Nottingham’s Meals on Wheels and Meals at Home service celebrates is 60th anniversary this week.

In 1947, when the service began as Meals on Wheels, eight people received meals in the city. Within a month it was 32 and now Nottingham City Council’s in-house team deliver 301,000 Meals At Home each year to an average of 1,000 people a day in their homes, to luncheon clubs and day centres.

The 60th anniversary of the service is marked on Wednesday at a celebration lunch at The Council House in Nottingham. Guests include 50 volunteers who run the 24 Over-60s luncheon clubs in the city. Joining them are 15 local couples who are also their 60th wedding anniversaries this year and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

The menu was based on the Royal wedding breakfast served to Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Philip at their wedding in 1947, chicken chasseur with fresh vegetables.

A 1947 theme, including Army Jeeps, soldiers, American GIs and Land Army Girls, reflected the period when Meals on Wheels was established. The meals were provided by County Enterprise Foods, who cater for Nottingham’s Meals at Home service.

Betty Cane from Mapperley, a guest celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary at the Council House, receives meals from the City Council’s Meals at Home service. She said: "The meals are very good and always nice and hot. We get a three course meal and a cup of tea for £2.50. You won’t get a better deal anywhere else."

Councillor Leon Unczur, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Adult Services, said: "We deliver 1,000 meals in Nottingham every day, operating seven days a week, 365 days in a year. We even deliver on Christmas and Boxing Day."