Day centre to close after 60 years of laughs

A day centre that opened to support a town's elderly population is closing its doors for good after 60 years of laughs.

Dursley Day Centre welcomed its first visitors in the 1960s, at a time where "there were no services for the elderly at all", but has since fallen victim to rising costs and a lack of footfall.

The centre marked its final moments with speeches, a cup of tea and a piece of cake at 12:30 BST.

"We’re all very sorry it’s closing, and I suppose we’re just glad we’ve had it as long as we have had it," said resident Myra Hopkins.

Pam Uglow has been a trustee of the centre for the last decade, and was there when it opened in 1964.

She said a steering group was formed, which led to various districts being asked to set up committees to "look after the elderly and lonely".

Ms Uglow said the "absolutely fantastic" volunteers who raised money to buy the site on May Lane are "all sad because we haven't got the resources anymore to run it".

"We don't get the people and some of the buses now don't stop here at the bus station," Ms Uglow said.

"But our numbers have gone down to the point where we're running at a loss and there's now a lot more facilities in the area for the elderly.

"We set the ball rolling and I think we should look at what we've achieved rather than being sad at what we're losing."

Ms Hopkins added that her favourite memories of Dursley Day Centre involve "having a good old laugh".

"It's a real meeting place," she said.

"Everybody knows if you want to know anything, come into the day centre.

"It's very sad, if we could keep it open, we would."

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