It is Christmas time and wishes can come true.  Cinderella may have got to the Ball but Edna had a much simpler wish.  At 94 years old, Edna Ralph from Ashington wanted to see the famous Newcastle Fenwick Christmas window display again.  The problem is that whilst Edna leads an active life in the cerebral sense, she can only walk with great difficulty and not for many steps. As a result it was six years since Edna last visited Newcastle.

Edna who is in the Ashington U3A happened to mention her wish to fellow U3A member Margaret Trewick.  Now Margaret is a member of Morpeth Lions Club and as everyone knows Lions Clubs have a canny knack of making wishes come true.  The Club members got their thinking hats on and came up with a plan.  This did not involve a fairy godmother waving a wand but may well have done.

Margaret contacted the Fenwick Store Carolyn Ridley, PA to the Fenwick Directors and she kindly agreed to arrange for Edna to be shown the Christmas window and give her and her helpers lunch.  Next suitable transport was needed and Lions are not up to turning pumpkins into coaches but would a white Bentley and chauffeur do?  Edna was delighted and thanks to Bentley Newcastle, part of JCT600 Ltd, for coming to the rescue with a superb car.

On the day Edna and Margaret along with Morpeth Lion President Richard Nash were picked up from Ashington by Mel Wanless from Bentley Newcastle and taken to Fenwick Department Sore in Newcastle.  They were met by Philip Davidson, Fenwick Customer Service Manager, who walked and talked Edna through the window display.  This year the theme is the Snowman based on the book by Raymond Briggs.  Afterwards Edna, Margaret and Richard enjoyed an excellent lunch at Fenwick’s Tivoli restaurant courtesy of the Store.

Edna said “It has been a fabulous day and I could not have asked for more.  Everybody has been so kind and caring.  I would like to thank Fenwick Department Store, Bentley Newcastle and, of course, Morpeth Lions who must have a magic wand somewhere.”  We are told Margaret and Richard had a pretty good day out as well.  Just another example of Lion Clubs making wishes come true.

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