A GROUP of women who bonded over a love of a 'book and a blether' are reaching out to other people to join their friendship club.
Volunteer Mary Purdie first started the little book library and the get-togethers in Youth Connections in Burns Square to help people get back out after the pandemic.
When all the courses and classes stopped it was felt by the team that there was a need to fill a hole in people's lives as society recovered from lockdown.
Now every Wednesday there's lots of laughter, cups to tea and warmth.
Betty Mitchell, 89, from Larkfield said: "I go to St Ninian's Church and I heard about it. I just live up the road. I honestly have never been to any groups or anything like this. I always did my own thing, went to the shops, met up with family.
"But I absolutely love coming along, I have met lots of new friends and I just enjoy the company."
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New friend Mary Lappin, 87, from Gourock also loves coming along to a 'book and a blether'.
She said: "We love caching up, we bring knitting as well but we have such a great time. I met Betty here."
Now the women also meet up at the Larkfield Housing Association's soup and a blether in the tenants' hall.
Organiser Mary Purdie jumped at the change of setting up the group after she retired as a tutor running computer classes.
Mary said: "I just felt something was needed to get people back out of the house after covid.
"It is great, we started with books but it is about knitting and chatting as well. Basically we have a wee collection of books and people can come along and borrow them.
"But we just love the chat and getting together. We would love more people to join us."
Joining the group is Jan McMurdie, aged 66, a support worker who lives in King Street Gourock.
She is with neighbour Ellen McNeill and also fellow book and blether companion Margaret Brown.
Youth Connections is committed to delivering inter-generational programmes and courses.
Manager Alex Stevenson said: "It is a great wee group, they laugh from the minute they come until they leave."
The 'Book and a Blether' group runs in Youth Connections, Burns Squaure, Greenock from 10am till noon.
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