Chance to liven up your social life

By BARBARA WARD

A social group based in Newark for the over-40s that offers activities such as theatre trips, outings and sport, is seeking new members.

The group began life in the mid-1980s in Long Bennington when people from the south began to move to the area. It was known as the Newcomers.

Its aim was to provide a social group to allow people to make friends and settle into their new environment.
In 1990 the group’s name was changed to Genesis.

It is run by a committee, but informal planning meetings are held each month at which all members are encouraged to put forward suggestions.

The Genesis chairman, Mr Don Welburn, said: “We have an annual meeting and a constitution. We are self-financing and really it is run by the members for the members.

“We have a core group of people who joined when they were in their 40s, but we would like to see younger members and more men.”

Genesis is made up of single people and married couples.
There are 60-70 members.

Meetings were held regularly at local pubs and restaurants. This grew to include parties and events in members’ homes.
There were annual summer garden parties, a Glyndebourne evening, Christmas and New Year parties.

Outings were arranged to stately homes or to the coast; there were walking weekends in the countryside and also holidays abroad.

Mr Welburn said the group still had the same aims, but the average age of members was now 60 and was predominantly female.
“That changes the sort of activities that can be put on,” he said.

Mr Welburn said there was still badminton, tennis and ten-pin bowling and a summer garden party.

He said pub nights were out of favour, but restaurant meals and day trips to places of interest were still popular.
There is a regular coffee morning in Newark each Saturday.

Mr Welburn, of Lincoln, said: “We need to get some younger people to join the group so that it will continue to thrive.

“The members must enjoy what they get from the club or they would not remain, but we need some new blood.

“We want to encourage more younger members to join to carry on a worthwhile social group.”

Prospective members are allowed to attend two or three events before deciding if they would like to join.

Once an application has been approved by the committee, the new member receives a list of telephone numbers of all members, and each month a programme of events through the post.

The joining fee is £30 with an annual subscription of £20.

Any surplus money is used to subsidise events.

2008 began with a New Year’s Day breakfast at The Navigation, Newark, and the forthcoming programme includes trips to the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace.

Anyone interested in finding out more should contact Janet on 01636 679343 or email glenisrix@hotmail. co.uk

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