WWW.THEWILMSLOWEXPRESS.CO.UK            THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2006

Friendship blossoms at oldest singles club

THERE are no lonely hearts at Wilmslow’s oldest singles club.

All the punters who belong to the thriving Thursday Club have found friendship and happiness after plucking up the courage to turn up on their first date.

True, few have found rapturous romance but they all keep coming back for a bit of a banter at the Boddington Arms.

These 40, 50 and 60 somethings are content to enjoy the simple pleasure of each others company and put the passion on the back burner.., for the time being.

Although they have had their fair share of hot dates which have led down the aisle to wedded bliss.

Member Lynne Fairfield says at least four couples who met at the club have got hitched since but.... that’s not the point, she stressed

Not a dating agency the club sets out to offer social opportunities for men and women of a similar age.

There is a wide programme of social events, including parties, holidays, theatre visits, dances and weekend walks.

Lynne said: “The club started a long time ago just to help single people who want to make new friends and extend their social lives.

“It is not a dating club, though naturally some have dated and even married. It is a place where like minded people can meet and have a laugh and a drink.

“Most of the people at the group are over 45 but we always welcome younger people.

“It is a non-profit making group and all the money made goes towards the numerous activities that we have on offer.”

One of the success stories of the club is Les and Carol Cooper who celebrated their third wedding anniversary in May.

Les was introduced to the club by a friend who had lost his own wife five years earlier and encouraged him to go along to the Thursday night get-togethers.

“It was a difficult time because it was then basically only a year since my wife had died, but she had been ill for two years.

“I started going at the end of 2000, in October, and it must have been a couple of months into 200l when we started going out.”

In true romantic fashion Les said there was an instant spark bewteen the couple. He said: “Our eyes met across a crowded room.

“We went to a quiz night and everybody had been encouraged to bring a picture of themselves when they were a child and I was thinking; I know that face.”

Les and Carol soon became an item, but they are not the only happy couple to have met through the Thursday group, at least three other couple are celebrating long-term relationship success.

To find out more about the group log on to their website on

http://www.manchestersocialgroup.org.uk/      

WE’RE all like-minded: Lynne Fairfield