Dominoes hits the spot with children

Pensioners behaved like teenagers in a generation game that bridged the gap between young and old in a village.

They tried their hand at Nintendo Wii and surprised themselves and their grandchildren with their skill. And the South Staffordshire youngsters were treated to games of dominoes played during their grandparents' childhood. More generation game events could be on the cards in the future following positive feedback.

The games event was held last night at Codsall, Stourton Village Hall, Essington Community Centre, Coven Memorial Hall and the Monckton Centre in Penkridge.

Mother-of-two Maggie Quinn, from the Community Safety Partnership, helped run the evening at Codsall Village Hall with board games like draughts, Tell Me and Chinese Checkers borrowed from her 75-year-old mother Anita Bayley and a Wii provided by 21-year-old colleague Matt Boyce.

She explained: "We want to give the old and young greater understanding of each others lives by having fun together."

Widow Hilda Farrell, 79, of Birches Park Road, Codsall, was put through her paces at Wii by granddaughter Alice Feder, 14, and then repaid the favour with a game of dominoes.

She said: "I think it is a great idea. I have never had anything to do with computers or computer games before. Now I understand what Alice and her friends are talking about after having a go myself."

Her granddaughter added: "Nan and I sometimes do a bit of drawing together or play Snap but it was lovely to try more games with her. I was surprised how good she was at ten pin bowling on Wii but I still beat her. Then she taught me how to play dominoes. It was a fun night."

Her mother Jill Farrell, aged 47, added: "Events like this show the young that older people have a lot to offer and are worth listening to, while showing older people that most of the young are good folk at heart.

"It breaks down the barriers and helps them to interact. It was marvellous to see the thrill my mum got from trying a computer game and how Alice enjoyed learning to play dominoes."

Jean Mitchell, a 79-year-old grandmother-of-three from Codsall, recorded a strike with her first throw on the Wii ten pin bowling game. "It was a complete fluke," she insisted.