VIDEO: Music, food and fun with Horsham’s Age UK at Christmas

Age UK Xmas. Age UK Christmas season activites promotion picture. Age UK Horsham District. Pictured is centre user, Martin Gailwood. Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP021214AGE01 SUS-140212-182707008

The events continue right up to Christmas Eve with music, Christmas dinners, card making and even a special production of pantomime performed by Age UK staff and volunteers.

All activities, at Lavinia House, Dukes Square, Horsham, are open to members and non-members - for members they are included in their all-day rate of £10 and non-members for the prices vary.

Hub manager Aimee Day said: “We are really excited to be running a full Christmas Programme during the festive period for the older people of Horsham District to delight in.

“We have festive lunches, a staff panto, Christmas shopping outings and lots of singing, dancing and musical entertainment for the 50+ community to enjoy.”

Yesterday (December 3) children from St Mary’s Preschool came to perform their Christmas Nativity and on Monday December 8 Fred Ward will be tapping the keys of the piano from 1.15pm to 2.30pm. There will be a £2 charge for non-members.

On Wednesday December 10 the Towers Convent School will be singing from 1.15pm to 1.45pm and on Thursday December 11 from 1.15pm to 2.30pm the Silver Song Club - both £2 for non-members.

On Sunday December 9, Friday December 12, Wednesday December 17 and Thursday December 18, the centre is serving up Christmas dinners with all the trimmings for £12.95 a head. There will be entertainment and party games following the meals.

Age UK Xmas. Age UK Christmas season activites promotion picture. Age UK Horsham District. Pictured is centre user, Irene O'Sullivan. Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP021214AGE02 SUS-140212-182717008

Booking is essential so call 01403 751327 to reserve a place.

The gang at Lavinia House are putting on a fun Panto ‘Lavinierella’ on from December 15-19. The performance starts at 1.15pm and tickets for non-members are £2.

On Christmas Eve there will be afternoon party for all the club members and the staff. The centre is inviting all its friends to come together for mince pies and mulled wine with hot soup and crusty bread, turkey sandwiches and sausages.

The charity has had to take the decision to close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day due to a lack of paid, criminal record (DBS) checked staff members available on the day.

Age UK Xmas. Age UK Christmas season activites promotion picture. Age UK Horsham District. Pictured are centre user's L-R Betty Vallance, Lal Hall , Bernard Sawyer, Irene O'Sullivan and Martin Gailwood. Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP021214AGE05 SUS-140212-182747008

Aimee said: “We hope to work in close partnership next year with other agencies to enable us to open on Christmas Day in 2015.

“We will reopen with business as usual on December 29 with a fish and chip lunch and a competitive Christmas games.

“Then we will be warming up to New Year’s Eve with show and tell Christmas presents and a New Year’s Eve party on December 31 counting in the new year at 12noon - not midnight - with sherry and party poppers.”

The charity will also be running a Saturday matinée trip to see Mother Goose in Crawley in January.

For more information about any of these activities, to become a member or try out the free trial day offer call Lavinia House on 01403 260560 or 01403 751237.