After having to close during the coronavirus crisis, Boddan Lodge Over 60s Club in Salford is re-opening with the launch of a special comic devised by members to encourage more people to come and join, to alleviate isolation.

The comic ‘Life Begins At 60’, has been designed with a nod to the Beano and features oldie comic capers on a trip to Llandudno and a ‘Strictly Boddan’ rave with hoodied grannies dealing the drugs...Viagra and Diazepam of course!

The comic also features members recreating famous old adverts with a Boddan Lodge spin, including new takes on commercials for Bounty, Hovis, Milk Tray, Pepsi, Heineken and Esso...‘Boddan – put a tiger in your tank ‘, complete with 75 year old member Jack Johnston stripping off for the photo shoot.

The project was funded by Ambition for Ageing's Community Media progrogramme, as part of the National Lottery Community Fund’s Ageing Better Programme, and was facilitated by the Broughton Trust and Mary Burns Community Group, and also included two promotional videos to encourage new members made with former Coronation Street actor, Nigel Pivaro (Terry Duckworth).

Stephen Kingston of Mary Burns Community Group said, “The comic, inspiring older people to get out of their houses and have some fun, was about to be released when unfortunately the first lockdown was imposed with elderly people being told not to go anywhere! Boddan Lodge remained closed for the duration but has now re-opened and we would love everyone to read this comic and join up. There’s loads of great activities".

Copies of the comic are available online in virtual form or there are one thousand free print copies to give away that will be available at a special Christmas Party at Boddan Lodge on Monton Green, Salford, on Saturday 11th December, from 1pm-4pm, with all proceeds going to St Ann’s Hospice. The afternoon will also feature a raffle, quiz, dancing and singer Tom O’Donnell.

Valerie Buston, Chairperson of Boddan Lodge said, “We had great fun at the group sessions, when we were compiling the comics and making the ‘adverts’. The project also provided a camera, two computers and a big banner outside the Lodge on Monton Green as a good advertisement for the Club”.

For more details contact Stephen Kingston, Mary Burns Community Group: skingston416@gmail.com