A SOCIAL group for the over forties is going from strength to strength throughout the villages of South Bucks.

The Simply Friends group was started by Sheila Fraser, herself a single forty-something from Widmer End, and the response has been phenomenal.

The group organises social evenings and outings for members, and despite just one romance, Sheila said it has been a huge success.

She explained: "I started in 1999 and at first we had 15 members just from here in Widmer End.

"When I first put a write-up in the Village News it was more or less to find out how many single people were in the village.

"Some people come home and shut their doors and that is it. I thought more people could meet up for a coffee or a glass of wine."

At one point the group had nearly 40 members, but the number is now down to 30.

Sheila thinks the secret of the group's success is that people meet her first, rather then being told to attend an outing or meeting on their own. She added: "We organise a programme of events such as going to the cinema, going out for meals, going round to people's houses for drinks and bowling."

The group also meets once a month at The Crown on the A404 Amersham Road.

If you are interested in joining the group, call Sheila on 01494 711985.