, later on Christmas Day helped cook meals for the homeless at a mosque in Peterborough.
Fardous said: “We were very busy Christmas Day.
“In Spalding we were open from 1pm to 3pm and we had about 35 people come through the door.
“It’s great, but at the same time a huge shame that so many people needed it.
“As well as the homeless there were a few people who were dropping off presents and had popped in having seen we were open. We didn’t want them to pay for it so we just asked them to make a donation to the charity.”
The family also consists of the brothers Asif, Asad, Sal and Shahid Masaud who were able to make the deliveries to the housebound elder relatives and to those on call at the fire station.
They were able to deliver them with home-made mince pies and crackers which a member of the public had provided.
“We’d really like to thank the person who provided those for us,” said Fardous. “As they were home-made they were really tasty.”
Fardous said: “Thank-you to all of our wonderful customers.
“We’re looking to provide a similar service once again next Christmas.”
