For the group of retirees gathered at Wakefield Exchange at lunchtime, the last time many had danced to Motown at a disco was when they were teenagers.
They have gathered at the city’s arts venue for a daytime dance organised by the local branch of Age UK to encourage connections, friendships and even romances in later life.
The music played is from the 1960s, 70s and sometimes even further back, while there is plenty of seating provided for weary bodies.
For a generation that married young, dating, often after the death of a lifelong partner, can be a challenge, but the monthly events bring people together.
The charity’s Deborah Hunter said: “We have people who live locally who have never met before, or people who went to school together and are reconnecting. We have had some lovely romantic stories come out of it.”
The discos end in the mid-afternoon – ideal for ease of transport home.
They are part of Age UK’s Still Got It initiative, which promotes love and relationships among those in their senior years.
David Williams said he often gets “dragged onto the dancefloor” while DJing [Tom Ingall/BBC]
The DJ is David Williams, a retiree himself who knows his audience.
“I play music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s,” he said.
“I played some from the 90s last time but people said ‘woah, that’s a bit modern, you have to slow it down!’ “
He added: “I grew up in the 60s listening to The Beatles, the Stones.
“My guaranteed floorfillers are Get Ready by The Temptations, Sugar Pie Honey Bunch by The Four Tops, and anything by The Supremes.
“I do get dragged down to dance, we do a bit of bopping, a bit of rock n’ roll, I love that!”
Peter Heptinstall, 85, attends all the events and enjoys meeting people [Tom Ingall/BBC]
Peter Heptinstall, 85, a widower from Crofton, said he tries to attend all of the Age UK functions.
“I lost my wife five years ago and so I went to the bereavement centre and they introduced me to Age UK. I have been there ever since.”
He said: “I am looking for companionship – I had a relationship of 65 years and I thought, I’ve done my time as a husband.
“If they want a date, they can have a date, as long as they pay!”
The monthly events start at lunchtime [BBC]
Hunter, from Age UK Wakefield District, said: “We want to bring people over 50 to get together, to enjoy themselves, have some fun, have a boogie, have a chat. If people don’t want to dance there is lots of seating around.
“The WX Exchange donate this place to us to let people relax and enjoy themselves.
“There is no such thing as too old in our world. We like to explore, push boundaries and make sure that everybody is still having a good time.”
She said staff and volunteers helped to introduce attendees to each other and make them feel comfortable.
“We always try and facilitate conversations and introductions to new people, whether that be through our befriending services or through social get-togethers like this.”
Deborah Hunter said older generations preferred face-to-face socialising [Tom Ingall/BBC]
She added that for many of the older generation, dating and courting was something only done in person without the influence of technology.
“They don’t have the digital connections that young people who are starting to date do.
“They might not have the resources for going out to date, or they might have a lost love that they feel guilty about and that they don’t want to put in the past.
“I say come along, it is free, there is no pressure, many people don’t want to dance and we are certainly not dragging people onto the dancefloor.
“If you want to come somewhere that is warm and friendly and chatty then come along for that.”
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