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 | Cumbria Times A Voice of the Free Press |
Ruby Watson
Feature Writer
3:39 PM 13th June 2023
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Rita Enjoys First Trip To The Cinema In Over 50 Years
The last time 81-year-old Rita went to the cinema she saw Summer Holiday which famously features Cliff Richard driving a double decker bus. Appropriately enough, it was a bus that Rita took on her first trip back to the cinema in five decades.
Rita’s cinema trip happened as part of a partnership between Stagecoach and Age UK West Cumbria who linked up with the £4 million Parkway cinema in Workington. As well as educating Rita about the cinema, they gave a bus load of pensioners the chance to go and watch a movie on the big screen with friends for only £5.
Passengers are now able to board the number 30 or 300 Stagecoach bus at Workington every Tuesday morning (free with an older person’s bus pass) and travel the short distance to Dunmail Park.
Last week, Parkway Cinema treated everyone to a free lunch after a showing of 80 for Brady starring Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field and Lily Tomlin.
Seaton resident Rita, 81 said: “I’ve not been to the cinema since the 1960s. For just £5 it’s a great deal and it gets me out of the house. It’s so easy to jump on the bus at Workington bus station, which is free with my bus pass and I’m at the cinema in ten minutes. It’s a nice opportunity to meet up with friends and it was very kind of the cinema to put the lunch on for us today.”
Age UK West Cumbria’s Fundraising and Outlook Manager Jo Weeks explained why the idea came about:
“We regularly host our Grand Days Out in conjunction with Stagecoach Cumbria, and they have proved to be very successful, however we felt we wanted to do something a little extra for our older community, something that they could look forward to each week at the same time.
“Stagecoach very kindly offered to put on the transport to and from the Parkway Cinema at Dunmail Park and Dan Moxon, the general manager at the new cinema, has been so hands-on and enthusiastic in his support for the venture.
“Our motto at Age UK is ‘Getting together – living better’ and we always strive to do our utmost for local communities, integrating and linking older people with new opportunities, activities and services.
“This new and exciting collaboration with Stagecoach and Parkway Cinemas will bring people and local business together in a very enterprising way, creating a very positive and interactive social experience.”
“We regularly host our Grand Days Out in conjunction with Stagecoach Cumbria, and they have proved to be very successful, however we felt we wanted to do something a little extra for our older community, something that they could look forward to each week at the same time.
“Stagecoach very kindly offered to put on the transport to and from the Parkway Cinema at Dunmail Park and Dan Moxon, the general manager at the new cinema, has been so hands-on and enthusiastic in his support for the venture.
“Our motto at Age UK is ‘Getting together – living better’ and we always strive to do our utmost for local communities, integrating and linking older people with new opportunities, activities and services.
“This new and exciting collaboration with Stagecoach and Parkway Cinemas will bring people and local business together in a very enterprising way, creating a very positive and interactive social experience.”
Dan Moxon, General Manager at the independent Parkway Cinema said: “The senior screens event has been a feature of Parkway for nearly two decades now and this is something the team at Workington are keen to build upon. This is about building a community event not only to come and watch a film but also have a chat with others.”
“Times have been hard, and we want to create a vibrant hub every Tuesday for people to enjoy themselves. It is hugely important for us to support the local community, so we hope this partnership with Age UK West Cumbria and Stagecoach makes this weekly event accessible to more people and we are grateful for their support.”
“Times have been hard, and we want to create a vibrant hub every Tuesday for people to enjoy themselves. It is hugely important for us to support the local community, so we hope this partnership with Age UK West Cumbria and Stagecoach makes this weekly event accessible to more people and we are grateful for their support.”
Edna, 88 years old from Seaton, hasn’t been out much on her own since becoming a widow.
She said: “It’s important that I get out and get involved in things like this which allow me to socialise and have a nice day out. I recommend the Stagecoach Grand Days Out to all older people especially if they live alone as it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, just by hopping on the bus using your free pass.”
She said: “It’s important that I get out and get involved in things like this which allow me to socialise and have a nice day out. I recommend the Stagecoach Grand Days Out to all older people especially if they live alone as it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, just by hopping on the bus using your free pass.”
Rob Jones, Managing Director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire said:
“Stagecoach are so pleased to have been able to support this venture and it’s wonderful to see that the cinema event is proving to be so popular. You really sense the excitement and anticipation from the passengers on the bus journey and it’s great that so many older people are getting out and about using their free bus pass.”
“Stagecoach are so pleased to have been able to support this venture and it’s wonderful to see that the cinema event is proving to be so popular. You really sense the excitement and anticipation from the passengers on the bus journey and it’s great that so many older people are getting out and about using their free bus pass.”
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