BEACONSFIELD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Our Journey
Celebrating 50 Years of Service
In May 2025 we celebrated 50 years of BCA at the Fitzwilliam Centre.
No history or celebration of the Thursday Lunch Club’s 50th anniversary can be written without highlighting Elizabeth Meares’s tireless dedication and volunteer work. She started in 1982 when she was asked to be a driver by Olga McBride, who initially founded the Thursday Lunch Club.
This was before it came under the umbrella of BCA. Elizabeth then went on to cook as well as drive every week for more than 40 years! Not only that, to this day, she is the chief organizer and leader of more than 40 other volunteers. We who are cooks, drivers, and washer-ups mainly work on a once-a-month rota. Elizabeth comes in every Thursday to prepare and supervise everything. Sometimes she has to step in for absent or sick volunteers.
Elizabeth has instigated and upgraded many features of the Lunch Club. The new sociable round tables are now attractively laid out with matching tablecloths and flowers to brighten the room and welcome everyone. She also ensures that our Lunch Club members receive a birthday card on their birthday and take flowers home from the lunch.
Elizabeth has worked with three Chairmen over the years: John Pell, Hans Van Zetten, and now Sandy Saunders.
She is our star volunteer. ✨.
How It All Began
The Beaconsfield Community Association was founded in 1978 by Olga McBride to bring together and help people in the town.
The BCA works with the Beaconsfield Advisory Centre to help with the supply of essential household equipment, aids for the sick and disabled where the social services are unable to assist, and to support the youth of the town.
Every week at the Curzon Centre there is the Thursday Lunch Club for the over 60 and people with disabilities, where a three-course meal is provided at a very modest cost. It is a great way to socialise with old friends and make new ones.
The Club also arranges outings during the year to places of interest, and a party at Christmas.
We are reliant on donations and volunteers working together with local churches, the Beaconsfield Advisory Centre and Hope Community Drop-in Centre.