A SOCIAL club for older people in rural villages near Worcester has been filled with festive cheer.

The Nora Parsons Day Centre, which is based in the old Wichenford school building and serves 21 surrounding villages, celebrated installing BBC Midlands Today’s Cath Mackie as its patron when it held its Christmas lunch.

At the event, which featured carol-singing and was attended by Father Christmas, it was also announced that the day centre had been successful in its application for a £3,200 grant that will help go towards purchasing exercise equipment.

Centre spokesman Dag Smith said it was a day that would be remembered for many years to come.

He said: “In her speech of acceptance Cath promised to raise awareness and promote the centre in any way she was able. Her first act was to draw the winning tickets of the centre’s first grand Christmas raffle.

“County councillor Alwyn Davies surprised the assembled company by presenting a cheque for £3,200 as a consequence of an application for a grant made by Nora Parsons Day Centre under the Community Leadership for Health Fund.

“The grant will be used to purchase equipment aimed at both exercising the body and the mind and to recruit the services of an activity coordinator.”