Oldbury Wednesday Club

The Oldbury Wednesday Club originated in October 1981 as the Cherhill Day Centre but changed to the current name in 1998 in an effort to rid itself of the Day Centre image and encourage new members. The Club enables over 60's to meet every Wednesday from 10.30am until 2.30pm for morning coffee and lunch. We currently have a membership of 24 with an average of 19 members who regularly attend the meetings which are held here in Cherhill Village Hall and who also enjoy the many outings that are organised locally. This year we have 4 full day outings when we are going to Weston Super Mare, Poole, Weymouth and Worcester. 2 of these trips will be free to members.

In the Village Hall members have tea or coffee and biscuits on arrival then spend their time chatting, in the meantime a raffle is held with prizes donated by members, lunch is served just after 12 o'clock by non-member volunteers. After lunch we have various quizzes, slide shows, bingo or very occasionally a speaker. When we go out and arrive at our destination members form their own small groups and go off independently. Non member volunteers push any member requiring a wheelchair.

In the summer we enjoy meetings in the gardens at various private homes for an al fresco lunch.
An example of our outings last year were to Woodborough, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Leekes at Melksham, Marlborough, Whitehall Garden Centre, 2 visits to Swindon one to the Outlet Village and one to the town shops. We saw the Pantomime in Bath. Further afield we had days out to Lymington, Sidmouth and Southampton. A member organised 3 theatre trips to London. For the distance trips we advertise in the Villages to take non members to help fill the coach and defray the costs.

For local trips a nominal sum is charged for transport but members obviously pay for theatre trips.
The group is run by a volunteer committee and an organiser and other volunteer helpers.
We work in close contact with Age Concern and it is through them that we receive a grant which helps towards the cost. We also have a fund raising coffee morning in November. Our catchment area for membership extends to local villages and Calne and considering the advanced age of most of the group they are a sprightly group who really enjoy their days out and socialising.