FOR almost 40 years Joan Elsby has helped to provide hot meals and companionship for the elderly of Astley and Tyldesley.

At the age of 78, and infirm herself, she continues as the pivot around which the Astley Luncheon Club runs -- once coming back from retirement after just four weeks.

Now she is appealing for new members to join the band of 25 who meet regularly on Wednesdays at the village's pensioners' centre.

She said: "Anyone fed up of dining alone should come along. We don't just offer meals, we go out on trips and to the theatre and have a good time."

Joan, who lives in Astley, first became involved with the Tyldesley Aged People's Voluntary Welfare Committee in 1962 when she ran the Market Snack Bar for her parents who were licensees at The Star and Garter.

The premises became a base for the first Luncheon Club and served up a three course meal for 1s 6d (7.5p).

She recalls: "The big day arrived and there were various dignitaries there. The soup was simmering, the aroma of potato pie was filling the air.

"So what were we waiting for? Flowers. John Tommy the undertaker had a funeral and was bringing them back from the crematorium."

Sadly after 12 months, due to ill-health, the snack bar was sold and the club moved to Church House where Joan cooked the meals from her parents' new Astley home.

In 1965 numbers increased and the club was on the move again, this time to Tyldesley Youth Centre, and Joan again had to cope until a cooker was organised. By this time there were 50 meals to cook.

Four year later Cllr Jane Grundy died and Joan took over as organiser, cook and general dogsbody.

Then came a body blow. The principal of the adult centre wanted the room back and the club would have to shift again.

She said: "No way was I going to carry pans upstairs -- and the club was threatened with closure. We couldn't let that happen and troops were rallied. We marched to the councillors' surgery and won that fight."

In 1988 after cooking meals at home for 20 years Joan wrote to the committee informing them that she was finding the carrying difficult and that she would be retiring.

Other arrangements were made but the club was threatened again and Joan, now running Astley Luncheon Club, didn't want this to happen and with the help of Delia Kitchener they went back to run it for a further three years.

But looking after Astley and delivering meals on wheels was getting too much and there was no alternative but to close Tyldesley.

Twelve members moved to join the Astley group thanks to the help of Ring and Ride.

Joan started the Astley club in 1971 in response to a dying councillor's plea.

She went to see Cllr Alf Higham along with Cllr George Macdonald who agreed that if she would start it he would buy the plates. But Joan said: "There were no social services at this time and Tyldesley's town clerk told us we would have to find the money ourselves.

"I wrote to St Mary's Boys' School and they agreed to buy some crockery. A link was forged with Fred Longworth School which remains to this day. Their pupils made table cloths and others came to wait on."

The base was to become the pensioners' centre and one member, Annie Knowles, volunteered to be a waitress.

At the age of 93 she still attends every week -- as a customer.

Joan also decided to finish at Astley in 1982 and new helpers were found.

But Joan had only been retired a month when she decided she would go back because this time she wouldn't have the hassle of cooking and carrying pans.

She took over as secretary-organiser -- a post she retains today.

She said: "It is now 19 years since Johnny Packard brought in new helpers and without their loyalty and support we couldn't have carried on.

"Over the years they have gone out with meal on wheels, taken out Christmas parcels and been involved with many projects.

"They are a great bunch to work with and true friends."

Anyone wanting to know more or join the club should contact Joan on 883756.