PENSIONERS Joyce and Fred Tanner were among the silver surfers learning about the internet at a special community event. The festive charity lunch was organised by Age UK Oxfordshire at Littlemore Children’s Centre on Friday.

About 50 people who are involved with a project to encourage older people to learn IT skills attended the celebration meal and Mrs Tanner, 88, and her husband, from Rose Hill, were among them.

Mr Tanner, 78, said: “The event was very nice, very enlightening. I wanted to go on the internet, but I thought I was too old at my age.

“I met a wonderful old woman who is 98 and she is speaking to her family all over the world on the internet – how wonderful at that age.”

Organiser Marian Pocock, of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “The gathering was celebrating the Connecting Communities IT project, which is an Age UK Oxfordshire initiative.

“The project allows older people to share IT and computer skills, to bring people together and reduce isolation.”

Those taking part didn’t have to worry about transport to and from the event after Oxford City Cars provided six vehicles. Company owner Ghassan Ward said: “Five to 10 per cent of our profits are going to the local community and we chose Age UK as one of the causes we are helping.

“We want to help all sorts of people in the community.”

Other sponsors of the event included Santander.

Age UK Oxfordshire runs IT teaching sessions in Donnington, Cutteslowe, Littlemore and Northway.

For more information, visit the websites connecting-communities.net or ageukoxfordshire.org.uk