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A Bolton group which looks to bring people together is hoping to expand. A former NHS nurse, 78-year-old Marjorie Hayward personally experienced loneliness after moving back to the UK from Spain, where she had lived for years. In 2016, while living in Chorley, Marjorie founded the ‘Friends for You’ charity, to help people meet new people and combat loneliness.

After Covid, Marjorie, who has since moved to Bolton, redoubled her efforts. Talkin’ Tables was launched in July 2021, and there are now 80 groups. Founder Marjorie Hayward has received awards, including the Points of Light and a BBC Make a Difference Award (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest) The Thyme Deli group is one of eight in the borough, with others in Westhoughton, Bromley Crossing, Horwich , Rivington, and Egerton.



The ‘table’ regularly sees 12 to 14 people attending on any given week. There’s a jovial atmosphere around the table, with conversation aiming to be inclusive – something key to the organisation, which insists each venue is wheelchair accessible. The group’s code of conduct strictly bans any hate speech or discrimination.

Each group has a ‘table leader’ – a volunteer to who helps co-ordinate the weekly meeting. At the Thyme Deli group, the table leader is Madeleine Brierley. A retiree, Madeleine moved to Horwich 15 years ago and has been a part of the Thyme Deli group since it started.

Madeleine said: “It started off with quite a lot of people, there must have been probably eight.

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