A yoga class at Redbridge Sports Centre during the 2011 Older People's Day events

‘Something for everybody’ during UK Older People’s Day programme in Redbridge

Alistair Kleebauer Wednesday, September 26, 2012
8:00 AM

UK Older People’s Day lasts much longer than 24 hours in Redbridge with a programme of events until October 12 including a fashion show, health fair and a 1950s exhibition.

Highlights

The Allan Burgess Centre in Grove Park, Wanstead, will host:

- A flower photography competition - Monday to Friday (10am-3pm)

- A gardener’s question time (Thursday, 10.30-11.30am)

- A celebratory lunch (Friday, October 5, 12.30-1.30pm).

Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, has a dance and information event on Thursday.

The Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road, Ilford, has a West End Song Book show at 2pm on Friday (October 5).

Events celebrating the contribution of older people to the borough kicked off yesterday (Wednesday) with the majority of events, many of which are free, being held from Monday to Friday (October 5).

Groups including Redbridge Council, Vision Redbridge, charity Age UK Redbridge and the Redbridge Pensioners’ Forum are helping to put on the programme to mark the national day on Monday.

John Coombes, chairman of the forum, said: “Even though it’s supposed to be a day and most boroughs, if they do it all, will do it for a day, Redbridge is pretty pro-active.

“There’s so many bits and pieces, there’s something for everybody.”

A council spokesman said: “Older people will be able to enjoy and participate in a wide range of social, exercise, health and learning opportunities that they might not otherwise have had.”

On Friday (October 5), a free fashion show at Redbridge Central Library in Clements Road, Ilford, will showcase traditional outfits from across the globe.

It’s particularly exciting, according to Andy Petty, a chief officer at Age Uk Redbridge, because all the costumes have been made and modelled by older people.

A health and wellbeing fair at Valentines Mansion, Emerson Road, Ilford, on Wednesday will provide taster exercise classes including zumba, chair-based yoga, aerobics and tai-chi.

And Age UK is involved in hosting a number of events at the Allan Burgess Centre in Grove Park, Wanstead, including a 1950s exhibition from Monday to October 12.

It is based on Wanstead in the 1950s and will include displays and photos of the High Street, stores including Woolworths, The George pub and hairstyles and cars of the era.

Award-winning author Jean Fullerton will take a virtual stroll through Victorian east London at Central Library on Tuesday (2pm to 3.30pm) and romantic novelist Bernadine Kennedy visits Woodford Green Library, Snakes Lane West, on Wednesday (2pm to 3.30pm). For a full programme, call 020 8708 5232.