Irish pensioner James Gray has taken out an advert as he dreads spending another Christmas Day alone. James, who is based in London, contacted the Irish Post hoping to set up a pensioners group who could spend Christmas together. His hopes were dashed when only one person responded to the advert who later said she would be spending the occasion with someone else. The retired butler has no immediate family to visit and is eager to find a Christmas companion before the 25th December. “I just want to find someone in time,” he said. “I am used to the loneliness, but I do not want it to be the same this year. “I think there must be quite a few lonely people around and I am on my own, so it would make sense I think if someone came here for Christmas lunch. Photo via: Malcolm McNally/The Irish post  “I just had smoked salmon and prawns on my own last year and I had to put up with it. “I think the last time I saw someone on Christmas Day was when I saw my accountant about 10 years ago. “This time of year is so hard if you are old and alone because it feels like everybody else around you is enjoying themselves,” he told The Irish Post. The Irish Post is collecting Christmas cards for Mr Gray. If you would like to have a card passed to him, please send it to: The Irish Post, Suite A, 1 Lindsey Street, Smithfield, London EC1A 9HP. Photograph via The Irish Post