It is Christmas Day, and the roads connecting Louth and Alford are largely abandoned. Most people are spending the morning with their families. But some, like these rural roads, are lonely.

Sarah Devereux was one of them. The Conservative, Alford-based councillor now runs a yearly Christmas gathering dedicated to people who have no one else to spend their Christmas with.

“It’s one of those things that once you start it, you can’t stop.

The 53-year-old tells me about the starting point for her idea: “I spent most of my time as a single mum. There are a lot of people out there that Christmas is difficult for, so I gave that some thought.

“I went home and chatted to the kids. I had this idea, but I needed a location. And this is the perfect location, isn’t it?”

For the last ten years – minus one during lockdown when it was cancelled – the gathering has been hosted in the Alford Cornhill Exchange.

The 1850s building is a cheerful yellow on the outside with two white doors. In the first hour of the gathering, over 15 people enter through those doors to gather around tables.

Me and Sarah talk at one of the tables. I ask what she thinks about Christmas, a subject she feels very strongly about.

She says: “It can be a really hard time for people. It’s not all what you see on the TV. You see all these wonderful films and adverts. That’s not the reality for a lot of people.

“Maybe they’re young and on their own. Maybe they have a difficult relationship with family. Maybe they’re a single person or maybe they’re in a coercive and controlling relationship. I just think that we are a society blind to so many different levels of loneliness.”

According to Sarah, it can be a difficult subject for some people to speak about, as loneliness can be seen as a difficult and embarrassing thing to admit.

The town of Alford is small, with a 2021 census reporting a population of 3,830. Over 50s make 45% of the Alford population.

Among them is a local man who sits at the table with me and Sarah. He has chosen not to be identified, for that reason I will call him Robert.

Robert, who lives alone, says: “Social media has ruined Christmas it means you lose out on the one-to-one. The thing here really is, it’s seeing people, you know, getting together and chatting and stuff, obviously it’s worthwhile, isn’t it?”

Another gentleman joins us. He is a quiet presence and sits on the opposite end of the table. He has been attending the Christmas meeting for around five years. I ask him why the gathering is important to him.

He says: “Well, people are living on their own, aren’t they? It’s about community, isn’t it? I come here every Friday for coffee mornings, too. I’ve just been to the service in church, and I’ve come here. The service was very good.”

He eats a chocolate cake, one of the many snacks on the table purchased by Sarah. 

Me and him continue talking. I ask: “If you weren’t here right now, where do you think you would be?”

He says: “Doing the crossword and watching the tetly, I suppose.”

“Do you have any family with you this year?”

“No.” He says bluntly, “I’m all on my own.”

Sarah jumps in: “You’re never alone. Not when you’ve got us rabble around you.”

The councillor is joined by Alford Town Councillor Alan Whitcombe, who commends Sarah for establishing the gathering: “It’s really good. She is really good, isn’t she?”

Sarah says: “Whether we get one person or a dozen people attending and you’re making a difference to one person, it’s worthwhile, isn’t it?”

Later, Sarah calls me to talk about someone else who came to the Christmas gathering a low years ago. 

“He was at breaking point. Ready to take his own life. 

“Thankfully, he saw the lights through the door and came in and spent a long time with us I sign-posted him to the right people. 

“He will say to this day, obviously privately, if we hadn’t been open that day he really genuinely believes he would have made that decision that he could never come back from.”

I ask Sarah why Christmas means so much to people and why loneliness might play a part in that.

“It is very interesting how media influences people when their Christmas doesn’t turn out like miracle on 34th Street, the media are setting them up for disappointment.

“It is Christmas Day people want that connection; they want to feel part of something bigger than themselves.”

Call for action (UK): if you are feeling isolated depressed or suicidal call the Samaritans helpline on 116123.