THOUSANDS of older people have been helped by Age UK Dorchester over the 60 years it has been based at Rowan Cottage.

To mark this milestone a booklet has been launched commemorating its history.

The booklet traces the charity from its early days as the Dorchester Old People's Welfare Committee, through Age Concern Dorchester to today’s Age UK Dorchester.

The history of Rowan Cottage through the next five decades is recorded through pictures, personal volunteers' memories, short biographies and quotes from the Rowan Cottage Times over the years.

Wendy Hilton, compiler of the booklet, said: “This booklet is dedicated to the thousands of volunteers, who have given their time to the charity to benefit local older people.

"If you have ever been a volunteer or used a service, the booklet will help you to relive happy memories but also learn something new about the history of the organisation and discover what is happening today.”

The booklet, 60 years of Rowan Cottage 1957 – 2017, is prcied at £3.50 and is available from Age UK Dorchester, Rowan Cottage, 4 Prince of Wales Road or in the three Age UK Dorchester shops in Dorchester, Weymouth and Bridport.