THE new year report for the Friday afternoon gentle exercise group, which meets at the Richardson Hall, Lawnswood Road, Wordsley, 1.30pm, records an excellent year for 2013.

May saw the group’s fourth birthday with a cake and refreshments during social time which follows the exercise sessions each Friday.

During the year several outings were arranged by the instructor which included a visit to Chester, Ludlow and Herefordshire.

Earlier in the year the Richardson Hall was refurbished with a new ceiling. Young adults from the Prince’s Trust redecorated, carpeted and replaced window blinds choosing their own colour scheme.

Later in the year the adjoining cottage garden was also cleared, landscaped and laid by another group from the Prince’s Trust and on both occasions the young people were later entertained, by the keep fit group, and encouraged to take part in the exercises. Tea parties followed.

These occasions were recorded by a leader of the trust together with other working activities and shown at the excellent special presentation evenings, which included sketches and the students’ life stories, in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley, local councillors and leaders of the trust’s working programmes.

In December the group took part in the Wordsley Community Centre Christmas bazaar and raised a record figure for centre funds with a prize every time soft toys and gifts table. The Mount Pleasant, Kingswinford was the venue for the Christmas lunch and the year culminated on December 20 with an afternoon tea party of Christmas cake, mince pies, sponges and chocolate rolls. New members and visitors are very welcome. Admission to each is £2. More info: 01384 288219.