Bradford elderly have a ball on special day (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford elderly have a ball on special day

8:00am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter

Older residents from across Bradford came together yesterday for a Tea Dance With a Twist as part of the week’s celebrations.

Tenants from Anchor’s residential homes across the district enjoyed the plush event at the Midland Hotel’s Princes Ballroom yesterday, held to celebrate International Older People’s Day.

Entertainment throughout the afternoon included a fashion show, line dancing, the Clogaire Dancers and a Cliff Richard tribute.

Anchor’s activity development officer Debbie Sharples said the event was also raising money for the organisation’s chosen charity Contact the Elderly.

She said: “Events like this are essential for older people – they are meeting people they would never have had the opportunity to meet before from different locations, so they will make friends, share ideas on what goes on at different locations and they get the opportunity to join in with things like the line-dancing.

“We love the idea of International Older People’s Day – it’s about celebrating older people, the contribution that they make, their skills and their talents.

“And as an organisation, that is what we are about – we are about providing care and support for elderly people.”

Anchor residents Margaret Russell, 82, and Lilian Dibble, 77, neighbours at Stonebridge, in Idle, were among the hundreds enjoying the entertainment on offer.

Mrs Dibble thought the concept of the day was a worthwhile endeavour.

She said: “It is a very good idea – there’s not enough for the older people.

“We need taking out of where we live now and again.”