Stockport, trafford & east cheshire 43

FREE

Please t

ake on

JANUARY - MARCH 2015

STOCKPORT, TRAFFORD & EAST CHESHIRE EDITION 43

Torvill & Dean

Through the years

Over 60's Divorce on the rise See pages 24-25

Hairy Bikers

Healthy Low Calorie Recipes

Explain Lasting Powers of Attorney

Great British Coach Holidays

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

See inside for a get-away!

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

e

Holidays from

£149

Robinsons Own Hotels

2015

Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Delightful Devon Torquay

Eastbourne is an “all year round” holiday destination with one of the best sunshine records in the UK.

The Isle of Wight offers stunning landscapes, award winning beaches, breath taking seascapes and not forgetting its extensive history.

With its mild climate and trademark Palm Trees, Torquay is one of the UK’s premier seaside resorts and has been fashionable since the 19th Century.

The Ocean View Hotel is an elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, the balconies provide the perfect place to enjoy the sunset on summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before enjoying an evening meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

The Abbey Lawn Hotel is an elegant Georgian hotel, in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey, with it’s newly refurbished conservatory / lounge offers the discerning holidaymaker an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

The Imperial Hotel is an impressive Victorian hotel situated at the seaward end of Devonshire Place, an imposing tree-lined boulevard, less than fifteen minutes walk from the facilities and amenities in the town centre and across the road from the promenade and the bandstand. The hotel offers the guest a good standard of accommodation, spacious lounge areas and a majestic restaurant all in a dignified and tranquil ambience for the discerning holidaymaker.

Hotel amenities l All rooms have private facilities, telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee l Live entertainment most evenings l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Hotel amenities l All rooms have private facilities, telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee l Live entertainment most evenings l Indoor heated pool l Indoor bowling green, table tennis and snooker room l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Freephone: 0800 083 9900

Many of the bedrooms offer panoramic views of the bay.

Hotel amenities l All rooms have private facilities, telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee l Live entertainment most evenings l Indoor and seasonal outdoor pool l Lift serving all floors l Porterage

Groups: 0800 785 1025

The Robinsons Difference

Great choice of menus l Executive coaches with extra legroom l Includes excursions l Friendly staff l

Local joining points No single supplements* l High standard of accommodation l l

l

5 Day Tours

7 Day Tours

8 Day Tours

4 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

6 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

7 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

Date 15 Feb 22 Feb 02 Mar 09 Mar 16 Mar 23 Mar 29 Mar 03 Apr 08 Apr 13 Apr 20 Apr 26 Apr 04 May 11 May 18 May 25 May 15 June 13 July 17 Aug 14 Sept 05 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct 26 Oct

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £149 - £149 £149 - £149 £159 - £159 £169 £169 £169 £179 £179 £179 £189 £189 £189 £199 £199 £199 £199 £199 £199 £209 £209 £209 £219 £219 £219 £219 £219 £219 £219 £219 £219 £229 £229 £229 £229 £229 £229 £239 £239 £239 £249 £249 £249 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269 £259 £259 £229 £229 £229 £229 £229 £229 £219 £219 £219 £219 £219 £219

Supplements per person 7 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £20 Ocean View: Premier Room £30 -Sea View Room £10 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £30 - Front Facing Room £10

We offer you ...

4 4 4 4

Own hotels in great locations Peace of mind security l Payment in instalments * Robinsons own hotels l

4 nights dinner, bed & breakfast 2 included excursions Free pick-ups Service of driver/courier

Loyalty Bonus Here at Robinsons, we are committed to ensuring that our customers are rewarded for their loyalty to us. For 2015, we are pleased to offer all our passengers the opportunity to take advantage.

A voucher will be given to all passengers by the tour driver whilst on holiday. This can either be redeemed on the next holiday booking, or can be saved in multiples towards a future holiday.

Date 30 Mar 05 Apr 12 Apr 19 Apr 26 Apr 03 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31 May 07 June 14 June 21 June 28 June 05 July 12 July 19 July 26 July 02 Aug 09 Aug 16 Aug 23 Aug 30 Aug 06 Sept 13 Sept 20 Sept 27 Sept

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £249* £249* £249* £249 £249 £249 £259 £259 £259 £269 £269 £269 £279 £279 £279 £319 £319 £319 £339 £339 £339 £349 £349 £349 £359 £359 £359 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £359 £359 £359 £329 £329 £329

* Monday departure Supplements per person 7 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £30 Ocean View: Premier Room £45 -Sea View Room £13 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £40 - Front Facing Room £13

We offer you ...

4 4 4 4

6 nights dinner, bed & breakfast 2 included excursions Free pick-ups Service of driver/courier

Date Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn 02/03 May £369 £369 £369 09/10 May £369 £369 £369 16/17 May £379 £379 £379 23/24 May £389 £389 £389 30/31 May £399 £399 £399 06/07 June £399 £399 £399 13/14 June £399 £399 £399 20/21 June £409 £409 £409 27/28 June £409 £409 £409 04/05 July £409 £409 £409 11/12 July £409 £409 £409 18/19 July £409 £409 £409 25/26 July £409 £409 £409 01/02 Aug £409 £409 £409 08/09 Aug £409 £409 £409 15/16 Aug £409 £409 £409 22/23 Aug £409 £409 £409 29/30 Aug £409 £409 £409 05/06 Sept £399 £399 £399 12/13 Sept £399 £399 £399 19/20 Sept £389 £389 £389 26/27 Sept £359 £359 £359 Supplements per person 8 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £35 Ocean View: Premier Room £50 -Sea View Room £15 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £50 - Front Facing Room £15

9 Day Tours 8 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast Date 02 May 09 May 16 May 23 May 30 May 06 June 13 June 20 June 27 June 04 July 11 July 18 July 25 July 01 Aug 08 Aug 15 Aug 22 Aug 29 Aug 05 Sept 12 Sept 19 Sept 26 Sept

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £419 £419 £419 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £419 £419 £419 £389 £389 £389

9 DAYS ~ ONLY STANDARD ROOMS AVAILABLE

We offer you ...

4 7 nights dinner, bed & breakfast - 8 Days 4 8 nights dinner, bed & breakfast - 9 Days 4 2 included excursions 4 Free pick-ups 4 Service of driver/courier

Visit us online at www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk and book a great deal today!

Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

3

CONTENTS

FEELING THE WINTER BLUES? With short daylight hours, lack of sunshine and dark rainy nights, it’s no surprise that many of us feel low in energy this time of year.

However there are many things we can do to boost our ‘get up and go’. Eating a well balanced diet containing lots of raw fruit and vegetables, and avoiding sugary or processed foods is a good starting point. Keeping active is also essential.

Roger Sperry, the recipient of the Nobel prize for science in 1982, stated ‘the importance of movement of the spine in relation to brain function could be equated to that of a windmill that generates electricity for a power plant’; this is the reason why taking a brisk walk makes you feel more energized. Another important factor is to ensure your body is functioning at its optimum potential.

Just like a boiler needing a service, a body not working at its best requires more energy to operate. A check up with a Chiropractor can assess how your body is functioning and help add a spring in your step in 2015.

“I'm in pain”

CAN CHIROPRACTIC HELP ME?

OFFER PRICE

£39 Expiry 30th June 2013 Expiry datedate 20th February 2015.

Your initial visit will include: • A private consultation with chiropractor • X rays if necessary (normally £60) • Spinal examination, orthopaedic and neurological tests • A confidential report of our findings • An explanation of our treatments procedure if we determine Chiropractic can help you • A referral to the appropriate specialist if we determine Chiropractic cannot help you

For a limited period we will complete a full consultation, examination, Neuro Scan, X ray, full report of findings and one treatment all for

£39.00

INSIDE...

6-7

12-13

16-17

32-34

2-3

Robinsons Holidays...

Affordable peace of mind.

6-7

Rambling Holidays ...

Time to tread a new path?

12-13

New Year, New You? ...

What's going to change in your life?

16-17

Torvill & Dean ...

Through the years.

20-22

Out and About ...

Places to visit and things to do.

32-34

The Hairy Dieters...

‘Eat For Life’ recipes.

(Normally £130.00) (Normally £142.00) Expiry date 30th June 2013

WE TREAT THESE CONDITIONS...

• HEADACHES, BACK PAIN, NECK PAIN • PREVENTION OF MIGRAINES • MUSCLE SPASMS, JOINT PAIN • TIRED ALL THE TIME, TENSION

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS PLEASE CALL OUR CLINIC TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Andrew Jackson BA MSc Kerry Labuschagne MTech Chiro Fay Sidebottom M Chiro MARPLE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

8-10 Derby Way, Marple SK6 7AH 0161 449 5006 www.chiropractichealthsolutions.co.uk

STOCKPORT CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

466 Didsbury Rd, Heaton Mersey, SK4 3BS 0161 432 6708 4

6th Floor | 120 Bark Street | Bolton | BL1 2AX T: (01204) 860 194 | F: (01204) 860 213 e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

TWITTERING ON

Cooartin’ bother For those unfamiliar with the vagaries of Lancashire dialect the headline means “courting trouble”. I am probably doing just that by venturing into commenting on how we treat our language and regional accents but it does get on my wick.

Social media, especially Twitter, has a lot to answer for and there has to be a distinct possibility that in 20 years’ time today’s younger generation will have completely lost the power of speech and communicate through fingers, thumbs and a series of guttural grunts.

Even my wife has taken to e-mailing me her weekly schedule and I’ve occasionally been in the same room when she’s sent it! Kids text and e-mail instructions to parents in the same house. The once treasured English language and its many dialects and accents is in its death throes!

I have a few major gripes and the incorrect use of the possessive apostrophe (that’s a comma) has to be the main one. A sign outside a café in my village proudly announces that they sell tea’s, coffee’s, hot meal’s, sandwiche’s, cake’s and soft drink’s ! What’s that all about?

Graham Smith

Fancy a quick one?

An Australian man has been charged by police after parking a plane outside a pub while he went inside for a beer.

The 37-year-old had just bought the wingless Beechcraft two-seater and was on his way home when he decided to stop for a drink.

He taxied the light aircraft down the main street in Newman, Western Australia, and then parked it outside the Newman Hotel, leaving the engine running.

Police said he passed a breathalyser test, but was charged with endangering the life, health and safety of residents because the propeller was still spinning.

Local residents were amused to see the sight of a plane parked outside the wellknown local hostelry.

Some educationally challenged airhead suggested recently that it doesn’t matter about spelling any more. Oh, right, let’s scrap English from the school curriculum and replace it with a Diploma in Social Media shall we? Standards aren’t just falling they’re plummeting faster than a text book launched from an upstairs window.

A bar tender at the Newman Hotel said the man was a “local character” who entertained pub patrons by “playing dumb” when questioned by police.

But Newman police sergeant Mark McKenzie said: “Kids were coming home from school. It could have been very ugly.

“People think it was a bit of a laugh but it was very dangerous and we’re not very happy with it.”

Now, to dialect. I met someone recently who has often reminded me of the wonderful Lancashire phrases we must never lose.

Enough to make you cough!

“I haven’t christened tea yet,” “He’s ett’n miggle eawt un left or’t theawtsides.

He has eaten the middle out and left all the outsides.

A Polish coffin company has again angered the Catholic Church by using naked models to promote its caskets.

Lindner has just released its 2015 calendar, entitled Male-Female Relations, featuring a dozen raunchy black and white images.

Mi yeds aw muggl’t up.

My head is in a muddle.

Am beawn’t bey a new moggle.

I am going to buy a new model.

Hers figglin’t books.

She is fiddling the books.

Wonderful stuff. This should be taught in schools as mandatory. I spent some time back in Lancashire recently and noticed the kids of today are more Neighbours than Nelson. Keep these great sayings alive….nuff said.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Its creators say it is intended to show the strength, energy and elegance of women, and of course to sell coffins at the same time.

March has a naked woman tied to the top of a coffin with a ribbon being held by a man’s hand.

The calendar is the latest in a series of similar campaigns by the company which have been criticised as “inappropriate” by the Catholic Church in Poland.

A church spokesman has said that human death should be treated with solemnity and not mixed up with sex.

But company owner Zbigniew Lindner said: “We wanted to show that a coffin shouldn’t be a sacred object - it’s furniture, it’s the last bed you’ll ever sleep in.

“It isn’t a religious symbol. It’s a product.

So much work goes into our coffins that are only seen for a few moments at the funeral.

“My son had the idea of creating the company’s calendar so that we could show something half-serious, colourful, beautiful; the beauty of Polish girls and the beauty of our coffins.”

Bury me in Poland! They’re obviously as daft as I am.

And finally…

At the time of writing this column, Christmas was approaching. Could someone please tell me what the connection is between Christmas and sofas?

Why the hell is every TV advert geared towards spending £999.99 on a blasted sofa? Some bimboesque voice over, with a voice like a corn crake, keeps screaming at me that I need a new sofa. Why? And nothing to pay until 2027. Oh, do me a favour love, sit down and shut up.

