'Covid will not beat us' say team behind Ageing Well festival which aims to inspire the over 50s
Torbay’s annual Ageing Well festival returns this weekend - but this time virtually.
Last updated 23rd Oct 2020
Last year 1,750 over 50s packed into the Riviera Centre to find out about new activities or groups they could join.
Event spokesman David Gledhill says they don’t want Covid-19 to increase isolation in the bay and still plan to highlight different inspiring activities - which people can safely enjoy.
The volunteer committee behind the festival have recorded more than five hours of video and audio covering everything from baking lessons to talks by local historian Kevin Dixon - who takes viewers on a tour of Torquay’s nightlife down the ages and explores many famous writers of the riviera.
There are also performances by Brixham’s very own folk singer Maggie Duffy who presents Devon – Historical and Hysterical.
There are trips down memory lane with both dancer, magician and one-time impresario, Anne George and Vivien Lesley who is also joined by husband Barry to reminisce and perform as Twogetherness.
There are bowls lessons and an opportunity to try yoga with Victoria Campbell or Tai Chi with Lisa Kay.
The Torbay Rock Choir wil perform a variety of popular songs, and also performing will be Anne George and Claire Parker.
Many of the acts have been filmed at the Palace Theatre in Paignton to give them all the feeling of being live and Maureen McAlistar of Jazz Hands which runs the theatre is at the ready to give a behind the scenes tour remembering some of the top names that have appeared there.
One of Brixham’s hidden gems also takes centre stage with a video tour of the Brixham Battery Heritage Centre, a defensive look out over the Bay since the 16th Century, with some of the volunteers who bring it to life acting as guides.
There is the opportunity to learn to play the piano with Mervyn Gibbs who taught himself in just a few months, or if you would rather listen to the keys being tickled for you then another Mervin Toogood takes to the organ to belt out a few old favourites.
"We were determined not to be beaten Covid and felt it was important that we still all came together to celebrate ageing.
"It is a shame we can’t all be under one roof, but we can still have a great time under lots of different roofs,” said Mr Gledhill.
"We have tried hard to give a flavour of our regular festival with a bit of everything thrown in."
For a full programme of events throughout the day visit www.ageingwelltorbay.com on Saturday, October 24th, from 10am to 3pm