CHRISTMAS PARTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 10

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Old Folks’ Festival

FEATURE AT CONCERT CHAMBER

The Concert Chamber at the Town Hall presented a gay and animated scene yesterday when over 300 elderly people sat down at 1.30 p.m. to the annual Christmas 'party arranged by the Otago Old Folks’ and Beneficiaries’ Association. The Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs L. M. Wright, and Mr H. A. Glasson, chairman of the Otago Old People's Welfare Council, were among the guests welcomed by the president, Mr J. T. Ramsay

The Mayor, extending season’s greetings to the gathering, congratulated those responsible for the organisation of the party. Mr Glasson also spoke. Tables running the length of the hall were laden with fruit salads and other delicacies, and after the singing of a verse of the New Zealand anthem, and grace, amid a surprising volume of bright cross-talk, the old folk enjoyed the fare placed before them. Afterwards the old people joined in a number of popular songs. Mr Peter Dawson and a party from the Broadcasting Service then took over the programme and vocal and instrumental items were presented. Interspersed through the programme were duets and group singing by members of the Old Folks’ Association. These phases of the programme were recorded and will be presented on the air on Christmas morning.

The organisation of the afternoon s festivities reflected great credit on those concerned. Much of the success of the party was due to the work of the association’s secretary, Mr J Spence.