A club dedicated to providing friendships and opportunities to older people has celebrated its 50th anniversary this week.

The Crossgates and District Golden Age Club was launched with a tea for ‘pensioners living in the Crossgates area over the age of sixty’ on Thursday, April 20, 1972.

The tea was held in the old Village Hall and paid for by Mr Dennis Warren, who was headmaster of Llanbadarn Fawr School.

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A newspaper article from the Club’s very first meeting on April 20, 1972. The caption reads: ‘A new senior citizens afternoon club has been formed at Crossgates. Pictured above are some of those present at what is hoped will be the first of happy weekly meetings.’ (.)

The club was the idea of Mrs Evelyn Walters OBE who had earlier in the year called a public meeting addressed by the minister of Rock Chapel, Rev’d Hector Jones and the rector of Llanbadarn Fawr, Revd Geraint Hughes.

Mrs Walters became the first chairman and under her leadership the club flourished and grew into an active organisation, which has now served the community for 50 years.

The original purpose of the club was ‘to provide facilities for education and physical and mental recreation for the benefit of elderly people who are of limited means’.

Times have changed and today the club is run by a few elderly people for the benefit of their contemporaries.

On Thursday, April 21, exactly fifty years and one day after it began, the club met at Crossgates Community Centre at 2pm for a celebration tea. The group also heard a talk about the history of the club, which was given by Rev’d Geraint Hughes, who was one of the speakers at the very first meeting.

The last few years have undoubtedly been a challenge for everyone, and the club is now looking to the future and would like to invite all over 50s living in this community to join them in fellowship and friendship.

The Group meets on one afternoon each month in Crossgates Community Centre.

Details of meetings can be acquired from the club secretary on 01597 825972.