Lime Tree Village residents buck number of silver surfers

15 May 2007

Computer-savvy residents of the area’s only village exclusively for over 55s are bucking the trend as the number of silver surfers continues to grow.

Computer classes at Lime Tree Village, Dunchurch, near Rugby, proved so popular another course has been booked with tutors travelling in from nearby Warwickshire College. And more than half the residents now use their mouse to email friends and family, pay their bills, research, download music and store photos.

A report released in time for annual Silver Surfers’ Day on May 25 reveals 41 per cent of retired Brits list surfing the internet among their favourite ways to spend their spare time. Former favourites gardening and DIY have slipped to 39 per cent.

“The figures don’t surprise me,” said John Hughes, secretary of the Lime Tree Village residents association. “A lot of people who live here are retired so we have time to surf the net and find out what it can do for us. It’s such a great source of information and entertainment. We ran a family history course here and many residents are now hooked on researching their family tree online. Others download music and a lot are fans of internet banking.

“Many people have families scattered not just around the country but across the world. Email is perfect for keeping in touch and sending messages and photographs. Webcams will soon be the next must-have.”

It is estimated there are around 600,000 websites aimed specifically at the older generation but sites such as eBay, MySpace and even dating sites like Match.com are just as popular with so-called silver surfers.

Silver Surfers’ Day, now in it’s fifth year, has become the biggest annual media literacy campaign for older people throughout the UK. Events across the country are aimed at encouraging pensioners to get on-line.

“There was a time when a lot of older people were wary of new technology but as it’s become easier to use, cheaper and more accessible computers have become more and more popular,” said John. “Any initiative that encourages people who haven’t used one before to give it a go is to be encouraged.”

Picture: John Hughes


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