Pensioner places heartbreaking newspaper advert to avoid spending 10th Chrismas alone

IzzySIzzyS Posts: 11,045
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Retired butler James Gray was overwhelmed by the response after he placed a newspaper ad hoping to end a decade of lonely Christmases

A pensioner placed a heartbreaking advert in a newspaper in a bid to end a decade of spending Christmas Day alone.

James Gray, an 85-year-old retired butler, has no immediate family and usually has a lonely lunch on his own in his London Flat.

He told the Irish Post the last time he saw anyone on Christmas Day was "when I saw my accountant about 10 years ago."

But a few weeks ago he hatched a desperate plan to end his decade of festive loneliness, planning a Christmas lunch at a local hotel and placing an advert inviting pensioners to join him.

"Pensioners group in the Sutton area will be celebrating Christmas Day together with a lovely Christmas lunch at The Holiday Inn Hotel, Sutton," it said.

"For more information please call James on xxxx. Come join us!"

But James was left downhearted when only one person replied - and that person soon pulled out saying they had decided to go somewhere else on December 25th.

But after the paper published details of his heartbreaking story, he was inundated with calls from people offering to have lunch with him over the holiday.

Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/james-gray-pensioner-places-heartbreaking-2929331#ixzz2nYmNGd00
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Nice story :)

Comments

  • Mystic DaveMystic Dave Posts: 1,180
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    Trouble is - they won't bother for the rest of the year.
  • culturemancultureman Posts: 11,700
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    Odd that a London resident should decide to contact the Irish Post?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,396
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    cultureman wrote: »
    Odd that a London resident should decide to contact the Irish Post?

    Unless they contacted him for a quote or something?
  • IzzySIzzyS Posts: 11,045
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    Trouble is - they won't bother for the rest of the year.

    Won't bother what? talking to anyone else? :confused:
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,396
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    IzzyS wrote: »
    Won't bother what? talking to anyone else? :confused:

    Think they're saying the people who take him up on the offer won't bother the rest of the year.
  • year 1957year 1957 Posts: 212
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    Ishould invite him, a former butler would come in handy at christmas
    with my family along with a few bouncers.
  • franciefrancie Posts: 31,089
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    Oh bless him, I hope he has the best Christmas ever! Must say he looks great for his age.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 4,138
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    they should give him a voucher for a brothel
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,888
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    Aw, that's really heartwarming! I'm glad he's not going to be alone!
  • AnitaSAnitaS Posts: 4,079
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    bugloss wrote: »
    they should give him a voucher for a brothel

    Why?:confused:
  • BMRBMR Posts: 4,351
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    cultureman wrote: »
    Odd that a London resident should decide to contact the Irish Post?

    The Irish Post is specifically aimed at the Irish community in Britain. And the largest Irish community is in London.
  • cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    cultureman wrote: »
    Odd that a London resident should decide to contact the Irish Post?

    No, there's a lot of Irish in London. Maybe he was asked by them or he is of Irish descent. We don't know.
  • IzzySIzzyS Posts: 11,045
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    year 1957 wrote: »
    Ishould invite him, a former butler would come in handy at christmas
    with my family along with a few bouncers.

    I did wonder if he isn't 185 rather than 85 - that seems like such an old profession. Then again, Paul Burrell was a butler, wasn't he?.
  • IzzySIzzyS Posts: 11,045
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    Think they're saying the people who take him up on the offer won't bother the rest of the year.

    Ohh, I understand now. I thought he meant the opposite, that he won't bother trying to find people to get to know for the rest of the year :blush:
  • darkislanddarkisland Posts: 3,178
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    bugloss wrote: »
    they should give him a voucher for a brothel

    Is that what you give as presents ?
  • MentoristMentorist Posts: 603
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    That's a really sad sotry, but surely there are hundreds of pensioners groups he could have joined in London?
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