Slimmers success

Slimming club members are celebrating after losing 41 stone of weight between them.

In total, 17 members of the Weight Watchers class which meets at Drayton Old Lodge have managed to lose the staggering amount through hard work and exercise - including digging their own allotments

Joanna Bishop took over the evening Weight Watchers Drayton Class back in March last year, having lost nearly three stone herself.

Joanna said: 'Things have gone from strength to strength and I'm just so proud of how brilliantly my members are all doing and how far so many of them have come.

'I have a lot of members who come along with friends and family and together many of them have lost huge amounts of weight.'

Sheila Hair and Tina Strowger are mother and daughter, who between them have lost eight stone, and they both now help with running the meeting.

Singer Claire Barker, who works with the Lee Vasey Band, has lost eight-and-a-half stone.

Another member, Carolyn Jones, who has lost just over three stone, has come up with a novel way of losing the weight, and encouraged others in the class to take part - digging their own allotments.

Jo said: 'Carolyn now has an allotment on a site which I helped to set up and which I have been secretary of for the past two years. 'The digging and growing is great for health and self esteem and during the summer, I brought in spare produce to raffle off in class.'

She added: 'We have a great class, full of enthusiastic members all lending their support and praise and reaching for the same goal, to be within a healthy weight range for their height and to reap the benefits of this in their overall health, self esteem and appearance.'

The classes are held at Drayton Old Lodge, Drayton High Road Drayton on Thursdays at 9.30am and 7pm.

Joanna has also started a new class at Wensum Valley Golf and Country Club , Beech Avenue, Taverham, on Wednesdays at 6.30pm. For more information visit www.weightwatchers.co.uk or call 08457 123000