Club president and one of the event’s main organisers, Orazio Di Noto, said around 80 people attended.

“We were meant to have about 100, but you know how it is—someone isn’t well, someone ends up in hospital, and we lost about 20 people,” he said.

Despite the smaller crowd, the mood remained upbeat and festive, helped along by a function room dressed for the occasion with balloons, decorations and “Happy New Year” banners.

The event, carefully prepared from the day before, required detailed planning. “The day before we started setting up the room—tables, cutlery, everything in place,” Di Noto explained.

“The shopping, though, started at least a week earlier.” A catering service also played a key role in keeping the evening running smoothly.

A highlight of the night was a six-course menu that won over guests: an Italian-style antipasto, followed by two pasta dishes—cannelloni and fettuccine in a delicate cream sauce—then a seafood main with sides.

Dessert was a crowd-pleasing classic: Bacio-flavoured gelato. Panettone was served at every table, and sparkling wine was popped at midnight.

“As soon as the new year came in, we opened the bottles and it was mayhem—an explosion of happiness,” Di Noto recalled.

Music was provided by Joe La Greca, who kept the dancefloor moving with Italian favourites and a few English-language tracks mixed in.

“There was incredible energy. Everyone was dancing,” Di Noto said, before adding that the best sign of all was that people stayed well into the night.

“At 1 a.m. there were still so many people, and it felt like no one wanted to go home.”

Looking back on 2025, the president described the year as a positive one. “We can’t complain,” he said—though he admitted there is also a growing sense of concern.

“I’ve noticed people go out less than they used to. Maybe it’s age—some lose their husband or wife. And there isn’t a younger generation stepping in.”

Younger members, he said, tend to appear mainly for special occasions such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, “when parents insist their kids come along”.

The issue of generational change remains an open challenge. “Young people want other young people,” Di Noto joked.

Now 83 and involved in leadership roles at the club for almost 30 years, he said he would like to hand over the reins.

“I’d love to pass the baton to the younger generation, but if there’s no one, what will happen to these clubs?” he asked.

Still, beyond the concerns, there is a clear sense of what these community spaces represent.

His wish for the year ahead is simple and heartfelt: health, peace of mind and “fewer aches and pains”—especially after a difficult period for his wife Maria.

“Let’s hope this year is full of happiness,” Di Noto said.