Lonely butler James Gray advertised for a Christmas companion and was flooded with offers
- From: news.com.au
- December 15, 2013
James Gray served in stately British homes before retiring to a lonely life in a council flat. Picture: ThinkStock. Source: Supplied
A RETIRED butler who once served in Britain's stately mansions, but has spent a decade of Christmases alone, now has his pick of invitations to festive dinners after placing a newspaper advertisement.
Lonely James Gray has spent the past ten Christmases alone in his London flat.
Fed up, Gray decided to advertise for someone to spend the day with him - and has now been inundated with offers, the Irish Post reported.
The last person Gray spent Christmas Day with was his accountant - in 2002.
Since then he has put up with year after year of lonely festive celebrations.
"I just had smoked salmon and prawns on my own last year and I had to put up with it," he said.
Born in County Cork, Ireland, Gray spent his career as a butler, working for some of Britain's wealthiest families.
He served the multi-millionaire brewing and banking Guinness family in Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland, where David and Victoria Beckham wed in 1999.
Lonely butler James Gray once served at Luttrellstown Castle near Dublin, where David Beckham and Posh Spice were married. Picture: Supplied. Source: AP
Following his retirement, Gray lost contact with his family when his first cousin died more than a decade ago.
He decided to place the ad in the Irish Post and, at first, had little luck.
"I'm used to the loneliness but I don't want it to be the same this year," he said.
One woman responded, then changed her mind, saying she had other plans.
When the Irish Post put Mr Gray's plight in a story on its front page, invitations flooded in, from readers, charities and via Twitter.
He received his first Christmas cards in years, one coming from New York.
A little gift from Oriflame is on its way to Mr Gray after seeing his story in the @theirishpost @Niall_IrishPost pic.twitter.com/yhxKg2vE4l
— Oriflame UK & ROI (@OriflameUK_ROI) December 13, 2013"It is so touching to me, after all these years alone, to see this response from people" he said.
A London councillor planned to invite Mr Gray to a Christmas Day gathering for pensioners, with free travel and a hotel included.
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