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Mac’s legacy lives on as Fenland celebrates 20 years of golden age fairs
Over 60s have the chance to find out about services, social activities, and support available to them at the first Golden Age fair of 2023 – the event’s 20th anniversary year.
Fenland District Council Golden Age fairs, which launched in 2003, bring together organisations as diverse as specialist gym operators, healthcare teams, skills training services and benefits advisors to provide advice on what is available to over 60s.
Golden Age events were launched in 2003 by the late Cllr Mac Cotterell MBE and have continued to be valuable to residents ever since, the delivery of them remaining a Fenland District Council priority.
Organisations each have their own stand where visitors can browse information and meet representatives.
Visitors will all receive a free reusable water bottle to promote good hydration as part of good health.
Cllr Susan Wallwork, portfolio holder for communities, said: “Anyone can drop in, have a stroll around the stalls, have a chat and a free cuppa and pick up lots of useful information along the way.
“The fairs are hugely valuable both for the partner organisations who come along and individuals.
“There’s good reason that these wonderful events have been going for 20 years now!”
Golden Age events were launched in 2003 by the late Cllr Mac Cotterell MBE and have continued to be valuable to residents ever since, the delivery of them remaining a Fenland District Council priority.
Fenland District Council is always happy to hear from organisations that would like to attend the events.
Cllr Sam Clark, Golden Age team leader, said: “Partner organisations tell us how valuable the fairs are for them not just in reaching lots of individuals but also in learning about other services for their users.
Golden Age events were launched in 2003 by the late Cllr Mac Cotterell MBE and have continued to be valuable to residents ever since, the delivery of them remaining a Fenland District Council priority.
“My thanks go to everyone involved in the organisation and planning of these events, including the very dedicated committee.”
The next Golden Age fair, the first this year, is at Manor Leisure Centre, Station Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1UA, 11am to 2pm (drop in at any point between these times), on Friday, June 16.
Another event is planned at Christchurch Community Centre, Upwell Rd, Christchurch, Wisbech PE14 9LL, 11am to 2pm, on Friday, June 30.
Find out more at: www.fenland.gov.uk/goldenage
Cllr Clark said: “It’s with great pride that we mark the 20th anniversary of these valuable and vital events.
“Over the years the Golden Age events have helped thousands of people to access the support, advice, health care and financial assistance they are entitled to.
“Ensuring the fairs continue as an asset and support to our older generations is an important priority for us. We can see the difference and impact they make.
“They’re a great legacy of Cllr Mac Cotterell and his dedication to supporting people living in rural communities and the older people of Fenland.”
Over the years almost 7,000 visitors have attended the Golden Age events. Around 25 to 30 partner organisations now attend each event from a pool of around 80, including representatives from health care, transport providers, charities, and statutory services.
To 2018, more than £1 million had been identified in unclaimed benefits for people who came along.
Since 2014, a scheme has been running to identify and replace dangerous and faulty electric blankets that are a significant fire risk. In total 300 faulty electric blankets have been identified and replaced with new safe ones for free. The old ones being repaired and donated to animal charities.
Between 2005 and 2015 alone, almost 1,000 health checks were carried out at the Golden Age events. In more recent years, Covid vaccines have been made available and administered.
The events are now branded Mac’s Golden Age in memory of Cllr Cotterell who died aged 81, in 2013.
Marjorie (Madge) Cotterell, widow of Cllr Cotterell and former Elm parish councillor, said: “He was always so innovative. He had ideas which he would think deeply about and then put into operation.
“He was so enthusiastic about Golden Age then as he would be now if he were still alive.
“He always credited the team. He wouldn’t take any accolade for himself, he was most adamant that ‘it’s not me, it’s the team’.”
Golden Age events were launched in 2003 by the late Cllr Mac Cotterell MBE and have continued to be valuable to residents ever since, the delivery of them remaining a Fenland District Council priority.
