Mey senior citizens' club nights set to start after three-year break
A long-established club that provides a focal point for older people in the Mey area is getting going again after a three-year break caused by Covid-19.
Committee members of Mey and District Senior Citizens Club met last week for the first time since March 2020 and are preparing to revive their monthly social gatherings in the village hall from the beginning of May.
The club began life about about 50 years ago but the pandemic brought its activities to a temporary halt.
Taking place on the first Tuesday of the month, the club nights offer a friendly atmosphere with tea, a dram, sandwiches and home baking. There can be musical entertainment and guest speakers, as well as a raffle.
Transport is laid on for members who come from as far afield as Castletown and Freswick.
The next club night is on Tuesday, May 2, at 7.30pm.
The club began in the 1970s and it is understood that at one time it had between 60 and 70 members. The current membership is about 40 and they are being encouraged to attend the monthly events.
Club secretary Elaine Hughes said: “We go to the Mey hall on the first Tuesday in the month and we have entertainment, we have a light supper – it's a social night.
“We also do a summer trip and then we do a dinner and dance at Christmas time for them.”
Mrs Hughes explained that people in the community seem keen on the idea of restarting the club.
“We've been leaving it because of Covid, but then we just thought Covid is going to be around for a while so we'll try to get it up and running," she said.
"We've been dishing out hampers every Christmas so we haven't got a lot of money left.
“We had a meeting last Tuesday night to see if we could start up the club again, to see what the feeling was, and everybody is quite keen.
“They all enjoy the night out. We've got a licence and we put a bar on.
“We go and pick them up, we take them to it, they have a cup of tea, some have a dram, some just have juice. They all get together and have a blether and then we take them all home.
“People have been asking when it's starting again so we thought we'd give it a try. Anybody over 60 is welcome to come in.
“We don't know how many are going to come back. The committee members enjoy doing it but we just thought it might fold if we don't get going.
"It has been going for so long that it would be a shame to see it going under. It's good for the community, it's good for everybody, and we're trying to get new people the whole time.
“New members and committee members are welcome. The main thing is to get up and running."