PENSIONERS boogied down at a party in Oxford.

Some 200 residents and staff from 17 county care homes run by The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) attended a dance-themed fun day at The King’s Centre, in Osney Mead.

They wore fancy dress representing dance styles from different eras and were treated to wartime music and dancing dogs.

Marston Court, in Marston, won an award for the best fancy dress with their 1920s Charleston theme, with residents decked out in sparkly headgear, feather boas, boater hats, braces and bow ties.

Resident Lily Walden, 94, said: “It was very lovely to get out and I really enjoyed it.

“It was great watching the dogs performing and I had a great day.”

The Marston home’s activities co-ordinator, Paul Lucas, said: “They absolutely adored it.

“They showed that just because you’re elderly it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.

“The days are gone where old people’s homes were just about getting pushed in front of the TV all day and the only exciting part was meal times.”

Guests had a fish and chip supper and took part in a ‘Wake Up, Shake Up’ group exercise, while there were performances from My Favourite Things jazz trio and a young dance duo.

Residents at Larkrise Care Centre in Banbury dressed in sailor outfits and performed a dance to What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor? at the party, held on Wednesday.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone's contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.


Our top stories