A THRIVING over-60s club which has successfully campaigned for improvements on its estate will soon celebrate its 10-year anniversary.

Amongst its achievements, the Over-60s club on the Howard Estate in Bury St Edmunds fought to save its post office, for the development of the derelict Merry-Go-Round pub site, to get an Asda store and to improve the local bus service.

Founder Ernie Broom, 76, who is a committee member, said at a residents’ meeting in May 2003 he and the late Fred Jefferies were asked to organise an over-60s club for lonely people living in and around the estate.

The group was formed at a meeting on May 21, during which Mr Broom was elected as chairman, Sheila Welham as vice chair, Bill Shore as secretary and Brian Yallop as treasurer.

Mr Broom, a grandfather-of-nine who is “proud” of what the club had achieved, said none of it would have happened without the dedication of Mr Shore and Mr Yallop, the club’s “equally fantastic” former treasurer.

“There are many more individuals that have played a big part in making the club the success that it is - too many to mention - and I thank them with all my heart.”

Current chairman Derrick Hardy said many friendships had been forged through the club, which has 78 members. He said the group, which meets every Tuesday afternoon at the Newbury Community Centre, was really a social club, with trips throughout the year, talks and activities such as carpet bowls and bingo.

The club also works closely with Howard Community Primary School and Howard Middle School.

Mr Hardy said: “We are a very successful club. We are very fortunate we can finance ourselves.”

A celebratory 10th anniversary lunch is taking place at the Newbury Community Centre on May 28.