| Wednesday 18th May 2005 |
(ref: 180/2005) |
Children from St Andrew’s CofE in Wigan join in the fun.
More than 500 local pensioners attended yesterday’s (Tuesday 17th May) Sheltered Housing and Information Partnership (SHIP) event at Wigan Town Hall.
Aimed at showcasing the services and housing provision available to the borough’s over 50’s, the event involved the likes of Age Concern, Wigan Council, the Pension Service, and Wigan & Leigh Housing.
In keeping with celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, the whole event had a VE Day theme. Visitors collected their ration books at the door, walked down corridors lined with bunting and red white and blue balloons, and enjoyed visiting 30 stands offering services to promote independence for older people in the borough.
Visitors, who included the Mayor of Wigan, Cllr John Hilton, sampled free puddings at the frozen meals stands, looked at the ‘Legacy Project’ community archive material, collect their new slippers at the NHS Sloppy Slipper exchange and were interviewed for the BBC’s ‘People’s War’ website.
Wigan’s History Shop ran an exhibition about ‘Wigan at War’ , while entertainment was provided by a 20 piece swing band and Scholes girl Pat Masterton, whose 40s tribute act was very well received.
Children from Low Hall Community Primary School in Platt Bridge and St Andrew’s CofE, Springfield, also joined in the fun, performing the ‘Albert and the Lion’ monologue and singing war time favourites to the delight of the hankie and flag-waving audience.
For further information, please ring Helen Coffey, Network Co-ordinator for Older People, on (01942) 404501.