Looking for a prime number

11:00am Sunday 7th October 2007

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Members of a new lunch club aimed at keeping the older generations active have given the service the thumbs up.

More than a dozen Blackbird Leys residents attended the first session of the Prime Time Club on Wednesday - and urged more people to get involved.

The club was set up to encourage over 50s to socialise and take part in physical and mental activities.

Members meet at the Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road every Wednesday for up to five hours of free entertainment. A healthy buffet lunch is also available for £2.50.

The first club meeting included a game of short matt bowls and future activities will include swimming, gym sessions and speakers including local fire officers.

Jean Denham, 64, of Robin Place, said: "I enjoyed it. I've recently retired and when you're on your own the club gives you somewhere to go. I hope it's going to build up in size - I'm looking forward to the gym."

Raymond Cantrell, 63, from Windale House in Field Avenue, said: "It's very good. It will be good when they do the bingo - I'm bingo mad - and it will save me cooking."

The club is the result of a partnership between the leisure centre and Oxford City Council's neighbourhood renewal team.

Dawn Williams, community development manager, said the club's members had already suggested darts, skittles, dancing and tai chi as future activities.

She said: "We want the people who come to this group to let us know what they want to do. The club is an opportunity to have a go at different activities in a relaxing environment. It will encourage people to come into the leisure centre, when they might have thought leisure centres were just about spandex and young people."

Ms Williams added that the Prime Time Club was a pilot in Blackbird Leys and she hoped to introduce similar schemes in other venues across Oxford.

To find out more about the Prime Time Club or other activities for the over 50s in Oxford, call Ms Williams on 01865 252 245.