Mobile climbing wall for schools and community events

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Residents tried out the borough’s new mobile climbing wall during the 2004 Time of Your Life day for older people on Friday (8 October).

The 20ft-high fibreglass rockface, which was set up outside Hammersmith Town Hall, was among dozens of attractions at the annual event, which is organised by the council’s Better Government for Older People (BGOP) and Agewell programmes for people aged 50 plus living in the borough.

Maureen Doyle, 68, from Hammersmith, was among the residents trying out the climbing wall, which is available to schools and for community events around the borough: “It was quite challenging but I’m glad I climbed it,” said Maureen. “If someone had said ‘you’re going to climb a wall this morning’ I would have laughed at them, but it’s a nice feeling to do something you never thought you could or would do. I think this day of events is wonderful – it makes you think about what you can do when you’re no longer a chick. There’s such a great variety of things going on.”

About 750 people attended Time of Your Life, which celebrates the wide range of opportunities for continuing learning and the enjoyment of life for everyone in the borough who is over 50.

Activities and displays at Hammersmith Town Hall included Latin American, line, circle and quadrille dancing; the Nubian Life Choir; live music and chairobics, as well as a wide range of information on healthy living, benefits advice, active lifestyles and advice and information about local services available in the borough. A holistic therapy suite provided taster sessions in reflexology, aromatherapy, head and foot health and massage for visitors to try out. There were also workshops for people who wanted to try a new activity, including chi ball, yoga, pilates, photography and computing. Make-up sessions were also on offer, together with workshops on family and local history, personal safety and ‘Ageing with Style’.

Sue Spiller, head of the local BGOP programme, said: “This is the sixth year that we have held this fantastic event, which is organised and run with a team of local older people. The day is about promoting ageing well, not only in terms of services that are available, but also the opportunities and activities that are around in the borough. Ageing isn’t about increasing dependency – it can also be about new opportunities, new challenges and perhaps having the time to do those things you’ve always wanted to do. Visitors to the event have certainly demonstrated that age is no barrier to having the Time of Your Life!”

Deputy for social inclusion, Cllr Reg McLaughlin, who also tried out the climbing wall, said: “The climbing wall is a wonderful resource for both young and old – it was certainly a challenge to climb up, although I have abseiled down the town hall for a previous Time of Your Life.
Time of Your Life is an excellent opportunity for older people to find out more about services in their local area as well as enjoying the activities on offer during the day. We hope visitors to the event will be encouraged to take up a new hobby, enrol on an adult education course or try out our Agewell sports programme.”

October 17, 2004