Over the Moon at Christmas invitation

KENT BLECHYNDEN/ The Dominion Post

BELL OF THE BALL: Fred Berwick was the life and soul of Christmas dinner at the Compassion Centre in Wellington, after being invited by Wellington runner Melissa Moon, who is an outreach worker at the centre.

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World War II veteran Fred Berwick is used to his own company, having spent many Christmases alone since separating from his wife in 1983.

So the former serviceman was thrilled to be invited to Christmas lunch by Wellington runner Melissa Moon this year as a guest of the Salvation Army.

"I've got one daughter who lives in England. She phones me a lot but, when it comes to Christmas dinner, I've been by myself a lot," Mr Berwick, 84, said.

All that changed yesterday when Moon, an outreach worker with the Compassion Centre in Wellington, asked him to join in the festive feast.

She described the pensioner as a very independent person who never used the Newtown centre's soup kitchen. "But I knew he would like the company of other people for Christmas dinner." Tucking in alongside 100 others, Mr Berwick turned out to be the life and soul of the gathering.

Mr Berwick, who was abandoned by his parents at an early age in England, said he enjoyed his own company, but "it was good to get out and have fun with other people".

He arrived in New Zealand in 1951 but has no family here. He retired in 1985 after a career in the public service.

- © Fairfax NZ News