A PENSIONER who was widowed after nearly six decades of marriage has set up a club for people who have lost their partner.

Margaret Ford felt shocked and alone when she lost her husband of 58 years in 2005.

Although she had her family to rally round, she felt she needed to talk to somebody who knew what she was going through, but there was nothing locally for her. Last April, Margaret, of Appletree Village, York, decided to help fellow people who had been widowed and set up a group called Halves'.

Margaret said: "When I lost my husband, Norman, two years ago it was such a shock.

"We had been together for 58 years and adjusting to being alone was hard after being in a couple for so long. I really needed to talk to somebody else who had been through something similar and I looked for groups for people who had been widowed, but there was nothing local.

"It is support group for people who want to talk about their partners; the good times that they shared and how to adjust now they are gone. Sometimes we share memories and other times we just sit and laugh.

"I feel everyone enjoys it and I really think it helps to chat to people who know what you have been through."

Halves meets at noon on the first Saturday of each month in the coffee area of Trinity Methodist Church, in Monkgate, York.

For more information about the group, phone Margaret on 01904 415894.