Grand Day Out at the Botanics

Carmarthenshire 50+ Forum has seen its membership rocket by 600 since it organised its most ambitious annual event ever.

The Forum had already raised its membership to 1,600 when it used Carmarthenshire News to advertise its Grand Day Out at the Botanics last week.

Since then its membership has risen to 2,200, including 150 new members who signed up on the day. The free event at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Llanarthne proved to be a great success with some 850 people attending.

The Grand Day Out was hosted by entertainer Roy Noble and included guided walking tours around the Garden, a life-sized replica of Dylan Thomas’ Writing Shed with interactive workshops that bring to life the working environment of the poet, iPad, arts and crafts, reflexology, patchwork and tea dance taster sessions, a mini crazy golf course, and information stalls from a wide range of local organisations and charities.

Caroline Streek of the 50+ Forum said: “The Grand Day Out was our most ambitious annual event so far and has worked out wonderfully, helping us to recruit 600 new members.

“The turnout on the day was marvellous. We had hoped to boost attendance from last year’s 350 up to 500 but instead 850 people came along. They were not disappointed, as we know from the emails and thank you cards that people have sent us since.”

Carmarthenshire County Council 50+ Champion Cllr Tegwen Devichand said: “The success of the event has surpassed everyone’s hopes. It really proved to be a grand day out and Roy Noble went down a storm. The events in the garden proved very popular with the members.

“Not only have we seen the Forum’s membership boosted by 600 but we saw 850 people come on the day with 150 of them signing up for the Forum there and then. I’m delighted that the 50+ Forum has had such a wonderful response.”