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13/10/2010 - A Surprising Celebration
Members of Somerset ’s older community celebrated UK's National Older People’s Day in style at Tilham Farm, near Glastonbury. Guests enjoyed an afternoon filled with fabulous food and plenty of entertainment!
One of the guests, Richard Hoskin, summed up the general feel of the event by telling us;
“We’ve had a brilliant time; I’ve met with friends and I’ve had a good natter and a good laugh. It’s the first cream tea I’ve had in years”
Octogenarian Maureen Garland and Nonagenarian Cyril Pursey particularly enjoyed the celebration, since for them it was also a very special reunion. In the 1950’s and 60’s Maureen and Cyril taught together at the old Board School in Street, but they hadn’t seen each in years.
Cyril said;“It’s been so lovely to catch up with Maureen; we’ve so much to talk about. Maureen was an Art and Craft teacher while I taught RE back then, but my passion was always for photography. As teachers, we weren’t paid a great deal and so my photography provided me with some very welcomed extra income”
Event coordinator, Linda Stares from Candlelight Community, the not-for-profit arm of Candlelight Homecare, explained;
‘The aim of UK Older People’s Day is to promote a national celebration of the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society; the celebration also coincides with the UN International Day of Older Persons”.
Amongst a wide variety of entertainment was a demonstration of ‘Flexersize’ by Somerset Active Living, whose work promotes active lives. They tickled guests by humorously encouraging audience participation in their presentation. Representative Maggie Charlesworth, told us;
“We all want to keep well, keep active and enjoy life; we are so pleased to have been asked to get involved in this event”
As well as a delightful performance of handbell ringing and a good old sing-song, one of the most popular performers during the afternoon was Mr Rocco D’Ambrosio, a client of Candlelight Homecare. Mr D’Ambrosio delighted his audience by playing popular jazz classics on the clarinet and saxophone, resulting in an impromptu sing-a-long. He was pleased to tell us;
“I enjoy performing and it’s great to be playing to such an appreciative audience”
Supporting the event, Councillor Alan Gloak, Somerset County Councillor for Glastonbury, declared;
“People are living longer. By 2020, half the population of the UK will be aged 50 or over and this will bring fundamental changes to the nature of society. Together, we need to change attitudes about ageing and older people, and do more to value the contribution that older people make”.
Liz Kirkham, Managing Director of Candlelight Homecare, told us;
“Encouraging people to enjoy a positive later life benefits all of us, individually and as a society as a whole. Keeping active can provide a positive contribution towards the health of people of all ages, abilities and interests; it increases energy levels and zest for life”
END
For more information about UK National Older Peoples Day 2010, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/fulloflife
For more information about UN International Day of Older Persons. please visit www.un.org/depts/dhl/olderpersons
For more information about Somerset Active Living, visit www.somersetactiveliving.org.uk or telephone 0845 345 9133.
