The idea of growing old gracefully has changed quite a bit over the decades. I just look at the older folks in my own family to get an idea of what aging looks like today. I have to say they lead a very positive lifestyle turning away from the gray hair and rocking chairs of the past and, instead, looking at living life to its fullest. The true beauty of aging today is that it has no boundaries or expectations. Unfortunately, there are still many elderly living in isolation. The latest craze for tea party raves aims to change that. These inter-generational events aim to keep the elderly active and social. (1)

Tea Party Raves in South London

We’re not talking scones and lukewarm tea at these tea parties. Instead, there’s an all-out party going on. Elderly ladies still dress in their proper attire, but with far different intent beneath those flowery hats. Instead, these meetings include champagne-sipping gents and toes tapping to the likes of MC Hammer. (1)

Tea Party Raves by The Posh Club

The Posh Club offers a weekly cabaret-style party where seniors meet for a far more glamorous experience. Created by brother and sister Simon Casson and Annie Bowden, the South London gatherings offer a way for seniors to avoid feelings of isolation. The siblings created the club after seeing their 80-year-old mother suffer from loneliness. (1)

It started with an innocent vintage tea party in her own living room. A small group of elderly ladies shared sandwiches and cakes on fancy china. After witnessing how happy the simple event made the ladies, Annie and Simon set their sights on creating bigger events for the elderly in their community. (1)

Happier Older Folk at Tea Party Raves

The Posh Club’s focus is to create “a community of healthier, happier older folk,” while encouraging connections among different generations. The events are three hours long and take place each week. Volunteers plan and work the events with a team including entertainers, waiters, greeters, and floaters. Participants volunteer from all walks of life and a wide range of ages. (1)

Simon is not new to event planning. He also founded Duckie, self-described as “a post-gay independent arts outfit” that puts “highbrow performance in backstreet pubs and lowbrow performance in posh theaters.” (1)

Art and Performance at Tea Party Raves

The one thing these events have in common is that they all use art and performance to create a sense of community and opportunity for people to develop. This is important to the elderly, as over 2 million people over the age of 75 in England live alone and can go for months without speaking to a soul. (1, 2)

Thanks to The Posh Club, this age group enjoys connecting with others, physical activity, and some indulgent food and drink. “What we’re doing is really an anti-loneliness campaign presented as a club event,” says Dicky Eaten, who has worked with Duckie since its founding. Although the events create a new experience targeting the elderly, much of the fun is based on the types of things they once enjoyed in their youth. (1)