Chichester centenarian thanks ‘lifeline’ social club

A popular social club has celebrated nearly half a century of providing a ‘lifeline’ for elderly people.
Members at the Parklands Thursday Club celebrate the 100th birthday of Doris Wyatt, third from left at front PICTURE BY STEVE ROBARDSMembers at the Parklands Thursday Club celebrate the 100th birthday of Doris Wyatt, third from left at front PICTURE BY STEVE ROBARDS
Members at the Parklands Thursday Club celebrate the 100th birthday of Doris Wyatt, third from left at front PICTURE BY STEVE ROBARDS

The Parklands Thursday Club, which meets in St Wilfrid’s Church Hall in Chichester every Thursday from 2pm-4pm, has been on hand to help people around Chichester for some 45 years.

And the anniversary this year coincided with another milestone for one the club’s members.

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Doris Wyatt, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, praised the club for helping her for 20 years.

Mrs Wyatt’s friends at the club threw her a special party for the double celebration.

“I go to the club every week, and have seldom missed one in 20 years” she said.

“It really has been my lifeline. It keeps you going - they are all very lovely there and you make a lot of friends.

“They really look after you.”

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Mrs Wyatt was born in Cavendish Street and has lived there ever since.

“I have lived in Chichester all my life,” she added.

“I remember Chichester and my street when there were no cars going up and down it.”

Mrs Wyatt was married in St Paul’s Church and has one son, who now lives in Midhurst, and a daughter.

Secretary of the Thursday club Christine Scutt said it all started on October 8, 1970, and had been going strong since.

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“The club started with 33 members and we actually have between 30 and 40 today.

“We start with chair exercises and play card games, board games, bingo and sometimes have a guest speaker who will come in.

“Our members come from around the Chichester area.

“I think it’s absolutely brilliant to keep the club going.

“A lot of elderly people just don’t want to come out of them homes although they may be very lonely, which is a shame because once they come they enjoy it.

“It gets them out of their homes and gives them a chance to meet people.”

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But Christine is keen to get even more people coming along to the club.

She said: “We could do with a few more members and it would be nice to have some more gentlemen come along.”

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