Macclesfield Deaf Club held a party on 27th February to celebrate its 35th anniversary. Joining members at the start of the celebration, David Rutley, Member of Parliament for Macclesfield, was treated to a recital given by the Dee Sign Choir, who performed a number of popular songs using British Sign Language set to music. British Sign Language (BSL) is the visual language of Deaf people in the UK.
The well attended event, which took place at the Pack Horse Social and Bowling Club, was organised by the Judith Kidd, Chairperson of the Deaf Club and Ruth James, Treasurer. A special raffle was held during the party, with prizes generously donated by the local branches of Tesco and Marks & Spencer.
Macclesfield Deaf Club was founded in 1981 and held its first meeting in February of that year. This first meeting took place in the Nags Head public house in Waters Green. Over the years, the Club has had several homes, including the Mayfield Centre and the Macclesfield Disability Information Bureau.
The Club now holds its meeting in the Macclesfield offices of the Deafness Support Network located on Bridge Street. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month. No meetings take place in January and August. The purpose of the Club is to provide a meeting place for deaf people who live in Macclesfield and the surrounding areas.
Speaking following the event, David said, “It was a pleasure to be able to drop in to help celebrate this impressive milestone for the Deaf Club. I was particularly moved by the Dee Sign Choir, whose performance was a particular highlight of the evening. This important anniversary for the Club is a testament to the great work done by its volunteers, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Judith, Ruth and the team for all their efforts.”