November’s photo for example shows a naked brunette straddling a coffin, the lid of which is half open with a man’s hands clutching the lid and the side of the coffin.

5

50 Plus Travel

sponsored by

Time To Tread A New Path?

By Paul Brown from Silver Travel Advisor Now, if I were to say to you that I could advise you of something that could: •

Improve your heart and lungs

•

Improve your muscles

•

Help to prevent osteoporosis and the risk of broken bones in falls

•

Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke

•

Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol

•

Reduce body fat and improve flexibility

•

Enhance your mental wellbeing,

you would think that I had invented a new wonder drug or that I had become delusional.

Wrong. Quite simply, walkers live longer!

The physical and mental health benefits of walking are at long last being recognised by the Government, who are advising the medical profession to promote exercise to their patients.

6

Our busy modern lifestyles mean that the daily exercise our parents and grandparents took as a matter of routine in walking or cycling to work and then performing physical jobs is, for the most part long gone. Nowadays more and more jobs are sedentary, sitting at a desk, operating computers or telephones, supplemented by a home lifestyle of television and computer games. The easy option of unhealthy (but tasty!) snacks or takeaway meals delivered to your door don’t help. A record number of cars sold in the U.K. this year and burgeoning numbers of passengers using buses and railways all point to less exercise being taken by the general population.

This is being observed in obesity figures, with a quarter of the population being classed as obese. In fact, a recent study

by Manchester University students of a single medical practice discovered that 29% of patients who were encouraged to take exercise were able to give up anti-depressants, 92.5% reported improvements in mood, almost all patients had reduced blood pressure, whilst 61% said they had lost weight.

(Walk magazine, Autumn 2014).

Paul is a retired Police Inspector who has held a lifelong passion for the outdoors. He is an experienced fell and mountain walker who has completed many challenge walks and National Trails. He is also a frequent contributor to Silver Travel Advisor, and the author of The White Rose Way (www. whiteroseway.co.uk), a 100 mile walking trail from Leeds to Scarborough.

My own introduction to the great outdoors came at thirteen years of age, when I was persuaded by a school teacher to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Tackling Beamsley Beacon (1289ft, 393m) just outside Ilkley was a gentle enough introduction, but I was soon hooked on the fresh air, panoramic views and wildlife I encountered and walking became a lifelong passion.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Being fortunate enough to live in God’s Own County of Yorkshire, I was on the doorstep of the Yorkshire Dales and took advantage of this whenever I could.

As my interest grew, so did my walking challenges and I began to explore more hard-core walks and climbs in the Lake District and Scotland.

City dwellers need not despair however as every town and city has open spaces, parks, canal towpaths and networks of public footpaths on which to get started.

Neither is age a barrier, both young and old can take part. I frequently encounter walkers well into their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s on the hills and moors.

Even if it is a short, easy going stroll for a couple of hundred yards or so to start with, the benefits will soon be felt and as the distance increases so will your physical well-being. The secret to it, is to have the mind-set that you WILL do it on a regular basis, daily or every other day or even weekly. Stick to a routine if you can so that it becomes second nature. Do it rain or shine, after all, as Roald Amundsen said, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing”.

There is no need to go to great expense in getting the right waterproof clothing either. There are many good suppliers of outdoor jackets, trousers and boots at very reasonable cost. Look for breathability and water- repellency as a first step. If walking becomes a serious hobby, gear can always be upgraded later.

Soon, you will gain in confidence as your fitness improves and will be looking further afield.

The Rambler’s Association can help you to find local walking groups and give further advice. They can be found at www.ramblers.org.uk. Their preferred holiday partners at www. ramblersholidays.co.uk can even

provide walking holidays led by experienced walking guides. All ages and abilities are catered for, from complete beginners to experienced walkers.

One of the most refreshing aspects of walking has been the friendliness and camaraderie of fellow walkers. Everyone is just SO friendly. Some of the people I have met whilst walking have remained friends for a lifetime.

From kingfishers to stoats, rare flowers and birds, sunrises and sunsets from the peaks of mountains, blizzard white-outs, to snow drifts over my head, diamonddust airborne frosts, myriads of stars and satellites in inky black skies and even the Northern Lights, these are just some of the life enhancing sights I have seen over the years whilst out walking.

You could too, and gain all the benefits highlighted at the beginning of this article without really trying.

So, what are you waiting for?

Is television really that good? Get your boots on and get healthier!

For more information contact Ramblers Holidays Worldwide on 01707 331133 or info@ramblersholidays.co.uk

Silver Travel Advisor is a travel review, information and advice website exclusively for over 50’s, packed with articles, suggestions, tips and ideas. For free and independent travel advice as well as reviews about holidays, hotels, restaurants and days out, please visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com or email service@silvertraveladvisor.com. It’s free to register as a member of Silver Travel Advisor, and you could win a fabulous holiday prize.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

7

Tomatoes, Prostate Health and the Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean diet is often associated with healthy living. Research suggests that the humble tomato is a key constituent of this diet and may play a significant role in human health, especially of the prostate.

The belief that tomatoes have health benefits can be traced back to South American Indians, ideas that were brought to Europe by Columbus in the 15th century. Tomatoes were also thought to be aphrodisiacs, sometimes being referred to as Pommes d’Amour or “love apples”.

The key ingredient of tomatoes is lycopene, one of the world’s most powerful, naturally occurring antioxidants.

Responsible for tomatoes’ distinctive red colour, it is a member of a large family of coloured compounds called “carotenoids” that are found throughout the natural world.

Humans possess no mechanism to make carotenoids, instead we accumulate them from our diet. Some, such as betacarotene, are easily accumulated whereas others are much less easily absorbed.

Our bodies are hardly able to take up lycopene from raw tomatoes and need the fruit to be cooked or processed prior to eating. Alternatively, “bioavailable” lycopene supplements are becoming increasingly popular.

Lycopene is sometimes presented in the National media as a panacea, a miraclefood that cures almost everything. Whilst many claims are exaggerated, there is a large and credible research base that reports lycopene health benefits, particularly in relation to prostate cancer, heart disease, breast cancer and skin health.

The most extensive research has been conducted in the area of prostate cancer.

Lycopene is known to accumulate in the prostate gland and this has driven scientists to try to investigate its impact on the disease.

Some of this research has shown not only a positive association between high lycopene intake and a reduced risk of prostate cancer, but also benefits for those who already have the disease.

8

Professor Ed Giovannucci from Harvard Medical School has been following the progression of 50,000 men since 1986, investigating the relationship between prostate cancer and lycopene consumption. In his latest 2014 report he notes: ‘Dietary intake of lycopene was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer, especially lethal prostate cancer’.

A smaller trial at King’s College Hospital, London concluded: ‘Our clinical study lends weight to the probability that dietary supplementation from lycopene slows disease progression in men with prostate cancer.’

Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, many researchers think that lycopene’s antioxidant properties help to protect the body’s DNA from damaging free radicals. Others believe that lycopene improves cell-to-cell communication, reducing the risk of the uninhibited growth seen in cancer cells.

In all likelihood, several mechanisms are at work.

Every time a damaging free radical is removed by a lycopene molecule, the antioxidant becomes “spent” – the lycopene sacrifices itself to protect the body’s DNA. However, research has shown that the presence of plenty of vitamin C allows the “spent” lycopene molecules to be reactivated, rejuvenating them and preparing them to quench another poisonous free radical.

Staying Informed Professor George Truscott and two internationally renowned colleagues formed George & Partners back in 2000. The company provides readable, up-to-date, scientifically robust information about lycopene research, particularly that related to prostate cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and skin health. The company also develops food supplements based on the latest research.

To sign up for a free newsletter, please call 08000 234 235 or visit www.lycoplus.co.uk.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR 50 PLUS READERS

Natural Lycopene Each Lycoplus EXTRA capsule contains 15mg of natural lycopene plus 60mg of vitamin C which reac;vates "spent" lycopene, enhancing and prolonging the effect of the supplement.

RRP: £17.95 each Buy 4 boxes for just £50.00 (Discount code: 50plus)

All prices include free UK postage & packing

To order call 0333 088 0331, visit www.lycoplus.co.uk or write to Freepost PROSTATE, Keele University Science Park, Staffordshire ST5 5NL

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Door to Door Coach Tours with Ellen Smith Membership No: 10228

Coach Holidays with a difference.

We all know that often coach holidays get a bad press – waiting in bus stations for the coach to arrive, long arduous pickup routes to an interchange, waiting around there for your holiday coach all before you’re destination bound!

Once you’re there too often poor quality hotels with mass catering, an extra charge for outings and then to top it all off the same gruelling journey home – no chance of the six o’clock news!

If that all sounds too familiar why not give us a try?

We are Manchester based and offer the only true ‘Door to Door’ coach holiday service in the area.

Established as far back as 1900 in Rochdale we have a long and distinguished history as a good quality, value for money coach holiday operator.

What’s so different about us?

Firstly our ‘Door to Door’ service. This is a true door to door service. We pick you up from your home address at a pre-arranged time in a taxi or small minibus and take you straight to one of our two meeting points, Birch Services near Heywood or Poplar Services near Lymm. There you meet up with your driver and coach who will take you on your holiday.

There’s no hanging around, you’re usually on your way within 15 to 20 minutes. We don’t leave anyone behind!

taxi is waiting for you at one of the two service stations and you’re usually home with a cup of tea in time to watch the news!

What else can we tell you?

All our holidays are fully bonded by the Confederation Of Passenger Transport Bonding Scheme, which is a government approved consumer protection scheme ensuring your money is protected. We offer very popular ‘Mature Singles’ holidays where all bedrooms at the hotel are used for sole occupancy – great for the single traveller.

Oh and we offer continental coach holidays, this year Lake Como, Lake Garda, Swiss Chocolate Train & A Taste of the Alpine and Normandy for the D Day landing beaches.

We have a regular news letter the ‘Tiger Talk’, (our logo is a tiger) that offers new tours during the year and several of our popular ‘Mystery Tours’ during each year.

We have a website www.ellensmith.co.uk that has all the details of our holidays – and you can book on-line too.

If you wish to call us our staff are very experienced individuals who know lots about our range of holidays.

Finally we offer Fred Olsen cruises from Liverpool at prices you won’t believe and a variety of Air, Cruise & Worldwide holidays - all with our ‘Door to Door’ service included.

Your Driver is an experienced individual and the coach will be of an executive standard with toilet, air conditioning and reclining seats. On the journey to the hotel we tend to avoid motorway services and visit a village, town, city or other suitable location instead. Because of our timely departure we plan to arrive at our destinations at about 4:30pm giving you plenty of time for a quick snooze prior to dinner.

All the hotels we use are normally 3 or 4 star with the odd family run 2 star hotel, that we have used for many years. We use a range of different hotels to suit a particular tour. Many of our tours are themed – ‘Royal Sandringham & the Sport of Kings’ and ‘An Irish Country House Experience’ to name just two. All our tours include day excursions (no extra charge – ever!), which can include canal journeys, train journeys, castles, country estates and so much more.

The vast majority of our hotels offer a porterage service, so you rarely have to touch your case.

On your return date the reverse of the first day happens. Your

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Want to know more?

Call us on 01706 648126

for a copy of our 2015 brochure – you’ll wonder why you ever went away in your car!

9

Membership No: 10228

Why not join one of our Quality Door to Door Coach Tours?

We pick- up at your door in most of the Greater Manchester area.

We visit every part of the UK from the Shetland Islands to Cornwall.

Our drivers are very experienced mature individuals with a wealth of knowledge about our wonderful country. We do city breaks, historic adventures, scenic tours, train rides, boat rides, canal trips, not forgetting our numerous costal resorts.

On your first day of travel we pick you up at your front door at a prearranged time in a minibus or taxi.

You are then transferred to a central meeting point, either Birch Services or Poplar Services dependant upon where you live, where the coach is waiting for you. Within 15 to 30 minutes you’re on your way aboard our luxury coach travelling directly to your holiday destination, making suitable stops en-route. The hotels that we use are of a 3 or 4 star standard or occasionally a good quality family run 2 star hotel. Upon your return to either Birch Services or Poplar your taxi or minibus is waiting to whisk you home.

