THE LEDBURY Evergreen club is celebrating its diamond anniversary this year, having been founded back in 1957, for the benefit of the town's senior citizens.

The club is well known for usually holding its annual Christmas party one month on from Christmas day itself, although the reasons for this tradition seem lost in time.

But recently the focus has been on another celebration.

The club was actually founded by the local branch of the Rotary, and Rotarian Jan Long said: "When it was founded there was little in terms of entertainment and interaction. The Evergreen Club, now led by Barbara Langlois, recently held a 60th anniversary party at Dymock Village Hall where staff from the next door pub, The Beauchamp Arms, cooked and served a scrumptious meal.

"Friends and guests attended the event; including Town Crier, Clive Gunn, and representatives from the Ledbury Lodge Masons and the Rotary Club. There was a specially made 60th Anniversary cake, decorations, entertainment from the wonderful vocalist Debbie Parry, who had people up dancing, playing the Kazoo and singing, and a huge gorgeous hamper donated by the Co-op Stores in Ledbury that was raffled."

Mrs Long added: "The eldest of the club members, Ivy Marsh, cut the cake, which was then shared and each guest was given a keepsake Evergreen mug. Organiser Barbara, who was presented with an engraved glass vase, gave credit to Rotary for all their years of support and for the community grant provided by them this year."

She said "These vital and much needed funds enable the Evergreen Club members to enjoy a diverse range of activities and outings, which might not usually be possible."