Ipswich Town Hall was packed to the rafters as it was transformed into the Posh Club ready for hundreds of guests dressed to the nines to dance the afternoon away.

Around 250 people, aged over the age of 60, attended the event on Tuesday making it the largest event in the club’s history.

The Posh Club, which is run by the LGBTQ+ artist collective, Duckie, was created by brother and sister Annie Bowden and Duckie-producer Simon Casson.

Ipswich Star: Simon Casson, co-founder of The Posh Club. Simon Casson, co-founder of The Posh Club. (Image: Newsquest)Ipswich Star: Guests take to the dance floor. Image: Alexander WardGuests take to the dance floor. Image: Alexander Ward (Image: Alexander Ward)

Ipswich Star: Simon Casson with Ipswich's MC of The Posh Club, Azara. Simon Casson with Ipswich's MC of The Posh Club, Azara. (Image: Newsquest)Ipswich Star: More than 250 people arrived to enjoy The Posh Club.More than 250 people arrived to enjoy The Posh Club. (Image: Newsquest)

Annie explained that the idea for the club came about 10 years ago, when she was arranging a tea party for their mother and a few neighbours in Crawley.

At the time, their mother was in her 80s, and feeling a little lonely having recently moving to the area from Hackney.

Annie and Simon saw the potential behind their idea and decided to hire out the local church hall to put on a tongue-in-cheek ‘posh’ do for the whole community, with records blasting Shirley Bassey and Frank Sinatra and neighbours encouraged to dress to impress.

The idea grew and grew, and now, Annie says they hold a Posh Club event every month in a different location for people aged 60+. The team recently given soirees in Portsmouth, Eastbourne and Dorset.

With Duckie teaming up with SPILL Festival to bring the event to Ipswich, this was the biggest Posh Club yet.

Ipswich Star: Many people were at the event having heard about it from ActivLives. Pictured: ActivLives CEO Julie Stokes. Many people were at the event having heard about it from ActivLives. Pictured: ActivLives CEO Julie Stokes. (Image: Newsquest)Ipswich Star: Excited attendees wait for The Posh Club to begin. Pictured: Margaret Fuller, Dave Bull, Debbie Fuller, Pat Prier. Excited attendees wait for The Posh Club to begin. Pictured: Margaret Fuller, Dave Bull, Debbie Fuller, Pat Prier. (Image: Newsquest)

As they waited eagerly for the afternoon to begin, attendees said they couldn’t wait to get started.

“We’re looking forward to all of it!” said Debbie Fuller.

Several of them had heard about the event from attending Friday Friends meeting held by ActivLives.

Pat Prier agreed with Debbie. “It’s so nice to have something to get dressed up for, and to socialise with different groups of people,” she said.

The show kicked off with the famous ‘cake dance’ from volunteer waiters, which had been especially choreographed for Ipswich.

The rest of the afternoon included performances from queer cabaret collective Pink Suits,  and Shirley Classy, the UK’s top Shirley Bassey tribute act.