OL14

OL13 Bacup

BB4

Haslingden

BL0

Todmorden

OL12

OL15

Ramsbottom M66

BL8

BL1

OL11

OL16

BURY BL2 BOLTON

Heywood OL10

M26

BL4

Pendlebury M27 M7 M6

M41 Urmston

M32

Partington

M33

STRETFORD

SALE M23

WA14 M56

OL5 Mossley

OL6 OL7

M43

M34

SK15 ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE

SK16 M67

M19

M20

SK14

SK4 SK5 M60

SK3 M22 ALTRINCHAM SK8 WA15 WYTHENSHAWE

POPLAR/LYMM SERVICES

OL8

M35

M18

M21

OL4 OLDHAM

M40

M50 M17

M31

WA13 Lymm

M8

OL1

OL9

M9

M11

M30

M44

M25

M60

M28

OL3

M24 Middleton

M45

Walkden

OL2 Shaw

BIRCH SERVICES

BL3

M6

M62

ROCHDALE

BL9

STOCKPORT SK1 SK2

SK6 Marple

SK7

Included in every tour l

Luxury Hotel l Half Board l All Excursions l Door to Door Service

Ellen Smith Price Promise

1. Everything is included in the final price – no hidden charges 2. If we reduce a tour all customers previously booked receive same refund 3. No currency surcharges 4. Any supplement imposed by the hotel will be the exact amount we charge 5. If you find a similar holiday cheaper we’ll refund twice the difference!

DATE

HOLIDAY

DAYS

2nd Feb

‘Cosy Break’ Somerset at The Wessex Hotel (Check out the price!)

5 Days

£159

8th Feb

4 Star Mystery??????? – 4 star Luxury

5 Days

£199

16th Feb

Cosy Break Torquay at The Headland Hotel

5 Days

£199

23rd Feb

‘Food Glorious Food' at The Merrion Hotel, Llandudno

5 Days

£289

1st Mar

Landlubbers Cruise

5 Days

£289

2nd Mar

Eastbourne - £1 Bar at The Haddon Hall Hotel

5 Days

£219

2nd Mar

Mystery Tour 99p Bar!!

5 Days

£199

3rd Mar

Cornish Delights at The Rosemundy Hotel, Cornwall

5 Days

£229

9th Mar

Cosy break, Paignton

5 Days

£229

9th Mar

A Little Bit of Luxury at Mecure Letchworth

5 Days

£229

9th Mar

Abington Hotel, Drinks inclusive

5 Days

£229

16th Mar

Valkenberg House Party!!!

4 Days

£269

16th Mar

Mature Singles - Scarborough with York

5 Days

£239

Tynedale Hotel, Llandudno

????????

Palace Hotel

PRICE

2015 BROCHURE OUT NOW! INTERESTED?

Call our reservations office on 01706 648126 and request a copy of our 2015 brochure. You’ll be surprised at the variations of tours we operate.

Visit our website at www.ellensmith.co.uk Find us on facebook & twitter (search for ellensmithtours) www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

New Year, New You? Making New Year resolutions to improve our lives in 2015 is a typical reaction to what’s gone wrong in the old year and how we want to make a fresh start.

How many of us have resolved to really change things dramatically once we’ve finished a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne”? So perhaps it’s time to stop making New Year resolutions and to action them and finally improve our lives.

You might want to tackle something minor about yourself, or you may be considering something life-changing. The key here is planning and determination - and enlisting the help of experts in the relevant field.

For, while you can do much yourself to improve the way you live by using commonsense and a plan, there’s nothing like finding others who know what they’re doing to assist you in reaching your goal.

12

To improve your GENERAL LIFESTYLE, for example, there are counsellors around who can help you identify the areas for change that will make you feel happier. Look for those qualified by the CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) and members of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) which maintains standards.

If you’ve long been vowing to shed some WEIGHT, getting expert help is straightforward. Organisations like WeightWatchers and Slimming World not only work on accessible and practical weight-loss plans but also have groups all over the country. There are also private weight-loss experts and hypnotherapists who may be able to help you if you don’t want to be in a group situation.

It may be less a matter of losing pounds than toning up the pounds you’ve got. In that case, consider joining a GYM and getting an exercise plan created for you by staff. Many establishments also offer personal training sessions if you want one-to-one intense help.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Don’t worry that the gym will be full of lithe, young bodies and that you may feel self-conscious about your more mature shape. Most gyms these days are so inclusive there are a variety of ages and all shapes and sizes doing exactly what you’re doing and trying to improve their health.

When it comes to overall HEALTH, a New Year may offer a great opportunity for peace of mind when it comes to your health by investing in a private healthcare plan. There are so many these days that they suit every pocket, and health cover is offered on a wide variety of treatments as well as conditions to kickstart that feeling of confident wellbeing.

Sometimes, it’s not the drastic changes that make the difference but the small ones. And just having a change of HAIRSTYLE or colour may transform you and update your style.

Hairdressers these days are very knowledgeable, not just about styling but also about hair health and how to make the most of your locks whatever condition they are in. Products and colours also now come in a much wider range and are kinder to your hair. Take advantage of other services that many hairdressers offer now, like new nails. Forget the old ideas of false nails: modern nails come in acrylic and gel in every colour imaginable, and patterned.

Contact lenses provide the kind of freedom you never thought possible, and laser surgery offers many people lasting results and clear vision. Go along for a chat to your favourite ophthalmic store to see what is possible for you, and take a much happier look at the future.

If you’re desperate to improve your FASHION STYLE, building up a capsule wardrobe for work or play has never been easier. Even the cheapest labels pride themselves on being fashionable and usually boast several items in the same range.

So, if you buy a well-cut jacket there will be a skirt, trousers and even a dress to match that, teamed with different tops and accessories, provide several differing and dazzling looks for 2015.

If your hairdresser doesn’t offer skin treatments, pop along to your local BEAUTY SALON for some pampering to revive the body and the spirit. Having a regular, relaxing massage or treating yourself to skincare treatments that make you look glowing are an investment in the way you feel – and you will feel good!

If you want to spread that New Year resolutions’ feeling to your HOME, there are plenty of experts available to give sound advice. Going on a referral is often a good idea when it comes to large building projects, and it gives you the chance to see examples of your chosen tradesman’s work, too.

If your smile isn’t as bright or as even as you would like, DENTAL CARE today offers a startling range of first-class services that not long ago only Hollywood celebrities could access.

An extension, conservatory or orangerie can turn a small, unprepossessing house into a striking home, tailor-made for you and your needs. Take advice from architects and planners if a big scheme is involved and listen to their suggestions, which probably come from a wealth of experience.

Correcting crooked teeth, using implants to fill the gaps of missing teeth or just teeth whitening can brighten up your whole face, and prices for these treatments are now equally competitive.

The same applies to your EYES. You may have been putting up with inconvenient glasses for years, wishing to abandon them but worried about your limited sight. Eye care has come a long way these days and you will be surprised at what’s available on the high street.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Or, if you just need to brighten up a room, call in a professional DECORATOR. Don’t rule out having your own interior designer to come up with clever ideas – they are not as expensive as you might think and can not only create beautiful rooms but can source attractive bargains for you as well.

And if you really do want a big change in where you live this year, consider MOVING house. Local estate agents and mortgage advisors understand the market – and they’re experts in making dreams come true!

13

Primrose Bank Caravan Park - Weeton Relax, Meet Other People & Have Fun...

Share the Good Life!

Tourers

Holiday Homes & Cottages

About Our Park Freedom to holiday whenever you like • Affordable running costs • Stunning rural and coastal settings • Friendly and helpful staff • Fishing and golf nearby • Situated just outside of Blackpool • Fantastic facilities for all the family • Close to attractions and leisure facilities •

We are an award winning conservation site with superb standards and a real sense of community. Escape to a hidden gem, with abundant wildlife, trees and bucket loads of peace and quiet.

An idyllic setting in which to make new friends and memories...

ASK ABOUT OUR

AMAZING

PRE SEASON DEALS!

Call us today on 01253 836 273 High Moor Farm, Singleton Road, Weeton, PRESTON PR4 3JJ e: enquiries@primrosecaravanpark.co.uk | www.primrosecaravanpark.co.uk

WIN A £250 HOLIDAY VOUCHER

WITH DOOR TO DOOR COACH HOLIDAYS Door to Door Coach Holidays is part of the UK Holiday Group, one of Britain’s most successful holiday companies. We have been operating the very best holidays in Britain for over 30 years with more than 100,000 holidaymakers joining us every year.

Unlike many other coach holidays, we pick you up from your home address at the start of your holiday and drop you safely home on your return. We even treat you to a

• • • • • • •

Door to Door chauffeur service Refreshments after collection from home Reserved seats on your tour coach Complete luggage handling No single room supplements on any UK mainland holiday.

Dinner, bed & breakfast Sightseeing excursions

For a copy of our 2015 holiday brochure

call 0844 22 517 23 (low cost local rate) or visit

www.doortodoorcoachholidays.com 14

For your chance to win a £250 Holiday Voucher which can be redeemed against any Door to Door Coach Holiday in 2015, simply answer the following question:

You can be assured of the very best value for money too, with prices starting from just £99! Our featured hotels are tried, tested and inspected, and the sightseeing itineraries take in the best that each area has to offer.

Name:___________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________

In which National Park will you find the ‘Ffestiniog Railway?’

________________________________________________

A - Snowdonia  B - Norfolk Broads  C - New Forest 

Postcode:_________________________________________ Please Tick Appropriate Box

________________________________________________

Tel:______________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________

Post your entry to 50 Plus Magazine, McGrath Media, 6th Floor, 120 Bark Street, Bolton BL1 2AX

TERMS & CONDITIONS

All Door to Door Coach Holidays include:

nice cup of tea or coffee, just before you board your coach! With Door to Door Coach Holidays you can relax, content in the knowledge that everything has been taken care of, from start to finish.

1. The winner will receive a £250 holiday voucher to spend on a Door to Door Coach Holiday.

2. The holiday must be taken before 31st December 2015.

3. All holidays are subject to availability and Door to Door Coach Holidays' booking terms and conditions.

4. The prize is non refundable and non-transferable, and no cash alternative will be offered.

5. Transport is included from the following postcode areas: BL, M, OL, SK and WA. If the winner is outside these postcode areas, they can join at resort, travel to

the tour coach departure point or it may be possible to collect them from outside the postcode pick-up areas and Door to Door Coach Holidays will advise of any additional cost. For a full list of pick-up locations please see www.doortodoorcoachholidays.com or the 2015 brochure.

6. No expenses in relation to the prize are covered.

7. The closing date for entries is midnight 30th April 2015.

8. The winner will be selected at random from valid entries 9. Only 1 entry per person.

Door to Door Coach Holidays may wish to contact you about special offers, products or services by post. Please tick this box if you do not wish to receive these details 

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

“We’re everywhere you want to be...”

Smiths of Marple are a family owned business that operates a range of vehicles for Private Hire, Contracts, School Trips and Excursions and Tours.

They operate their own popular Excursion program that sees day trips, weekends and short breaks. From Downtown Abbey to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter, they aim to go out of their way to make your day. With a range of departure points throughout the High Peak and Stockport you’ll be sure to find a point convenient for you.

Because there are no hidden costs in any advertised itinerary, Smiths of Marple make an appealing and affordable choice to everyone including families and groups.

Smiths of Marple also work closely with various groups in and around the community including but not exclusive to:

•

Jack Massey – Professional Boxer

•

Army Cadet Force

•

Senior Citizens

•

Youth Organisations

•

St Christopher’s Trust

The many appreciative letters and feedback that they receive indicates the company’s success in being a customer focused operation. For peace of mind all the drivers are professional, friendly and DBS checked. All the vehicles are highly maintained plus you have the assurance of reserved seating selected by you at the time of booking.

For a brochure or no obligation quote contact 0161 427 2825 or email enquiries@smithsofmarple.com For more information visit the website at www.smithsofmarple.com or find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Here are some of our holidays for 2015. To book, please call 0161 427 2825.

MARCH 21st March | £18/£15 Ormskirk Market & Southport.

28th March | £32/£30 Cadbury World.

APRIL 23rd April | £18/£15 Harrogate or Harrogate Flower Show*.

MAY 2nd May | £18/£15

“A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles” – Tim Cahill

26th June | £11/£8

8th August | £18/£15

Bury Markets

Chester or Chester Zoo*.

JULY

Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza.

4th July | £18/£15

9th May | £25/£20

Lichfield Festival Markets.

Peak Shopping Village and Crich Tramway Village.

11th July | £20/£18

16th May | £18/£15

The National Memorial Arboretum and Ashbourne.

Cleveleys or St.Anne’s.

25th July | £19/£17

30th May | £66/£59

The National Railway Museum or York.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter.

JUNE

Chesterfield Medieval Market (Special Price)

AUGUST

6th June | £24/£20

Hull & Whitby Weekend staying at the 3 Star Mercure Hull Royal Hotel.

Bowness & Windermere.

6th August | £9.50

20th June | £25/£21

Imperial War Museum Manchester, Media City or The Lowry. (Special Price)

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Southport or Flower Show*.

28-31st August | £315 Warner Leisure Break staying at the beautiful Grade I Listed 4 Star Littlecote House. Price includes free time in Bath, Longleat Safari and Gardens and Highclare House - home of DOWNTON ABBEY.

28th July | £9.50

25-26th April | £82

Stratford Upon Avon.

