The Trelawnyd Friendship Club

Trelawnyd Friendship Club came into being 32 years ago and was founded for the benefit of the residents of Trelawnyd and surrounding villages.
We have a membership of 80 with a regular participation of between 50-60 souls.

We are a voluntary organisation with a committee of 12 . Mrs Irene Murray is Club Treasurer and Mrs Anne Hindle is Club Secretary.

I think the reason we are such a successful club lies in the fact that we “don’t think old!” Even though our members range between 60 and 92, we all feel years “younger in the head..not in the body!”

Apart from a month’s holiday in August, we have a club meeting and one trip out every month. At the meetings in the memorial Hall we have speakers, quizzes, musical entertainments and the odd bingo. We pride ourselves on a marvellously diverse programme of speakers.

We do tend NOT to have speakers on medical conditions and illnesses as we hope when our members come to us for an afternoon out, they can forget their aches and pains and be entertained or informed on “brighter” subjects. This is not digging our heels in the sand but is how we keep the afternoon light, bright and enjoyable.

Indeed, one of our most favourite entertainers was Fatima the belly dancer! Who invited us all to join in with her dancing! …..which we all did!!! I think our members enjoy coming and it keeps us all involved, interested, entertained and above all not isolated. One of the great rewards is seeing friendships forged and loneliness eliminated.

Mrs Murray organises the trips. I, as Chair, organises the speakers and Mrs Hindle completes the secretarial leg work and applies for grant support. I was asked recently by Flintshire County Council to speak at a meeting of the 50+ network, which is funded by the “older Peoples’ Strategy” in Flintshire. They wanted to know the secret of such a successful club!…I told them that I thought it was because we think young and try to keep a sense of fun in everything we do.

The whole ethos is to keep our older community involved, interested , entertained and above all NOT isolated.

Further information on Trelawnyd’s Friendship Group can be sought from Chair Maureen Gregory on 01745 570604

By Maureen Gregory (Club Chair)