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Norris & co are stars of the show
Residents from Bert Sutcliffe have starred in a Justin Timberlake tribute video to celebrate positive ageing.
Norris Aitken (pictured on the cover) played Justin while fellow residents appeared in supporting roles to replicate frame by frame the video for Can’t Stop the Feeling.
Ryman’s in-house production team spent two weeks filming the video which also included appearances from residents living at Murray Halberg in Lynfield and Logan Campbell in Greenlane.
Being approached for the starring role came ‘completely out of leftfield’, said Norris, but he jumped at the chance to be involved.
“It was completely foreign to me but I just did my best to pretend I was Justin – even if it did mean doing it a few times!”
“I think it shows people there’s life after retirement and there’s plenty of fun still to be had. We might be getting long in the tooth but we’re not in a wooden overcoat yet!” he said.
Former bank manager Norris said his favourite scene was when everyone from the village got together on the bowling green.
“That was the most fun part for me, when we were all doing our own thing out there, and also the bit where I’m spinning on the tiles in my rubber-soled shoes!”
Norris’s wife Helen, who appears in the scene filmed in the village’s movie theatre, said the production caused a real buzz.
“It created quite an atmosphere in the village and I think that sense of fun and lightheartedness really comes across in the video,” she said.
Their children and grandchildren had been surprised but delighted to hear about their antics since moving into the retirement village.
“When I mentioned to the family that I’d be starring in a music video they were pretty enthusiastic.
“My daughter said ‘I didn’t think you had it in you!’ and I said ‘Neither!” Norris laughed.
Pictured top left: Sybil Thackwell, Myrtle Perenara, Jack Chan, and Maureen Loughman. Top right: Vic Murray. Middle left: Liz Lowe, Colleen Christini and John Davies. Middle right: Betty Cordes and Kerry Cordes. Bottom left: Roger Hawthorne. Bottom right: John Esling and Jeannie Kennedy.