20th August | £18/£15

Smiths of Marple 72 Cross Lane, Marple, Cheshire SK6 7PZ Tel: 0161 427 2825

enquiries@smithsofmarple.com

www.smithsofmarple.com 15

Torvill and Dean: Through The Years...

THERE are iconic moments in sport that define a career and Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are known internationally for theirs.

It was, of course, that wonderful movement at the end of their four minutes and 28 seconds’ dance at the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia when they flung themselves on the ice as the finale of their performance to Ravel’s “Bolero.”

The 24 million TV viewers in the UK, and the millions more around the world, were totally transfixed. And that turned to uplifting delight when the judges all scored them perfect sixes.

There has, quite simply, never been an ice moment like it before or since.

Certainly, their story on the ice is the stuff of dreams. They were teenagers 16

when they first met in 1968, but it was not until seven years later at Nottingham ice-rink that the two first danced together.

coach Janet Sawbridge they won their first competitions together in Sheffield and Bristol and then in St Gervais, France.

A school trip to the local ice-rink at the age of eight had been enough to show Jayne that skating was what she wanted to do. At the age of 14, she and her then partner became the British National Pairs Champions but they later parted and Jayne continued skating solo.

They came second in an international competition followed by a fourth place finish at the British Championships. In 1979, they were placed sixth at the European Championships in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) and eighth at the World Championships in Vienna.

Their main focus was skating and there was little time for a social life when early mornings and late nights were spent at cold ice-rinks. But all this paid off when they became British champions again.

Chris started skating at the age of 10 after getting skates as a Christmas present; he was sporty at school and saw ice-skating as athletic and graceful.

He began skating with another partner at 14 and they became the British Junior Dance champions, but they also split up.

Perhaps fate was simply waiting for its moment to put them together, but one thing is certain: when they teamed up in 1975 under the watchful eye of

Jayne was working in insurance and Chris was a policeman but success was already threatening to eclipse other careers and, after placing fifth in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, they both gave up their jobs to skate together full-time.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Championships only weeks later. It is to their great credit that they surpassed their performance the previous year with top marks. With the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo less than 12 months away, the signs were good.

In 1984, thanks to the ambitious and mesmeric dance to “Bolero” that Chris had choreographed, they stepped into the pages of sporting history.

They also stepped into the full glare of the media spotlight and we wanted to know all about them: were they a couple? Who were they as individuals away from the ice?

Little personal detail escaped into the public arena, but career-wise, they turned professional to start the next phase of their working lives together.

Jayne and Chris have continued to entertain through ice-dance over the years, and just eight years ago started the phenomenally successful TV series “Dancing on Ice.” This pairing of celebrity would-be skaters with professionals, the expert input of Jayne and Chris and their still-beautiful dancing together to show everyone how it should be done proved to be a ratings’ winner.

The move paid off. They were not expected to win the European Championships in Innsbruck in 1981 as the Russians had dominated the sport for the previous 12 years. But, on a special night for British skating, Jayne and Chris became the European Ice Dance Champions, and six weeks later in America they won their first World Championship Medal.

Suddenly, we were all more aware of ice-dancing. And we were very aware of the young Nottingham couple with the clean-cut image.

In 2013 they announced that the 2014 series would be the last, citing the 30th anniversary of their iconic Sarajevo win because “it seemed a fitting time to say goodbye to ‘Dancing on Ice’. We wanted to go out on a high!”

It’s quite likely other projects will keep the busy pair in the public eye.

The important thing is that they reject any suggestion they will be hanging up their skates.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have undoubtedly raised the profile of ice-dance over the years, both in the pubic consciousness and at the very levels of this demanding and beautiful discipline.

Could they ever eclipse that “Bolero” moment? It’s hard to say but all we know for sure is that this exciting pair have smoothly skated into our lives bringing excellence at every turn. And who knows where that demanding journey will take them next?

“...it seemed a fitting time to say goodbye to ‘Dancing on Ice’.

We wanted to go out on a high!”

At the 1982 European Championships in Lyon, France, they retained their title and scored their first sixes in an overseas competition. They were also triumphant in the World Championships in Denmark.

The following year, Jayne fell in practice just days before the Europeans in Germany and they had to withdraw, but they arrived in Finland for the World

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

17

What’s Rick Wakeman | 25 January

JANUARY Royal Northern College of Music Coffee Concerts

Aomori Quartet

Friday 16 January 1pm Tickets: £7

Circus of Horrors

Saturday 17 January 7.30pm Tickets: £18, £21, £25 Jazz at The Arts Centre

Mart Rodger Manchester Jazz Sunday 18 January 1pm Tickets: £6

Omid Djalili

Sunday 18 January 7.30pm Tickets: £26

The Special Consensus Bluegrass Band 11 February -15 February 2015 Go on a magical journey with the world famous Russian Ice Stars as they bring to life the much loved fairy tale, Snow White.

The Opera House stage will be transformed into a frozen wonderland that has to be seen to be believed, making this a unique theatrical experience.

In a spell-binding show that is both lavish and spectacular, the story of a beautiful girl, her Prince Charming and an enchanted mirror comes to life in a stunningly choreographed piece that dazzles with its sheer beauty and elegance.

With an ice-rink set into the stage, audiences can enjoy close-up the exquisite movement and techniques employed by the Russian Ice Stars dancers – all in the comfort and warmth of a theatre.

Snow White is a full length ballet performed on ice. The show combines gymnastics, aerial aerobatics, full stage sets and a wonderful score by Silvio Amato to create a breathtaking and mesmerising experience the whole family can enjoy.

Tickets are priced from £22 for adults and £15 for children, Wednesday to Thursday, and £25 for Adults and £15 for children Friday to Sunday. Family tickets are also available starting at £50. To buy tickets or for more information call the Box Office on 0845 127 2190 or buy online at www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk ‘The company are at the very top of their game - providing show-stopping tricks, beautiful choreography and jaw-dropping lifts’ – What’s On Stage

Friday 23 January 7.30pm Tickets: £13

The Johnny Cash Roadshow Friday 24 January 7.30pm Tickets: £16, £19

Beyond Everest & Epic of Everest Saturday 24 January 7.30pm Tickets: £11, £14 Yet Another Evening with

Rick Wakeman

Sunday 25 January 7.30pm Tickets: £23, £26, £29

Andrew Lawrence

Sunday 25 January 7.30pm Tickets: £14

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

Monday 26 January 7.30pm Tickets: £23.50, £33.50

That’ll BeThe Day 2015Tour

Wednesday 28 January 7.30pm Tickets: £23.50, £25.50

Call Mr Robeson: A Life,with Songs Friday 30 January 7.30pm Tickets: £14

Waterloo -The Best of ABBATribute Show Saturday 31 January 7.30pm Tickets: £18.50, £20.50

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk To book call the Box Office on 0845 127 2190 or 01298 72190 18

On...

Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music | 1 February

Birdsong | 17-21 February

FEBRUARY

Gary Delaney - Purist

Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music

My Dog’s Got No Nose

Sunday 1 February 5pm Tickets: £13.50, £15

Richard Alston Dance Company Tuesday 3 February 7.30pm Tickets: £13, £16 Talking Scarlet presents

The GhostTrain

Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 February 7.30pm Matinee: Saturday 2.30pm Tickets: £16, £19

Money for Nothing

Saturday 7 February 7.30pm Tickets: £18.50

AC/DC UK

Sunday 8 February 7.30pm Tickets: £18.50 Winter Walker presents

Three Keepers

Tuesday 10 February 2pm Tickets: Adults £9, Children £7

Snow White on Ice

Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 February Wed, Fri, Sat: 7pm Thurs, Sat, Sun: 2pm Tickets: from £15 Hiccup Theatre presents

Sunday 22 February 7.30pm Tickets: £14 Monday 23 February 7.30pm Tickets: £14

The Cat in the Hat

Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 February Tues 5pm Wed 1pm & 3pm Tickets: £13, £9

Table Manners

Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 February 7.30pm Matinee: Saturday 2.30pm Tickets: £16, £19

MARCH Madama Butterfly

Sunday 1 March 7.30pm Tickets: £33, £36

Bouncers

Monday 2 & Tuesday 3 March 7.30pm Tickets: £14, £17

A Curious Life (film) Followed by Levellers acoustic set Thursday 5 March 7.30pm Tickets: £21, £23

The Drifters

Three Wise Monkeys

Friday 6 March 7.30pm Tickets: £25, £26

Nunkie Theatre Company presents

Saturday 7 March 7.30pm Tickets: £18, £21

Thursday 12 February 1.30pm Tickets: £7.50

Casting the Runes Two Ghost Stories by M.R James Friday 13 February 7:30pm Tickets: £10

Birdsong

Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 February 7.30pm Matinee: Wednesday & Saturday 2.30pm Tickets: £15, £18, £20, £23

Bla Bla Bla

Friday 20 February 8pm Tickets: £7.50

Halfway to Paradise:The Billy Fury Story The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra Sunday 8 March 7.30pm Tickets; £18, £21, £24

Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Tuesday 10 March 1.30pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £14, £17

Count Arthur Strong

Wednesday 11 March 7.30pm Tickets: £15.50, £18.50

Back to Broadway

Thursday 12 March 7.30pm Tickets: £16, £19

The Accordian Shop |10-14 March

The Blues Brothers Experience Friday 13 March 7.30pm Tickets: £18.50

The Accordian Shop

Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 March 7.30pm Tickets: £10, £12

Jurassic Adventures

Saturday 14 March 2pm & 5pm Tickets: £14, £16

Let’s Hang On

Sunday 15 March 7.30pm Tickets: £22.50 Royal Northern College of Music Coffee Concerts

Daphnis Duo

Tuesday 17 March 1pm Tickets: £7

Le Vent du Nord plus Will Pound Tuesday 17 March 7.30pm Tickets: £15 + £1.50 booking fee Swansea City Opera presents

Faust

Wednesday 18 March 7.30pm Tickets: £18, £21, £24

Aled Jones

Thursday 19 March 7.30pm Tickets: £26.50, £28.50

The Bootleg Beatles

Friday 20 March 7.30pm Tickets: £28

Secret Love The Life & Music of Doris Day Friday 20 March 7.30pm Tickets: £18.50

Paul Carrack

Saturday 21 March 7.30pm Tickets: £29.50, £35

Jeremy Hardy

Saturday 21 March 7.30pm Tickets: £15 (JSA/Income Support: £5)

An audience with John Sergeant

Wednesday 25 March 7.30pm Tickets: £16, £19

Or book online at www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

19

OUT & ABOUT

Unlimited Voices

What's On at The Plaza Stockport?

The No. 1 concert - hits from the last 50 years Saturday 24th January 2015 at Bridgewater Hall Manchester.

50 years of the best!

You all know which No 1 hit is your favourite. Well, come and spend the night with the best No 1s ever. Will yours feature in this not-to-be-missed concert?

Being performed will be some of the most iconic No 1 hits from the last 50 years.How many memories will they evoke in you?

Go along and see over 200 local singers perform at this fabulous venue.

Entry price (public): £10 - £17.50 Doors open: 7:30pm til 10:00pm Last entry: 7:30pm

For more information please call 0161 907 9000.

Hat Making

Every week on Tuesday between 20 Jan 2015, and 10 Feb 2015. 7pm Create your own felt, learn the techniques and expertise to design, block and trim your own millinery masterpiece. Here at Hat Works we have the experience and the tools to allow you to explore and conquer the world of millinery.

Our 4 week course will enable you to experience the art of hat making from our factory and gallery tours, use of millinery fabrics, felting workshop, blocking demonstrations, finishing techniques and trimmings. Each week we will focus on a different aspect of millinery. You can attend one or all of the workshops.

All materials, tools and tuition are provided ensuring you experience a unique course in your journey to becoming a milliner.

For more information & to book call 0161 474 2399 or e-mail bookings. hatworks@stockport.gov.uk Hat Works, Wellington Mill, Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK3 0EU 20

Casablanca: Valentines Special 14 February 2015 This St Valentines Day join us for one of the most romantic feature films to ever play on the giant silver screen. With standard admission, Champagne and Screen and Supper Tickets, our screening of Casablanca is the perfect way to enjoy the most romantic day of the year.

The Chuckles of Oz 22 February 2015 Dorothy, The Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow are among the familiar characters who join the Wizards (Paul and Barry) for this sensational new version of the familiar Wizard of Oz story for all ages 3 to 103 to enjoy so be sure to book today!

Rhapsody Queen

26 February 2015 The international smash hit show bringing you all the biggest and greatest hits of Queen comes to The Plaza, bringing together the unique, flamboyant showmanship that was Freddie Mercury combined with tight harmonies, a superb band and a vast catalogue of hits.

2015 Chinese New Year Extravaganza 28 February 2015 Following the great success of their 2014 show, Jin Long Centre is proud to present the 2015 Chinese New Year Extravaganza, a unique and exciting show of cultural display featuring a team of performers from China and Stockport.

