Members of the Happy Circle Community Day Centre in Melksham are eating well and helping Age Concern Wiltshire at the same time.

Members of the club in Rowley Place, Melksham, this week handed over a cheque for £60 as part of the charity’s Big 60 Appeal, helping to raise £60,000 for their services during their 60th anniversary year.

Club organiser Tracy Sutcliffe said: “The club has been running for many, many years and we are very grateful for the support given to us by Age Concern Wiltshire.

“There are 23 members and we meet every Monday. It is not just a lunch club.

“We have lots of activities, including Tai Chi and music sessions, visits from speakers and we always do a bit of fundraising.

“This money has been raised from a jacket potato day and a soup day, where volunteers do the cooking so that all the money from members goes to the charity.”

Peter Baxter, a trustee of Age Concern Wiltshire received the cheque on behalf of the charity.

The charity’s major fundraiser of the Big 60 campaign is a charity auction and dinner at Marlborough Golf Club on Saturday November 28.

Ticket prices have been held at £20 a head for the two-course meal followed by the charity auction, with Devizes’ own Alan Aldridge wielding the gavel.

Among lots so far donated are a round for four at Marlborough Golf Club, a lesson at Barbury Shooting School and a make-up session at Champney’s in Bath.

Age Concern director Liddy Davidson thanked both individual and business donors and said: “We have been delighted by the early response to our appeal.”

The charity is still appealing for donations of high quality items and interesting pledges for the auction.

Anyone wishing to participate to the auction or The Big 60 Appeal generally should contact Belinda Fowler at Age Concern Wiltshire’s offices on (01380) 727767.