Birthday bash for Circle
AGROUP which helps older people to live their best life has celebrated its seventh birthday with a party in Middleton.
Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Circle, also known as HMR Circle, was formed when a larger organisation, Participle, shut down, and some members decided to strike out on their own.
Since then, director Mark Wynn, 55, says the group has gone from “strength to strength”.
HMR Circle aims to reduce social isolation that people over the age of 50 can experience, and runs a monthly calendar of around 30 events that any of the 800 members in Middleton, Rochdale, Heywood, or the Pennine villages can get involved in.
These include anything from meals, coffee mornings, walks, and even indoor skydiving and gokarting.
Events are run depending on what members ask for.
For the seventh birthday, members were invited to a day at Middleton Masonic Hall. Mark said: “We wanted to make sure our Middleton members got a crack at the whip.
“It was a nice venue and we had a live band, Groove Yard, who played a good mix of stuff that people could get up and dance to, and sing along.
“It was a really good event.”
Members were treated to HMR-themed cupcakes by bakery Cakes by Rebecca Louise.
Certain members who had reached landmark attendance records received certificates, including Steve Williams, who has attended a new record of more than 600 events.
Certificates were given to those who have attended over 100, 200, 300, 400 or 500 events.
Mark added: “The group is for meeting people and making new friends.”
The group holds some regular events, such as two luncheon clubs.
Activities such as baking, line dancing, singing, and more challenging events such as abseiling, windsurfing and water sports are available.
The group also holds regular days out, with a recent visit being a guided tour of Heaton Hall.