Roaring Twenties special event - Live Jazz at Lyme 24th and 31st January 2015 Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR

Get behind the scenes of the BBC's 'The Village', set in the roaring twenties and get those toes tapping to the sounds of the twenties with the Ged Hone Jazz Group. Live performances will take you back to Lyme at the height of the Jazz Age. See stunning costumes, vintage motor cars and enjoy the sounds of the jazz age.

3pm. Tickets: £7 per car. For more information call 01663 762023.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT

Northern Chamber Orchestra: Summer Nights Rumours of Fleetwood Mac 21 January 2015 7.30pm Tickets: £23.50 Crewe Lyceum, Heath Street, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2DA Tel: 01270 368242 Having performed 500 major concert shows to over a half a million fans around the world since they formed over a decade ago, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac return to the UK to present a spectacular new stage production celebrating the music of the legendary rock supergroup Fleetwood Mac.

7 February 2015 7.30pm Macclesfield Heritage Centre, Roe Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6UT Tel: 0161 2472220 A fabulous concert, balancing the passion, tension and drama of Haydn’s C minor Symphony, with music of gentle, subtle restraint. Joyful dances sit alongside a melancholy song cycle, exploring love and loss, and Havanaise mixes it all - picture sultry Latin American, with a little moderation!

Tickets: £16 main auditorium, £13 balcony; £7 students, 18s & under free. Group Discounts available. Tickets also available on the door.

THE NEXT ISSUE OF

Their new show will showcase and celebrate in meticulous note-for-note detail, all the classic hits from one of the most outstanding and enduring catalogues in the history of recorded music, and a legacy of blues, rock & pop classics that made Fleetwood Mac the icons of the music industry they are today.

Recognised internationally as the leading tribute to Fleetwood Mac in their various incarnations, and with founding member Mick Fleetwood’s golden seal of approval, this stunning show reflects on an epic journey of lasting relationships through changing eras and musical styles, from the exciting hub of the sixties London blues scene to staggering commercial success in the seventies and eighties, and beyond.

Replicating perfectly the power and subtlety of Fleetwood Mac at their brilliant best, let timeless classics such as ‘Black Magic Woman’, ‘Albatross’, ‘Go Your Own Way’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Gypsy’ ‘Say You Love Me’, ‘Sara’, ‘Oh Diane’, ‘Little Lies’, ‘Everywhere’ and many more, take you on a nostalgic evening of breathtakingly outstanding musicianship; and all performed in the context where the songs work best – a live stage.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

STOCKPORT, TRAFFORD & EAST CHESHIRE IS PUBLISHED IN MARCH

For details of advertising CALL 01204 860 194 or email artwork@mcgrathmedia.co.uk today.

21

OUT & ABOUT

Age UK Wrap Up and Run 10k 1st March 2015 Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN Tel: 0800 169 8787 Set in the stunning grounds of the Tudor medieval estate, this trail run is perfect for experienced runners and first-timers alike. Enjoy the views across Tatton Mere and challenge yourself to reach a personal best.

Al Murray The Pub Landlord – One Man, One Guvnor 21st February 2015 Parr Hall, Palmyra Sq, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1BL Tickets £25.50 Twenty years ago Britain’s favourite publican Al Murray, The Pub Landlord, embarked on his one man mission as the King Cnut of Common Sense, holding back a tide of bottled beer and ninny state nonsense.

To celebrate this milestone join this icon on his new tour with his brand new show One Man, One Guvnor.

For more information please call 01925 442 345.

Est.1923

Coach Holidays

Around 1 million older people regularly go an entire month without speaking to anyone. Whether you're an experienced runner hoping to achieve a personal best, or you've just caught the running bug, join us in March and help us in our fight to make a million people less lonely. We also have a slower paced 2k event open to all ages.

Sign up online www.ageuk.org. uk/10k or by calling 0800 169 87 87. Price £18 (£16 UKA) and £6 for the 2k. All finishers receive a medal and a chip-timed result. 10am start.

Model Boat Show at the National Waterways Museum 7-8th March 2015 National Waterways Museum, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port CH65 4FW Organised by the Ellesmere Port Model Boat Club, the weekend will see the museum basin and locks taken over by intricate radio controlled boats which will demonstrate their owner’s skills at both model making and boat piloting. There will also be exhibitions of masterpieces of model boats from various clubs based in the North West and trader’s stalls. Admission only £3.50.

For more information please call 0151 3355017

Why not take advantage of one of our Amazing Spring Offers -

SPECIAL

SPRING OFFERS

when they are gone, they are gone, so don't delay!!

5/7 DAYS - 4/6 NIGHTS DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST plus 2 EXCURSIONS Eastbourne

Isle of Wight

Imperial Hotel

Ocean View Hotel

Torquay

Abbey Lawn Hotel

(5 Days Dinner, Bed & Breakfast) Imperial & Abbey Lawn Hotels ONLY

Date

Price

22 Feb

15 Feb

£129

02 Mar £129

£129

(5 Days Dinner, Bed & Breakfast) ALL HOTELS

The Imperial Hotel is located just a stone's throw away from the promenade and bandstand, this grand Victorian hotel is full of character and home to a number of spacious, comfortable bedrooms, all accessible via lifts.

5 Days Includes 2 Excursions: ● Battle, Tenterden & Rye ● Worthing and Brighton.

7 Days Includes 2 Excursions: ● Battle, Tenterden & Rye ● Hever Castle.

Situated in a premier location with an idyllic seaside position, the charming, well-appointed Ocean View Hotel boasts uninterrupted panoramic views across Sandown Bay. 5 Days Includes 2 Excursions: ● Island Tour ● Amazon World and Cowes.

7 Days Includes 2 Excursions: ● Island Tour ● Ryde and The Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

If you're looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey with stunning views of the bay, the Abbey Lawn Hotel offers an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

5 Days Includes 2 Excursions: ● Full Day Excursion to Plymouth ● Teignmouth, Dawlish and Exeter.

7 Days Includes 2 Excursions: ● Dartmoor & Totnes ● Plymouth with Naval Harbour Cruise.

09 Mar £139

08 Apr

£179

16 Mar £139

13 Apr

£189

23 Mar £145

20 Apr

£199

30 Mar £159

26 Apr

£199

03 Apr

£169

(7 Days Dinner, Bed & Breakfast) ALL HOTELS

30 Mar £219 05 Apr

£229

12 Apr

£249

19 Apr

£259

26 Apr

£279

03 May £319

Book with confidence, you will only pay the lowest advertised price on any of the above departures ... That's our Guarantee.

Freephone: 0800 083 9900 Visit us online at www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk

22 IMPERIAL HOTEL POSTCARD.indd

11

Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP. 19/12/2014 09:58 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

The research shows 82 per cent of people manage more online accounts that require a password than they did last year, with the average Briton dealing with 19. Over a third (35 per cent) of those questioned admit that they do not create strong passwords because they struggle to recall them.

However, poor passwords leave people vulnerable to identity theft, fraud and extortion. Cyber crime is a serious threat to the UK and the government is taking action to increase public awareness of the risk.

The government has dedicated £860 million over five years through the National Cyber Security Programme and is working to transform the UK response to cyber security.

Director of the National Crime Agency (NCA) National Cyber Crime Unit Jamie Saunders said:

Three quarters of Britons risking online safety · 62% of over 55s have up to 5 more passwords than they did a year ago · The average Briton over 55 has 20 password-protected accounts · 15% never change their passwords · 31% of those who don’t use strong passwords say it’s because they won’t remember them · 11% use pet’s name as password.

A new survey from Cyber Streetwise has revealed the vast majority of people are not taking the necessary steps to protect their identity online, with 75 per cent admitting they do not follow best practice to create complex passwords.

New guidance from the government states the key to creating a strong password includes using three words or more and adding a symbol to make the password even more secure.

The figures were released to mark the launch of the latest phase of the government’s Cyber Streetwise campaign. In partnership with the police and industry experts, Cyber Streetwise aims to raise awareness of wise and unwise behaviour online.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Despite 95 per cent of Britons saying it is their own responsibility to protect themselves online, two thirds are risking their safety by not using symbols in passwords. Nearly half (47 per cent) have other unsafe password habits such as using pet names or significant dates as their password.

The new statistics are revealed during Cyber Security Awareness Month and ahead of Get Safe Online week.

Modern Slavery and Organised Crime Minister Karen Bradley said: “When passwords are compromised, financial and banking details can be stolen, causing problems for the person affected, for businesses and for the economy. There is an emotional impact caused by the loss of irreplaceable photos, videos and personal emails, but even worse, these can be seized to extort money.

“We can and must play a role in reducing our risk of falling victim to cyber crime. Most attacks can be prevented by taking some basic security steps, and I encourage everyone to do so.”

“The NCA is working closely with law enforcement colleagues all over the world to target and disrupt cyber criminals, but we should be clear that they will target weakness and therefore having weak passwords will leave you vulnerable.

“Nobody wants their personal financial details, business information or photographs to be stolen or held to ransom, so simple things like using three or more words, a mixture of numbers, letters and symbols, upper and lower case letters will make it much more difficult for hackers to access your details.”

Advice on creating strong, memorable passwords can be found on cyberstreetwise.com, along with other easy tips for staying safe online.

Tips for creating and remembering passwords include: · Loci method: Imagine a familiar scene and place each item that needs to be remembered in a particular location i.e. red rose on the table, book on chair, poster on wall. Imagine yourself looking around the room in a specific sequence. Re-imagine the scene and the location of each item when you need to remember · Acronyms: Use a phrase or a sentence and take the first letter from that sentence · Narrative methods: Remember a sequence of key words by creating a story and littering it with memorable details e.g. ‘the little girl wore a bright yellow hat as she walked down the narrow street…’

23

Divorces in Over 60’s on the rise…

Factors cited include a loss of stigma over being divorced, and more financial independence for women As a family lawyer I see my share of the “average” and sometimes

One area that many of our clients are concerned about and that

not so average marital breakdowns but one of the trends that

we are happy to work through and discuss is any latent resentment

we have noticed over the last few years has been the increase

from the family, particularly if the divorce is not a joint decision and

in couples who are slightly older deciding to call it a day on their

if either party choose to marry again.Often there are many financial

marriage.

and estate issues to consider when new step-families come into

“ In general, women are

now more able to support themselves outside of marriage than in the past ” My team and I at Slater Heelis LLP have recognised there are slightly

the picture. Nevertheless, the decision to separate needn’t be filled with anxiety and unknowns and the main focus of our service for all our clients (regardless of age) is to shed light on the process and potential outcomes for all parties concerned.

Key Statistics 1

In 2009, more than 13,700 over-60s were granted a divorce, the Office for National Statistics revealed.

2

The number of divorces for older people was stable in the 1980s and early 1990s, but has risen since in contrast to falling divorce rates in the rest of the population.

different concerns for our older clients, they anxiety tends to be less about access to children (most of whom are often grown up) and more often than not about fair division of assets and managing financial independence – sometimes for the first time. Therefore we have launched a new divorce division called Silver Separation Suite aimed at the over-60s. It has been designed to meet the changing

3

needs of our ageing population, to ensure we focus on the things that matter to our clients, things like the desire to achieve a clean break and an independent future.

In 2011, the total number of divorces was 118,000. Of these, 9,500 were granted to men aged 60 - a 73% rise from 1991. Although husbands tend to be older than their wives, officials noted, the trend was similar for women: 5,800 women over 60 divorced in 2011, up from 3,200 in 1991.

If you’d like to consider your options and want to talk to someone about next steps please give us a call on: 0844 967 6830 or email us at intouch@slaterheelis.co.uk Mark Heptinstall, Partner and Head of Family Law

Are you finding the future tricky to predict?

Contact our family team and we’ll help you cut out the guesswork.

Get in touch

family@slaterheelis.co.uk 0844 967 6830 @FamilyLawNW

www.slaterheelis.co.uk

10% Discount

from final bill The price is FROM £300.00 + VAT but the discount is 10% off the final bill, valid from Saturday 9th August 2014 until Saturday 31st January 2015.

Quote ‘50 Plus’ for a 10% discount on your Will

Contact us on

0800 160 1144 or email us

enquiries@goddardsmith.co.uk

Kathleen Goddard - Director

Mark Smith - Director

Sharon Boardman - Paralegal (Wills & Probate)

Protect your family with Powers of Attorney...

Alzheimer’s and/or Accidents can affect lots of families every day that is why you should always have a back-up plan to protect your family and there is no better way to do this than to consider implementing a Power of Attorney to protect your family.

Prices start from as little as £300.00 for a Power of Attorney.

Goddard Smith Solicitors are here to help you and your family protect what is yours, we will guide you through the processes, take things at your pace and most of all we never forget that we work for you.

Also thinking and talking about what would happen if our faculties deserted us is uncomfortable; it is important to consider how much worse the situation would be if you had an accident or a stroke, or started to show the signs of dementia without sorting your affairs out, remember anyone can suffer from Alzheimer’s it is NOT an old people’s disease.

