OLDER residents in Chester enjoyed a colourful day of activities and entertainment at Sanctuary Housing’s annual Purple Day celebration.

More than 60 people, many wearing eye-catching purple attire, attended the event at Kingsway Chapel, in Newton.

They enjoyed socialising and a variety of attractions including stalls, bingo, nail painting, Zumba Gold, live music and free refreshments.

Local organisations including Age UK, PennySmart and Deafness Support Network, along with Sanctuary’s own maintenance and telecare teams, were also on hand to answer questions and offer advice and information.

Purple Day is an annual celebration for older people, organised by Sanctuary’s Group of Older People living in Sheltered Housing (GOSH Enterprises) to coincide with Older People’s Day. Its name is inspired by the well-known Jenny Joseph poem ‘Warning’, which opens with the line: ‘When I am an old woman I shall wear purple...’

Maggi Dempsey, Sanctuary’s neighbourhood involvement officer, said: “Purple Day is a wonderful community celebration and a truly inspirational day for all involved.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who attended, the Sanctuary suppliers who supported the occasion and to the GOSH group for their hard work organising such an enjoyable and successful event.”

This year’s Purple Day also included a raffle, with residents winning prizes including hampers donated by Polyflor and Magnet Trade, vouchers donated by Travis Perkins, Aico and Rexel UK and cuddly toys donated by AkzoNobel.

This project was funded by Sanctuary’s Community Investment Fund, supporting projects which benefit Sanctuary residents and their communities.