Lunchtime Meeting - 12.45pm - Speaker Alwena Martin

On Monday 21st July our speaker was Mrs Alwena Martin, Chair of the Oswestry & District Association for the Elderly and Peter Hill's guest.  She had been asked to come along since this charity was on the street collection list this year.

Alwena began by talking about her early life - she was born in Llansilin within sight of Owain Glyndŵr's castle, the only daughter in her family, and lived near the Green Inn.  Her father worked on the Llangedwyn Estate, owned by the Williams-Wynn family, and she used to walk 2 and a half miles to school every day!  After primary school she attended Oswestry Girls' High School, catching a daily bus service operated by Tommy Lee (who was always late!)  One morning in 1943 (during World War II) they drove past the Wellington bomber crash site at Bwlch-y-Rhiw farm.

After leaving school she taught until marrying into the Martin family - she and husband Herbert opened their 1st shop in Albert Road and had their son, Howard.  After Alwena's father retired the family moved to Pit House in Trefonen, named for the coal-mines which used to be there, where they lived for 26 years!

In 1977 Alwena's mother suggested that Alwena form a club to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee and it is this 'Jubilee Club' (now renamed the Oswestry & District Association for the Elderly) with which Alwena has been involved ever since.  It currently has around 70 members and an average of 50 come to the twice-monthly meetings.  The activities range from day trips, holidays, theatre outings and the once-monthly lunches to tea-dances, which have proved very popular.

Alwena believes that people living alone enjoy the opportunity for socialising which these activities provide and membership is open to all in the former Oswestry borough area (including Llanyblodwel, Kinnerley, West Felton, Gobowen, Trefonen, Weston Rhyn).  Through their affiliation to Age Concern practical help can be accessed too, such as medical equipment and advocacy services.  

Jane Ridgwell started holding dance classes 5-6 years ago which attract around 20 people 2x a month and now the tea-dances are held on the 1st Friday of each month and cater for all abilities including those in wheel-chairs. These are held at the Pedigree and cost around