There is no specific age when you should consider making a Power of Attorney, as you can imagine each case has its own variables we are all individuals.

There are 2 types of Power of Attorney Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney and Property and Financial affairs Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney empowers whoever you have chosen to make decisions about your daily routine (e.g. washing, dressing, eating etc.), medical care, moving into a care home and life-sustaining treatment and Property.

Property and Financial affairs Lasting Power of Attorney empowers whoever you have chosen to make decisions about managing a bank or building society account, paying bills, collecting benefits or a pension and selling your home.

We at Goddard Smith Solicitors want to help you protect yourself and your family so we are offering ½ hours FREE consultation and all fees and charges are discussed fully before agreeing to anything.

As we are all aware anyone can have an accident and it can be life changing, it can affect your mental and physical abilities and lots of other complications can occur too.

Alzheimer’s is one of the most devastating illness any family has to face; it is the most common cause of dementia.

Alzheimer’s will affect over 520,000 people in the UK by 2015, the new estimates suggest that the number of cases of earlyonset dementia in the UK, include over 700 cases for 30 year olds, over 2,000 cases for 40 year olds and nearly 8,000 new cases were for people in their 50’s, the next peak came from people in their 60’s with over 32,000 cases.

There are lots of symptoms including mood changes, feeling sad, angry, scared or frustrated, the affected person, also suffers from increasing memory loss,

problems communicating and reasoning; this in turn can affect people’s confidence and/or communication abilities.

This disease can affect every day activities and everyone will be involved that is why you must ALL consider looking after your love ones!!

This information is quite frightening, so please consider your family and make time to put your wishes in writing now by implementing a Power of Attorney.

Usually once this has been organised and completed many people say they find this empowering and reassuring.

It takes you 30 minutes to watch an episode of Coronation Street, do you remember Haley Cropper?

It only 30 minutes to make a Power of Attorney.

It’s all too easy to put these things off, you can only set up a Lasting Power of Attorney when you have mental capacity and once you have lost capacity it is TOO LATE. If you do put it off your loved ones will need to apply through the court of protection which can be a very lengthy and expensive process.

Don’t put off today something you may not be able to do tomorrow, contact Sharon Boardman on 01942 225 082 to help you.

Please feel free to contact us at Goddard Smith Solicitors, 685 Ormskirk Road, Wigan, WN5 8AQ Telephone 0845 304 1144 or email enquiries@goddardsmith.co.uk or check our website;-

www.goddardsmith.co.uk

L I V E F R O M T H E PA L L A D I U M

Neil Sean is a TV presenter, writer and variety performer – He has appeared on both the West End stage and Broadway bringing his long held dream of his own one man show to the Palladium this year …Here in his brand new book “Live from the London Palladium, By the stars who appeared there“ he tells the story of the many bill topping names who have trod the boards of this Frank Matcham gem of a theatre and why it means so much to those who have been lucky enough to do so.

It’s with grateful thanks to my mother and father who were both in the variety theatre world that I have met, performed and interviewed some of the all-time greats of showbiz. My personal favourites? All of them really because each one has a great story to tell and once talking become so revealing. All the interviews are from my TV and radio interviews so listening and looking back has been great fun tinged with sadness as many are simply not here anymore. Here are just some of my favourites that I hope will be yours too.

Mike Winters was without doubt a comedy legend. As one half of the very successful “Mike and Bernie” who enjoyed fame across all bands of showbiz from TV, Radio, Panto and film it appears that they could do no wrong ... so being given the chance to sit down and invite Mike in for a chat about his latest projects was too good an opportunity to miss ...This though turned out to be his last ever TV interview.

28

Mike and Bernie Winters were a great comedy double act who played just about every major theatre going and along with their hit films and TV series cemented their place in British comedy. But as Mike told me it was another comedian that he enjoyed more; “Al Reed was a super guy but quite reserved off stage and enjoyed the good life. Quite a few of the set felt he had conned his way in because he had other wealth outside the world of showbiz as they say but for us he was funny ... Simple as that ... When you work with big stars like we did, Tommy Trinder, Bruce etc. you’re not in awe as much as you’re all kind of starting out and foolishly believe that you will be as big as they are with the right breaks and such. But for us we just tried to learn from them... Our act, (laughing) truthfully we would work many aspects out while travelling. It was that bad really but after a while we had a great set up and mainly we would ad-lib around what we had.”

Mike also set to rights the true story of his infamous fall out with his brother and comedy partner Bernie and one that Mike addresses in detail in the film... “Truth is we never really fell out, I mean not in the way the media said... I wanted to do other things and so did he but what mattered was we were still brothers and remained so ... I loved him and adored him but it was a business, you know it’s called show business, and sometimes the lines can get blurred, but truthfully we always remained pals and that was so important.”

Sadly Mike Winters passed away in Gloucestershire aged 82 in August 2013.

Barry Humphries aka Dame Edna Everage “When I first came to London in the late 50s and 60s trying to break into the world of showbiz to me the Palladium was the mecca... You know it was the one place you really wanted to appear but even in my wildest

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

dreams I had no idea that one day I would play it... I mean I ended my tour at the theatre last year simply because it was my last tour ever, and of course I figured, is there a better place to say goodbye to everyone?”

“I often just take a peek when I am walking past and always stand in awe at the dream that came true... I appeared and starred at the London Palladium... What more can a performer ask?”

Meeting Des O’Connor is like, well, meeting someone you have known for years, thing is I have never met him before & here I am standing on the stage of the Palladium Theatre in the heart of London ... Des who reaches a golden era very soon could easily pass for a man in his late 50’s and I ask him what is his secret, “Genes and of course taking good care of myself ...

I don’t deny and I don’t overindulge, that is the secret, plus I enjoy life and my career. I really do, it’s been such a ride and such fun.”

Keen to know more about his appearances that total over one thousand at the theatre I ask what it’s like to compere a Royal Variety show “Ah they were good. I mean I loved doing them and we had such great stars to introduce, the list was endless, we really had the pick of the crop in those days... Nervous of course but I am a big fan of the royal family and I figured they must have liked the act as I was never sent to the tower.

But seriously I think it’s the biggest honour for everyone to be invited to perform on the show, it’s the pinnacle of your career, after all there is no higher audience now is there?” Des told me he plans to come back to the Palladium and would if asked“ Do the show for free ... I adore the place, why not? If I am not paid at least I would have starred at the Palladium again - it has that pull about it.

Donny Osmond was just a teenager when he was given the opportunity to appear at his favourite theatre “I look back now at the arrogance of my youth and know I took it all in my stride but now I think like, Wow how lucky was I ? ... We were big then, like One Direction now, so my memories are that I think some of the acts found us a tad annoying with all the screaming girls but I do recall how serious the Royal show was and what it meant to

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

us .. I stood there quietly in the centre of the stage and wondered if like me so many other people like Judy, Frank and Dean had been this nervous... it gives you a good feeling though just to get that far .. I will always consider the theatre to be one of my all-time favourites.”

Writing the book has been a real pleasure and dare I say you forget meeting some wonderful people along the way, real stars like Larry Grayson who remarked “I never thought stardom would happen for me you know ... I was an overnight discovery and yet I had been at it for years and year then bang. Suddenly I was up there with the rest of them.

Tommy Trinder who I met towards the end of his life told me that the key to success as a star and comedian was publicity “Oh yes my son, truly it was ... I used to have massive billboards plastered around London with my image and my catchphrase on “You Lucky People.“ It worked and people would recite it back to me all the time.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with not getting a laugh but trying your best to is the key to it all.

got the booking to the Royal show at the Palladium I was shocked ... I kept thinking is this a joke, is this for real?“ It was of course and Joan was a sensation but she told me “You know one star that has yet to play that stage ... Streisand and you know she was stunned when I told her I had gotten there first ... truly, because at drama club together she was no great shakes in the looks department but she had that voice and she always thought she would beat me to the Palladium but yep I did one thing Ms Streisand “she laughed.

Finally 60s pop icon Lulu told me that she was a mere “nipper“ when she landed a slot on the stage “ I was a wee thing enjoying my first pop success and yes my mam and dad were thrilled because it was the show and all that, but age is great that way, you look back and think … “Wow I did it you know and I was so full of vim and full on confidence which I think changes as you get older” .. She had this to say for her older fans though “Don’t ever give up on your dreams no matter what age you are because life moves along all the time ... they can just be around the corner so snap it up and enjoy it.“

Meanwhile the late Joan Rivers told me that “I think when I finally The full and exclusive interviews plus many more are in Neil Sean “Live from the London Palladium“ Out now via Amberley Books e.store@amberley-books.com 29

HEALTH

Quality dentures mean a quality lifestyle The Importance of Dentures The eyes, nose and teeth are the focal points of every face; they give the first impressions of your personality.

Natural teeth grow in proportion and in harmony with your facial features and your dentures should be made accordingly.

Your teeth, or your dentures, have many important functions: to support your facial muscles, to help formulate your speech, and most importantly to chew your food and start the digestive process.

It is very important to chew food properly, as poorly chewed food will take longer to digest, especially for the elderly who could risk problems in the digestive system.

Difficulties in Constructing a Good Set of Dentures Constructing a functional and aesthetically pleasing set of dentures is the most difficult task in dentistry. We are not only replacing lost teeth, but also lost tissue matter and bone. In other words, we have to re-create your facial features as they were before the loss of your natural teeth.

In most cases we do not know what your teeth looked like, what size they were or what position they were in originally. We have a few indications but mostly we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.

30

At the same time we have to use our technical expertise in order to make the denture stable and functional. Denture construction is more art than science.

Choice of Dentures There are three main quality standards in denture materials: Denture Base Acrylics: standard quality, high impact much stronger non brittle and the latest thermoplastic.

Denture Teeth: 2-layer acrylic very basic and cheap, 3-layer acrylic re-enforced much harder, 4-layer composite extra hard and natural looking.

However, good materials on their own will not make good dentures. A skilful and experienced clinician and technician are required. The best results are achieved when the whole job is done by the same person.

How Long Should Dentures Last?

The question we should ask is, how long will my dentures be functional for? Dentures can last twenty or more years, but will lose their function (chewing ability, proper fit etc.) probably after two years. This will depend on many factors:

1. Quality of dentures.

2. Age of Patient.

3. General health of patient.

4. Any drastic change in weight.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Dentures Need Regular Servicing

Dentures with worn down teeth

Dentures are in constant use almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are also in a pretty hostile environment in the mouth, being attacked by strong acid, bacteria, hot, cold and spicy food. Denture material absorbs liquids and food odour.

Teeth can be replaced with a new set.

Daily cleaning is essential as well as professional ultrasonic cleaning in a dental laboratory at least once a year. Due to constant bone resorbtion dentures will become loose sooner or later.

Loose dentures will increase damage to the gums and bone structure, and increase the risk of breakage. Have them re-lined as soon as possible to get a good fit. It only takes a day or two.

Have your dentures inspected by a dentist or denturist at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.

Your Dentures need Attention 1.

2.

3.

4.

When they become loose.

When teeth or denture base discolours.

When tooth surfaces become flat.

When denture base does not fit around natural teeth (in partial dentures).

5. When you develop deep lines around your mouth.

6. When your chin sticks out, and the corners of your lips are constantly wet, developing sores.

7. When you stop smiling and feel embarrassed.

Loose Dentures Can be re-lined by adding a thin layer of the new acrylic to fit the surface of the dentures, making them fit better (takes one or two days).

Major improvements in Facial Features Padding dentures to reduce lines and fill up sunken cheeks will require a new set of dentures. It is advisable to have a new set of dentures made every 5 to 10 years.

Should I have a spare set of Dentures made?

Yes, it is very important to have a spare set of dentures for emergencies in case of breakage.

Where do I go to have a good set of Dentures made?

Every dentist can make dentures, but not all of them will specialise in denture making.

Denturists will take the greatest care to make your dentures look natural and fit properly. They can give you and your dentures the time and attention you deserve.

Summary 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Clean your dentures daily with a denture brush and denture cream.

Have your dentures inspected every two years, and relined or ultra-sonically cleaned.

Have a new set made every 5 years if possible.

Keep a spare set for emergencies.

Remember, dentures do not have to hurt and do not need to be uncomfortable.

With a new set of dentures, you should receive a written guarantee, a detailed prescription of the materials used in your dentures, cleaning and servicing instructions, and a cleaning kit.

Dentures so life-like you'd think they were real.

A service that will make you smile!

Offering Denture Perfection l l l l l

Emergency Denture Repairs Free Consultations Friendly Personal Service Open Late Ample Parking

GDC (REG) T.W. ELLWOOD Dip CDT RCS (ENG)

Tel: 0161 406 0400 www.thedenturepeople.com

HILLSIDE DENTURE CENTRE, THE ARCHWAYS private medical & health clinic, 86 stockport road, romiley, stockport SK6 3AA

FOOD & DRINK THE HAIRY DIETERS EAT FOR LIFE "We've cooked the recipes in our first book over and over, and they've become much loved standards in our kitchens, along with our other favourite dishes. We enjoy them so much that, like you, we wanted, more so now we've come up with some new ones that we hope you're going to like just as much."

