End of an era as Sutton Bridge group calls it a day

It's the end of an era for a Fenland women's group which has decided to fold after more than 50 years.

The Lady Birds based in Sutton Bridge, began life as a women's church fellowship group in the 1960s, but went on to become the Lady Birds when the then vicar's wife moved on.

Over the years the group has flourished with over 60 members at its height.

But in recent times numbers have been dwindling and is now down to just 15 or 16 including a handful of committee members.

Over the past year the group which normally meets at the Curlew Centre has been closed due to the pandemic and on Tuesday the group's remaining committee members met to discuss its future.

News that current club secretary Pam Howlett was looking to stand down, dwindling numbers and not enough people to run the Lady Birds forced the decision to remain closed permamently.

The club's Gill Tingy said: "Most of our members are now in their 70s and 80s and there is little interest from younger people in joining. It is a shame but we have decided not to restart up again - it is a sign of changing times."

The group which used to put on quizzes, craft activities and a Christmas party as part of its monthly meetings has around £1,000 in the bank and it has been decided that money will be donated to a local good cause in the village.

Gill said: "We are looking at donating it to the Sutton Bridge Foodbank so that it will directly benefit people in the village. But we are also looking at other groups."