Residents Merv and Dot Woodage hold the party each year on the Saturday before Christmas Day, and it has become a highly-anticipated tradition at Ryfields.

In his working life, Merv used to organise his company's annual Christmas do, and, when the couple moved to the Warrington retirement village in 2005, they decided to keep up the hard work for the benefit of their fellow residents.

The Woodages felt the parties would be a wonderful opportunity to promote the village and also would give residents and outsiders alike an evening to remember. Six years later, their fellow residents all eagerly await the next one!

Village Activity Facilitator Andrea Morley, who helped the couple with the arrangements, said the "feast of entertainment" had taken a lot of organising. "It gives residents and guests a lot of pleasure so all the effort is worthwhile," she said.

"Knowing the ladies like to dress up we decided that in keeping with the ambient of the surroundings we would have a dress code which is rigorously enforced, and a three course sit-down meal with the food cooked and served by our resident chef and his excellent team and volunteers. Having been wined and dined, we then arranged some top entertainment!"

This year's entertainment came from international singer Barbara Law and vocal entertainer Simon J. Guests were also delighted by the skills of John Archer, who has recently received the award of the Magic Circle Magician of the Year, and several comedians.

See more Christmas at ExtraCare pictures on Flickr!

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For further information, please contact:

Lucy Henson, PR officer
0789 105 3062
lucy.henson@extracare.org.uk