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH PRESERVED LEMONS 391 calories per portion (if serving 4); 313 calories per portion (if serving 5) Saffron, chilli, preserved lemons, coriander - our version of this North African stew is a winner. It’s fragrant, filling and fabulous, so enjoy. You can buy jars of preserved lemons in large supermarkets.

METHOD Put the saffron in a measuring jug with the stock cube and pour over the 250ml of just-boiled water. Stir until the stock cube dissolves and set aside. Put the chicken thighs on a board and trim off all the visible fat, then season the chicken with salt and pepper. Slice the preserved lemons into very thin strips, flicking out any pips as you go.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick saucepan. Add the onions, garlic, ginger, cumin, paprika and chilli flakes. Season with lots of black pepper and cook for 2 minutes, while stirring.

Add the 2 tablespoons of cold water and steam-fry for another 3 minutes, stirring regularly until the onions are lightly browned. Add the chicken and preserved lemons to the saucepan and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes, turning the chicken until it’s lightly coloured on all sides.

Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and cut them into rough wedge shapes or chucks of about 4cm. Roughly chop the tomatoes and cut the pitted olives in half. Put the potatoes, tomatoes and olives in a large bowl and toss with the herbs and plenty of salt and pepper.

Scatter the vegetable mix over the chicken, pour over the saffron stock and cover the pan tightly with a lid. Simmer over a very low heat for 35-40 minutes, without removing the lid, until the chicken and potatoes are tender.

Serves 4-5 Prep: 15 minutes Cooking time: 45-55 minutes pinch of saffron threads 1 chicken stock cube 250ml just-boiled water 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 2 preserved lemons (size of a walnut in its shell), rinsed 1 tbsp olive oil 2 medium onions, sliced 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced

32

1 tsp ground ginger 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp dried chilli flakes 2 tbsp cold water 600g medium potatoes, preferably Maris Pipers 3 large ripe tomatoes 50g pitted green olives in brine, drained 20g bunch of fresh coriander, leaves roughly chopped 20g bucn of fresh parsley, leaves roughly chopped flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

SAUSAGES AND RICH ONION GRAVY 242 calories per portion Thank goodness, we can still have a dash of the bangers and mash our mothers used to make. If you choose lean sausages with the minimum of fat, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t include this tasty dish on your menu and still drop the pounds.

Look for sausages containing about 100 calories each and make sure they’re good quality for the best taste.

METHOD Brush a large non-stick frying pan or sauté pan with the sunflower oil and fry the sausages over a medium heat for 5 minutes, turning occasionally until they’re golden brown all over. Add the onions to the pan, turn down the heat slightly and fry for 8-10 minutes or until the sausages are cooked and the onions are softened and golden brown, stirring regularly.

Pour the stock into the pan, add the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mix the cornflour with the cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Stir this mixture into the pan with the sausages and return to a simmer, then cook for 1-2 minutes more until the sauce is thickened, stirring. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with our lower-cal colcannon.

LOWER-CAL COLCANNON

Serves 4 Prep: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes 1/2 tsp sunflower oil

8 lean pork sausages 1 1/2 medium onions, thinly sliced 300ml beef stock, made with 1/2 beef stock cube 2 tbsp tomato ketchup 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp cornflour 1 tbsp cold water flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper.

157 calories per portion METHOD Peel the potatoes and cut them into chunks of about 3cm. Put them in a large saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until very tender.

While the potatoes are cooking, brush the oil over the inside of a large non-stick frying pan and fry the bacon and onion together over a medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes or until the onion is softened and the bacon is lightly browned, stirring regularly.

Remove any damaged leaves from the cabbage and cut in half.

Cut out the tough central core and thinly shred the leaves. Add the shredded cabbage to the pan with the bacon and onion and cook for 6-8 minutes until softened, stirring regularly. Add a tablespoon of water to the pan every couple of minutes to prevent the cabbage burning. Remove from the heat.

Serves 4 Prep: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes 500g floury potatoes, preferably Maris Pipers or King Edwards 1/2 tsp sunflower oil 2 rashers of rindless lean smoked streaky bacon, cut into 2cm pieces 1/2 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped 1/2 medium Savoy cabbage (about 300g) 3 tbsp semi-skimmed milk flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper.

Drain the potatoes in a large colander and tip them back into the saucepan. Mash with the milk until smooth and season to taste. Tip the potatoes into the same pan as the softened cabbage and stir together over a low heat until hot and well combined. Transfer to a warmed dish and serve.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

33

CREAMY PRAWN KORMA 273 calories per portion (if serving 3); 205 calories per portion (if serving 4) Ready in no time, this korma will satisfy your takeaway yearnings. Rich, creamy and satisfying - absolutely prawnographic.

METHOD Heat the oil in a medium non-stick deep frying pan or sauté pan and stir in the onions, garlic and ginger. Cover the pan with a lid and cook the onions and garlic over a medium heat for 10 minutes until pale golden brown, stirring occasionally.

Remove the lid and stir in the curry paste. Cook for a further minute, while stirring then add the water and bring to the boil. Lower the heat slightly and simmer for 8-10 minutes, uncovered, until the liquid has reduced by half and the onions are very soft.

Remove the pan from the heat and, using a stick blender, blitz to a smooth sauce. Stir in the cream and sugar, season with a little salt and put the pan back on the heat.

Add the prawns to the pan, bring to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until the prawns are completely pink and beginning to curl.

Sprinkle the fresh coriander over the top, stir well and serve the korma immediately with a small portion of rice.

Serves 3-4 Prep: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20-25 minutes 1 tbsp sunflower oil 2 medium onions, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, finely sliced 20g chunk of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped 3 tbsp Korma curry paste 500ml cold water 2 tbsp double of single cream 2 tsp caster sugar 400g peeled raw tiger prawns, deveined if necessary and thawed if frozen 20g bunch of fresh coriander, leaves roughly chopped flaked sea salt.

Welcome to...

Mamma Maria’s Enjoy our Authentic Italian Food with a European Twist freshly prepared on the premises

Food is Served: Tuesday - Saturday: 1pm-10pm Sunday: 3pm-9pm

Lunch Deal

Early Bird

Special Occasions

plus a side order of salad or chips for just

Any Stone Baked Pizza or Pasta and a drink

Whatever the occasion, hold it here in our function room upstairs. We can cater for 30 guests (seated) or 50 guests (buffet)

£5.50

£9.95

Tuesday-Saturday: 1pm-4pm

Tuesday-Sunday: 4.30pm-6.30pm

Any Stone Baked Pizza or Pasta

Bruschetta Siciliana for just

Conferences also catered for during the day

Enquiries on 0161 747 9472

80 Flixton Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 5AD | T:0161 747 9472 34

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Natural looking dentures designed and created just for you...

Call now to book a free consultation.

Tel: 0161 969 6559

This new modern, purpose built denture centre is owned and managed by Mark Greaves a qualified Clinical Dental Technician, who has been a dental technician for over 30 years. Attenburys Lane focuses on providing affordable high quality dentures direct to the public.

Patients benefit from the undivided attention of an expert clinical dental technician, who takes pride in ensuring the denture wearer has a natural looking denture made in the on site dental laboratory.

• Full Dentures • Repairs and Alterations • Relines • Denture Problems Solved • Free Car park

Unit 4 Attenburys Park Estate, Attenburys Lane, Timperley, Altrincham, WA14 5QE Tel: 0161 969 6559

Lasting Powers of Attorney Explained

by QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden In an uncertain world it’s reassuring to know that our wishes will be respected even if we’re not in a position to make our own decisions. That’s why many people choose to create a lasting power of attorney (LPA) to provide protection should an accident or ill health prevent them from making decisions in the future.

An LPA is a legal document that allows another person to make decisions about your wellbeing and affairs on your behalf.

Appointing an attorney before you actually need one gives you the peace of mind that your affairs will be managed how you want them to be. It’s not possible to create an LPA once you’re unable to make your own decisions so if you think you would like an LPA; it’s something that should consider putting in place as soon as possible.

There are different types of LPAs depending on what areas of your life you would like an attorney to have control of. To be valid, an LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.

Joan Goss is the Head of the Wills and Probate department at QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport.

She has in-depth knowledge in all areas of wills and all aspects of creating an LPA. Here she answers some commonly asked questions:

What type of decisions can my attorney make?

This depends on which type of Lasting Power of Attorney you make.

There are two types of Powers of Attorney, Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare. You can appoint the same attorney to deal with both.

Lasting Powers of Attorney Property & Financial Affairs This Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to make a decision about how to spend your money and the way your property and affairs are managed. Your Attorney will have the same control you have over money, savings, investments and property.

Your Attorney must always act in your best interest.

Lasting Power of Attorney Health & Welfare This allows you to choose someone to make decisions about your health and welfare, including medical treatment.

How many attorneys do I need?

You can either have one Attorney or more than one Attorney. If you have more than one Attorney you must decide whether you wish your Attorneys to act jointly i.e. they must act together at all times or jointly and severally i.e. they can act independently should it be necessary.

When should I make a Lasting Power of Attorney?

We recommend that people aged over 50 consider making Lasting Powers of Attorney. The Lasting Power of Attorney will not take effect until it is registered with the Court of Protection. You can make a Lasting Power of Attorney now with a restriction that it is only to be used if you lose your mental capacity or if you become too physically infirm to deal with your own financial affairs.

36

What happens if I lose my capacity and I do not have a Lasting Power of Attorney?

This will cause significant problems for your relatives. If you lose your mental capacity e.g. through a stroke or dementia you will not be able to make a Lasting Power of Attorney as you will lack the capacity to do so. This means that your relatives will not be able to access your bank accounts to be able to provide money for your care. They will have to apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship. A Deputyship takes a considerable amount of time to obtain and is far more expensive than a Lasting Power of Attorney.

The Court of Protection set a solicitor’s fees at a minimum of £800.00 plus VAT and the Court of Protection fee is £450.00.

Once I have made a Lasting Power of Attorney can I change it?

You can cancel your Lasting Power of Attorney at any time provided that you have mental capacity to do so.

How long does it take to make a Lasting Power of Attorney?

We will act quickly and efficiently in order to draw up the necessary documents. However, it can take up to 9 weeks for the Court of Protection to register a Lasting Power of Attorney and we therefore recommend that you allow 12 weeks for the whole process.

How much does it cost?

We charge £350.00 plus VAT for our fees. The Court of Protection charges a fee of £130.00 to register your Power of Attorney.

For confidential, expert advice call Joan Goss or Gemma Pilkington on 0161 482 8822 and see how we can help you.

PEACE OF MIND For you and your family.

Thinking ahead for when you’re not around can be dealt with quickly and simply.

Our specialist wills and probate solicitor Joan Goss can help with planning for the future to give you and your family peace of mind. We can help with wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney.

What you can expect Direct lawyer contact Same-day response Clear Price Guarantee Saturday openings

QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden Changing the way you see lawyers.

0161 482 8822 reception@abneys.co.uk www.qualitysolicitors.com/abneygarsden

QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden

Scam Watch What’s your favourite prank to play? Whether it’s with unsuspecting friends or the grand-kids, we’ve probably all pulled – and been on the receiving end of – a trick or two in our time. But what about those tricks that aren’t quite as innocent – the ones that are designed to part you with your cash. Well, you’ll be glad we “made you look” as we go through some of the more common pranks you should be on the look-out for.

Shoulder surfers: one of the most common ways for fraudsters to acquire your PIN is not through sophisticated techniques of card cloning, but simply by watching over your shoulder as you enter it. Always be wary of people standing behind you at cash points and when entering your PIN in a shop.

Phishing: have you won a lottery you didn’t enter? Had a

request from “your bank” to confirm your details? These are all phishing scams and you will end up losing money. Look out for the email originating from an unusual address, or failing to address you by name. Some can be more convincing and even look like they have been sent to you by friends. If in doubt, don’t give your details out.

Hang-up, no you hang-up: imagine it – you receive a call from

your bank telling you your account had been compromised and you need to act fast to save your cash! You’d do exactly as you were told right? But stop, this is a scam. Your bank would take its own steps to prevent fraud on your account, it would never require you to give out your full account number, password, PIN or hand over your card to a courier – ever. Even if you’re convinced you’re on the phone to your bank – never give out this information.

Payment protection insurance (PPI) refunds: you receive a text or call from someone claiming to be your bank, the Ministry of Justice, or a PPI company telling you that you’re owed money from mis-sold PPI. But, you must pay an administration fee before the refund can be processed. Don’t give away any money! If you have a PPI complaint, you can come to the ombudsman for free and save yourself giving your cash to claims managers unnecessarily.

