Everyone has a story to tell about their life and we have just held the first session of our life story project. The participants will meet over the next 8 weeks to gather stories and photos from each stage of life to be published in a beautiful book for them to share with friends and family. It is a great project for bringing people together, celebrating all that their lives have entailed and also thinking ahead to what's next. The sessions are run by Rachel Lewis creator of Memories and Milestones, and funded by East Hants District Council.

What a wonderful atmosphere at lunch club today with the bunting and decorations. Two of our volunteers (Peggy and Monique) dressed up as land girls and Shine Radio interviewed John and Julie Woodage who recalled wartime memories in Bordon and a VE celebration party on Rushes Road. Graham was cooking this week and did a delicious roast dinner and everyone had wine to toast the allied forces for bringing us peace.

Hear the war time recollections and VE day memories from Peter Walker and Shirley Roberts - interviewed by Mike Waddington from Shine Radio. Peter is taking part in our Life Story Book project, and Shirley attends our Body Positive chair based exercise classes. How lovely to hear their stories.

Shirley Roberts -almost 92- remembers the end of the Second World War

Peter Walker (94) remembers VE day in 1945

We held a drivers meeting last week and it was great to see so many of the drivers there. They all drive the minibus either to lunch club, for shopping in town, or on our outings but due to the nature of the role we rarely see each other so it’s great for them to put faces to names. We also had 2 new drivers come along who will join the rota this month.

Hats (or aprons) off to Graham who has been covering for our cook Marian, over the past few weeks. He has been cooking some fabulous meals - with clients regularly telling him ‘that was as good as Marian’s’ which we know is the highest compliment he can get. Graham trained as a chef originally and recently cooked for the PACT Christmas day lunch. We are so lucky to have him as part of our team.

Time to start thinking ahead to January, and we have just the class for you to increase your strength, mobility, and stamina. Join our tutor Bobbie as she leads a chair based exercise class. Past attendees have raved about these classes and the difference it is making, so we have created an additional class to keep up with demand. This will start on Thursday 16th January, 2.30-3.30pm, in the Perry Room at the Winton House Centre. Cost is £36 for 6 weeks. Contact us to book a place.

We were delighted this year to have our annual Christmas lunch funded by the DWP Household Support Fund. Marian, our amazing cook, and the helpers (pictured here just before everyone arrived) did a fantastic job serving up 60 delicious Christmas meals to older residents of Petersfield and the surrounding villages. Many heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making this event happen.

Over 60 people attended our free Christmas party last Friday at the Community Centre with the very entertaining Debbie singing festive songs, a Christmas afternoon tea, and gifts for everyone. One of our drivers even decorated the minibus with tinsel and lights! There is a lot of work that goes on behind these events and we are very grateful to the band of helpers that make sure everyone has a great time.