IT HAS to be one of the longest house-warming parties Medway has ever known.

These people began using the new purpose-built Age Concern centre in Hopewell Drive in May, but have only now found time to celebrate their arrival.

Royal company:Mayor Cllr David Brake with princesses (left to right) Patricia Moran (78) Dorothy Piggott (95) Mary French (98) and Carmelina Potter (81)
Celebration: Members of Age Concern at Hopewell Drive centre enjoy their senior prom
Your carriage awaits: Stanley Berge, 83, and Mary French, 98, were named King and Queen of the ball and given a ride home in a chauffeur-driven limousine

Members enjoyed a week-long programme of activities including swimming, t'ai chi, a police-dog display, genealogy, flower-pot decorating and lindy hop dancing.

And the action-packed line-up ended on Friday with a senior prom-style party including representatives from Medway police and the Army.

Special guests were the mayor of Medway, Councillor David Brake and his wife Carmita, who mingled with the promenaders as they tucked into a buffet feast and joined in the sing-along.

Mr Brake chose Stan Berge, 83 and Mary French, 98, as the King and Queen of the ball and they were treated to a chauffeur-driven ride to their homes in Rochester and Chatham in a limousine provided by AH Apps in Luton.

Chief officer Cathy Steinmann said: "It was magical, absolutely brilliant. I have never seen so many of them up on their feet dancing. It might be something to do with the young men in uniform who were there."

The charity was forced to move from its premises of more than 40 years at Chatham's Riverside to make way for the town's multimillion-pound regeneration plans.

Age Concern had leased the property in the town from Medway Council for a peppercorn rent since it opened in 1969. The move to the new site means the group must find its own funding for the first time.

When Cathy was faced with the dilemma of finding the money or closing down, she mustered her business acumen and literally pounded the streets for sponsorship.

Cathy believes Age Concern is a vital lifeline to elderly people and should be saved at all costs. She said: "Local businesses should be reaching out to their local community. We are all going to be old one day. It's no good saying, 'Go through head office,' or 'Put it on headed notepaper.' We are not asking for thousands, so that's just an excuse."

The new building means membership has extended from 45 to 60 and the new layout means the group's programme of activities and events can be extended.

If you can help, call Cathy on 01634 811938.