Folk rockers scrub up nice after pensioners lunch club show

The band – joined by frontman Marcus Mumford’s new wife, Hollywood actress Carey Mulligan – lunched with around 40 people at the Friday Friends club, before treating the OAPs to a performance of their song Sisters as well as a rendition of Amazing Grace.

Joann Wareham, 57, project manager for Huddersfield Deanery Project, which runs the lunch club, said: “I can’t sing their praises enough. They were lovely, genuine boys. No airs and graces, none of this big star attitude. They were a delight to have and the pensioners thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

The visit was arranged through Marcus’s brother, James, who works for an organisation offering grants to community projects.

James came into contact with the social club around 18 months ago and was so impressed with the work it did that he offered to help it raise some money – and the next thing Joann knew she received a call from Marcus.

She said: “They arrived at around 11.30am and stayed for a couple of hours. We were having a Jubilee party so we had bunting everywhere, sandwiches and red, white and blue cakes.

“They spoke to all the volunteers and pensioners at the club – they were friendly and chatty.

“After lunch they even performed on the stage. Everyone was on their feet, clapping and cheering. They loved it.

“I couldn’t believe it when they offered to help clear up. They weren’t afraid of hard work, they rolled up their sleeves and helped to tidy everything away, sweeping the floors and helping with the washing up.”