The Jolly Codgers Lunch Club at Woodlands Park Village Centre, by Barbara Hatfield.

"The Jolly Codgers Lunch Club at the Woodlands Park Village Centre means so much to me because when I joined the club, it brought a whole new meaning to my life because the people that went were so friendly and the people that run the lunch club and the Centre are very kind and helpful. I look forward to every Thursday, meeting my friends and now I run a bring and buy stall and any money we make goes to our fund and it means I am chatting to everybody and any new people I try to make them welcome. It is a big asset to the community as we have many people over 60 years and it can be very lonely, so it means they can come to the club and have a lovely hot meal, have people to talk to and play bingo if they want. There is People to Places that can bring people in wheel chairs if required. When my husband was ill, and couldn't be left on his own, my daughter-in-law came every Thursday to look after him as she knew how important it was to me to be able to go to the club and meet my friends. Also when my husband passed away, I really don't know what I would have done without the thought of going to the club on a Thursday and everyone was so kind. Sometimes Linda, who runs the club, does an afternoon tea, Easter Jubilee etc, and that is a chance to dress up and something good to look forward to. She thinks of some lovely things for us to go to. Henry who runs the Centre and is our lunch club cook is a fantastic person, very kind and has always got time to listen. Without my lunch club, my life would have a big void. Thank you." - Barbara Hatfield.