A COMMUNITY dance club met for the last time yesterday after running for almost 60 years.

Great Totham Modern Sequence Dance Club launched in October 1961 to promote the art of sequence dancing to the village and surrounding areas.

But it has now folded after organisers claimed there had been a lack of interest from younger generations.

Even the huge popularity of the Beeb’s Strictly Come Dancing wasn’t enough to boost attendances.

Ann Birkin, 78, of Little Totham, used to be the club secretary and said it was sad to see it fold.

She said: “I hadn’t been going quite so regularly because I lost my husband two years ago.

“I think it’s sad it’s closing, but there has been a lack of members and people are getting older and coming less because of illness.

“Gradually the regulars diminished, and it’s gone down from 43 members in 2014 to 18 members now.

“It’s just not viable to run anymore – it costs a lot of money and not enough people are attending.”

The dance sessions were held at the village hall and run by members of the Village Hall Trust, who also attended.

Chairman John Gunson, 83, of Great Notley, said: “We’re not going to be able to save the club in any way shape or form.

“Despite Strictly Come Dancing being so popular with the younger generations, they are not taking up the hobbies that we’ve been doing for years.

“The next generations – my daughter and son and grandchildren – are more into IT connected hobbies.

“We’re sad that it is closing.

“Our hobby, like so many of the hobbies of our generation, does not appeal to the generations following us.”

Mr Gunson claims sequence dance groups in Tiptree and Maldon are also being shut down.

He added: “It was a nice way for people to make friends.

“It was more about the social side of it – people could come out, meet new people, enjoy the pastime and enjoy the social side of things.

“A number of us are now in our 80s and we’re in the autumn of our lives and gradually, like autumn leaves, we’re falling off our trees.

“We thank all those past members of the club who’ve attended during their time and helped keep the club going. Thank you to everyone who supported it over the past 58 years.”