Afternoon discos prove popular after inspiration from 105 year old's birthday rave
There's now two regular sessions in Torbay
Last updated 31st Mar 2025
Torquay's first afternoon 'disco-rave' for the elderly is going from strength to strength.
It was inspired by last month's 105th birthday party of Hilda Jackson - which featured a DJ and glowsticks at her Derbyshire carehome.
Once a month more than 40 people are now taking to the dancefloor to throw a few shapes for two hours to music provided by DJ Chris Hill at the St Marychurch Conservative Club.
"We like to think of ourselves as mature but wild.”
Organised by Jess Slade from Live Longer Better in conjunction with Torbay Communities Community Builder Jennie Langridge, it follows on from the success of a similar venture in Preston.
One of those on the dancing for most of the afternoon was 78-year-old Myra Rogers from Roundham was at the disco with three friends who are already regulars at the sessions in Preston.
She said: “We were all really pleased; the DJ was great, the atmosphere was good, and we were all strutting our stuff. We like to think of ourselves as mature but wild.”
DJ Chris Hill was equally enthusiastic, adding: “It is all about judging what they want to hear. The tastes were varied from recent stuff to the four floor fillers at the end – the Mavericks, The Beatles, the Village People and the Bee Gees.”
The discos will be held on the last Thursday of the month at St Marychurch and the first Thursday of the month in the Preston Conservative Club.