Online shopping scams: many of us are beating the queues

by shopping online these days – and the good news is that the majority of transactions are completed with no problem. But always be wary of a seller (or buyer) who asks you to complete transactions outside of the official payment channels like PayPal – as you may find you’re not protected if the item you’re buying, or the money for the goods you’ve sold, doesn’t show up.

Visit www.qualitysolicitors.com/abneygarsden/services/wills-and-probate to find out how we can help you.

QualitySolicitors Abney Garsden

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

We hope these tips help you get ahead of the game. But if you’ve lost out to a fraudster, don’t panic. Tell your bank what’s gone wrong but if you’re still not able to get things sorted out, the ombudsman may be able to help on 0300 123 9 123 or www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

37

802_50Plus_half-page_Jan14

looking to celebrate that special anniversary? ring your favourite restaurant

looking to sort out that pension problem? ring the ombudsman 0300 123 9 123

Retirement in Stockportflats Bram

hall, Che Heaviley, Marpladle, Gatley, Great Moor, e, Offerton, Re ddish

Rent from ➔ Profe

Move in...

£86

per week

(including serv

ice charge)

ssional manager on site during th ➔ Acce e week ss to a 24 hour emergency call ➔ Secu system re door entry sy stem ➔ Safe, secure and resp ectful environm ➔ Heat ent ing and hot water included in the re ➔ Cook nt er and fridge inc luded in the rent

...and rent a "Johnnie" Johnson Housing Trust property and you can feel safe, secure and sociable with peace of mind. It might be the best thing you ever did!

g n i h t t s e T he bever did...

I 55+

& looking fo housing? r

quoting STOCK14

Call us on: 0845 305 5335 | general.enquiries@jjhousing.co.uk

www.jjhousing.co.uk

“JOHNNIE” JOHNSON HOUSING TRUST (HEAD OFFICE) ASTRA HOUSE, SPINNERS LANE, POYNTON, CHESHIRE, SK12 1GA. AN EXEMPT CHARITY REGISTERED UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES ACT 1965 NO.19198R

38

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Yo u r L o c a l S p e c i a l i s t S o l i c i t o r s

0161 368 3434 0161 368 1559

Chronnell Hibbert is a well-established practice providing legal services to individuals, families and small businesses from its offices in Hyde and Woodley, local to Denton.

Divorce & Family Law

Conveyancing

Wills & Probate

At Chronnell Hibbert, our dedicated family department consists of a team of understanding and sympathetic solicitors who are highly qualified in all aspects of family law and specialise in divorce. Whether you need to resolve financial disputes or have issues regarding childcare or domestic violence, we can be of assistance.

We at Chronnell Hibbert understand that buying or moving home is a big investment. Oftentimes the process is stressful and time-consuming. Our property conveyancing solicitors are here to help. We are committed to providing all the support and legal advice you need.

We give specialist advice to the elderly in planning their affairs including Powers of Attorney and minimising their exposure to the local authority taking their assets if they have to go into an elderly persons home. Early advice is recommended in these situations which need to be planned for some time ahead.

For further information please call Anna Perry or David Williams on 0161 368 3434 or email anna.perry@hydesolicitors.co.uk or david.williams@hydesolicitors.co.uk or the team at HT Legal on 0161 368 1559 or email mail@harrisontownend.co.uk Chronnell Hibbert | 18 Reynold Street, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 1LY HT Legal | Clarendon Chambers, 5a Market Place, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 2LX

We also cover other areas of law, to find out more visit www.chronnells-denton.co.uk

New Straight Stairlifts for Sale Was £1250 now only £1000

INCLUDING...

SURVEY, INSTALLATION, EXTENDED WARRANTY to 18 months PLUS our unique Buy Back Option YOU WON’T FIND A BETTER DEAL! (Limited time only) The owner of Liftways LTD, Michael A Downes, established his stairlift company in 2001 bringing to his customers 40 years of experience in the lift industry.

Always offering a personal, professional service and supporting customers in Cheshire since 1972.

Get in touch today!

Suppliers of

www.liftways.com Tel/Fax: 0161 928 9348 Mobile: 07971 476251 Email: admin@liftways.com 2 Astbury Close, Wellington Park, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 8JA

BROOKS_001

The Local Magazine For The Over 50s SUBSCRIPTION FORM BROOKS_004 To receive the next two issues of 50 Plus Magazine hot off the press, either for yourself or to treat a friend, please fill in the form below and post with a cheque for £3.40 made payable to McGrath Media: 6th Floor, 120 Bark Street, Bolton BL1 2AX

Name:..............................................................................

Address:........................................................................... .........................................................................................

BROOKS_007 .........................................................................................

Postcode:........................................................................

Title: 50 Plus Magazine in..............................................

Issue Numbers:...............................................................

Tel:....................................................................................

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk 40

BROOKS_010

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Live independently with peace of mind Carecall is a 24-hour tele-monitoring and response service for older and vulnerable people. Our customers want to live independently, but with the security and peace of mind that someone will always be on hand if help is needed.

Customers are provided with an alarm unit and a pendant which is worn around the neck. If customers are in distress or need help, they simply press the button on the unit or on the pendant and the alarm is raised at our Telecare Centre, where our dedicated call handlers will instantly recognise the caller and deal with their problem.

Emergencies are responded to within minutes by arranging help from a nominated friend, your doctor, emergency services or from our fully trained, friendly mobile wardens. The Carecall service is fully accredited by the Telecare Services Authority.

We will arrange to install the equipment within your home, and show you how to use it – making sure you feel confident and understand it works. 12:07 3374_CARECALL ADVERT 50+.pdf how 1 09/12/2014

We also offer additional services including: •

smoke detectors;

•

fall detectors;

•

flood detectors;

•

wandering client sensors; and

•

key safes.

Carecall staff are on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide help and advice should you need it.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

41

Bankfield House Care Home

Helping you enjoy life

Bankfield House aims to provide residents with a secure, relaxed and homely environment in which their care, well being and comfort is of prime importance.

Our highly trained staff are dedicated carers who value the concept of person centred care.

• Up to 30 residents, 24 single and 3 Twin Rooms • 3 Lounges / 2 Dining Rooms / Large Conservatory • Permanent / Short Term / Respite Stay • Home Made Cooked Food • Social Activities on a Daily Basis • Beautifully Appointed Formal Gardens • Visiting Practicioners

CORE VALUES OF CARE

Privacy Dignity Rights Independence Choice Fulfillment Security Respect Equality

42

• Regular Outings • Weekly Hairdressing • CCTV/ 24hr Security • Day Care Service

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

OUR HOME IS YOUR HOME

PHILOSOPHY OF CARE

Bankfield House is an independent, privately owned Care Home situated in a quiet corner of Woodley in the tranquility of its own attractive landscaped gardens consisting of ponds, bar-be-cue and pergolas.

We aim to provide Residents with a secure, relaxed and homely environment in which their care, well being and comfort is of prime importance.

The Home accommodates 30 Residents requiring High Dependency and Standard Residential Care in 24 single and 3 twin rooms (8 shower en-suite facilities and 7 ensuite toilet, 2 bathrooms and 1 shower room) situated on the ground and first floor, serviced by a passenger lift. Our ethos is to assist our Residents in continuing to live their lives as independently as their specific needs determine by providing holistic care and support conducive to those needs and meeting the needs of those Residents whose conditions have had an impact on the ageing process.

The Home offers dedicated care for Permanent/Short term/Respite stay, Day Care (tailored to your needs) providing each individual Resident with security, dignity and peace of mind in a homely, comfortable and happy family environment.

There are three lounges, a large conservatory and two dining rooms. We operate a NO SMOKING policy within the Home.

We encourage personal choice, with stimulation and freedom to live ones life as far as the individual’s physical ability and/or mental capacity allows.

Carers will strive to preserve and maintain the dignity, individuality and privacy of all our Residents within a warm, caring and happy atmosphere, and in doing so will be sensitive to each Residents’ ever changing needs.

This will be achieved through programmes of activities designed to encourage mental stimulation, self-esteem, and social interaction with other Residents and with recognition of the following core values of care, which are fundamental to the philosophy of our home.

All care staff within the home appropriately qualified to deliver the highest standards of care. A continuous staff training programme is implemented to ensure that these high standards are maintained in line with the latest initiatives and developments in care practices as may be laid down in appropriate legislation, and registration authority guidelines.

Contact our friendly team on:

0161 406 6468

Email: admin@bankfieldcare.co.uk Bankfield House Care Home, Bankfield Road, Woodley, Stockport SK6 1RQ www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

43

OUR ATTITUDE TO OLD AGE AND OLDER PEOPLE Different cultures and societies have different attitudes to Old Age and the Aged. Some cultures revere older people and keep them within families, listen to them and respect their views and opinions on family matters.

Sometimes the grandfather teaches the children and supervise their schooling and education. In case of ‘arranged’ marriages, the grandparents always 44

have a say which is counted seriously.

That said, frictions with older members, parents-in-law etc are also fairly frequent and the younger ‘new-comers’ ie the daughters-in-law do not always get on with the older folks in the family and tend to ‘ignore’ and ‘evade’ them.

In Western societies, the situation is somewhat different. Here most younger people leave their paternal home even before marriage and live separately – no question of any day to day ‘conflict’! The loving relationship, however, continues with regular visits and attendance at times of worry eg illness etc.

So far so good and there is no need to change the traditional systems in any society. But what about the general ‘attitude’ to older people? In the joint /extended family set – up, do the young genuinely love and respect their elders whether outside or within their own families? With a rapidly changing world and general behaviour of people and the values , is some sort of ‘conflict’ inevitable? Politeness and good behaviour may prevent an open warfare but the ‘tension’ remains somewhat tacit. In societies, where the next generation resides separately, the chances of such ‘internal psychological’ tension may remain minimal.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

But again what do the younger people think and feel about the old?

‘Generation’ gap can be filled to a certain degree but the actual styles of living may cause conflict.

What about the general social attitude to the elderly?

Lets forget about specific areas e.g. health-care, but how does the society treat older people? Are they seen as a ‘resource’ of wide experience and knowledge or simply a nuisance always asking for help and assistance? Dependent and frail without any further use to the community! And is it this latter perception that is the root cause of ‘Ageism’ in social life?

Discrimination only based on chronological age is called Ageism! Just like Sexism and Racism, it is an integral part of social attitude. And it is widespread and quite often ‘institutional’ in areas like the Health Service. This ‘attitudinal’ problem is being pointed out and discussed openly in the media. But is it likely to change? A general impression that all ‘older’ people are stupid, poor and chronically sick, may contribute to the development of a ‘negative’ attitude towards the old. It is a ‘fixed and rigid’ view, difficult to eradicate completely. Regular mixing between the old and the young, allowing older people to keep on playing a part in society or even showing some old faces on the TV might help.

As the media e.g. TV, Radio or Newspapers often stigmatise the elderly, perhaps their own attitude ought to change first. The stereotyping of the older people must stop. If this can be achieved, the rest would be a lot easier.

Written by ARUP BANERJEE PROFESSOR ARUP K BANERJEE OBE JP D.Sc(Hon) FRCP (Lond, Edin, Glasg & Irel.) www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Choosing the right care means understanding all your options

That’s why we offer free advice on elderly care to the people that need it – whether you have questions about yourself, a friend or family member.

Our team of specially trained advisors are on hand to answer questions on all aspects of elderly care.

It’s free, you don’t need our health insurance and lines are open seven days a week.

Discover what care could mean for you in Stockport and East Cheshire

Call 46

0333 331 7760† www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

† Lines open Monday and Friday, 8am – 8pm Saturday and Sunday, 9am – 5pm. Calls to 03 numbers from any line are charged at no more than local rates and count towards any inclusive minutes from mobiles.

Fair Price Funerals I N D E P E N D E N T A N D L O C A L We offer a Full Cremation Service for £1950 including all fees, hearse, service and staff.

One fair fixed price at any crematorium...

collection of the deceased who will remain in our professional care at our Chapel of Rest right up to the actual cremation.

The loss of a loved one is always difficult but it shouldn’t be financially worrying.

A dignified Oak Veneer cremation coffin and name plate or plaque are Following completion of the initial supplied. necessary legal documents, we will visit you personally at your home We also supply the hearse and staff address and answer any questions you that will escort you directly to your may have. chosen crematorium or to a family

On receiving and accepting your instructions, we will arrange for the

home and then onward to the crematorium.

Once the coffin has been carried into the crematorium, there will be a 30 minute service for family, friends or a minister to say a few words with up to three pieces of chosen music.

Minister or humanist We can also supply a minister or Humanist Celebrant to hold a service, they charge £150.

A Family car to seat 7.

A limousine for the family is available at a small charge of £150.

Manchester and Stockport 0161 422 0069 Cheshire and Stoke 01625 290027 High Peak and Buxton 01298 660010 Liverpool 0151 736 0068 Sheffield 0114 326 0067

www.cremdirect.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

47 47