Sir – My parents, Reg and Betty Macdonald, moved to Abingdon in their late 80s to be nearer their family as they had become increasingly frail. Apart from the excellent services they received from the NHS, the day care centre in Abingdon was their lifeline.

The centre provided them with a welcome and care at a time when they had left all of their friends and neighbours behind. Abingdon Health and Wellbeing Centre was instrumental in helping my parents to meet new people, share meals and to have conversations with people of a similar age.

Above all, the centre provided many extra kindnesses, telephoning and calling in when my parents were ill or during bad weather. The transport team is a wonderful, dedicated group of people who transport elderly, frail clients who find it impossible to get into a car or taxi.

These drivers are expert at making the elderly feel safe and valued as members of society; they are cheerful and good fun.

To close our local day centres will mean that many frail, elderly people will live a very lonely existence and it will be socially isolating for those who still wish to live independently in their own homes.

Norma Queralt
Appleford Drive, Abingdon