The 50+ Show Magazine 2016 by The 50+ Show

The 50+ Show Magazine

NATIONAL HALL, OLYMPIA LONDON Fri-Sat 15-16 July 2016 9.30am to 4.30pm

Visit us on

Stand

Life

begins Prices from

£9.50 per day per person

COME TO OUR STAND TO HEAR ABOUT OUR SHOW SPECIALS

Living Living

Sun Park is an inspiring home-from-home community for active independent singles and couples over 50. A unique complex of self-catering apartments set amidst beautiful tropical gardens with its own on-site cafe, shop, bar, and private pool, in the heart of the popular resort of Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.

· Enjoy a perfect year-round climate · Exclusive private resort for over 50s · Stay for as long as you like* · Safe, secure and friendly community close to all local amenities and shops The unique and welcoming community spirit at Sun Park quickly embraces you and you’ll soon feel part of a much wider group of friends. Sun Park offers safety, security and a ready made group of friends and companions!

Visit www.fabulouslanzarote.com or call our friendly team on 0844 826 8503 *Minimum 7 nights. Calls will cost 7p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge.

47916 SOL] SunPark A4 advert V2.indd 1

Holidays to Sun Park are operated by The air holiday packages and flights shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 10423

28/06/2016 16:33

CONTENTS W

elcome to The 50+ Show Magazine and Show Guide for The 50+ Show in London in July 2016. This is our 10th time at London Olympia, starting in 2007. We hope that you have a positive, re-energising and inspirational day out at The 50+ Show this year. As always, there’s lots to do throughout the day, including our rock climbing wall for all our dare-devil visitors! In this show-guide-magazine you’ll find features on finance, health and more. Please take the time to tell us what you thought of The 50+ Show and of this magazine and be in with a chance to win £25 in M&S vouchers, by taking our quick online survey questionnaire before 25 July. We hope that you’ll tell us what you thought of the show - we really do read every single response. We’d love to read your feedback to help us make The 50+ Show - and magazine - even better next time, for our 10th birthday, 2007-2017!

On behalf of the whole organising team, we hope that you enjoy both The 50+ Show Magazine and The 50+ Show in London!

Dr Robert McCaffrey Editor, show director

On-line survey address: http://50-plus-show.polldaddy.com/s/50-plus-show-london-visitor-survey-2016

The 50+ Show floor plan and A-Z of exhibitors

Where to find the exhibitors you are looking for!

Showcase of selected exhibitors

SHOW PROGRAMMES

8-9

Show programme for FRIDAY

10-11 Show programme for SATURDAY FEATURES

Rosemary Shrager’s recipe for happiness

When Rosemary Shrager turned 40, she reinvented herself as a cook who now manages her own cookery school, has published six books, and enjoys a burgeoning television career. Here’s how she does it: 14

How fraudsters exploit the natural human tendency to trust

The 50+ Show Photography Competition 2016

Winners and runners-up in our photo competition., including photos on this page and on our front and back covers. 23

Get fit with Lady Xsize!

The 50+ Show writing competition winners and runners-up

Back in January we asked our visitors to send in their true stories on the subject of ‘fatherhood’ - and they did not disappoint. Here are the winner and three joint runners-up - all of them likely to bring a lump to the throat!

The 50+ Show Magazine is published by The 50+ Show Company Ltd 50 Reaver House, 12 East Street Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HX Co. Reg. No. 09327126

The 50+ Show Magazine

5 ways flowers make you feel great

Healthy Outdoor Activities on Holiday

The 50+ Awards 2016

Visitors are advised to satisfy themselves as to the bona fides of the exhibitors prior to finalising any transactions. 3

July 2016

SHOW PLAN

A2B Shop (Electric Bikes) Adagio

A&B

Britelite Windows

BT PLC

Red 1-3

Bupa Care Services

Age UK London Trading

Cancer Research UK

Alzheimer’s Research UK

City & Village Tours

Alzheimer’s Society

Co-op Funeralcare

Ambassador Theatre Group

Collette

Attigo Training

Conservatory Insulations

B Perfect Cosmetics

Cultural Breaks

Benslow Music

David Urquhart Travel

Berkeley Parks

Dignity Prepaid Funeral Plans

BIBO

Dominican Republic Tourist Board

Boneco UK

E Rider

Adjustamatic Bed Co.

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

India Tourism

H6-7

Inghams

KĂ¤rcher (UK) Ltd

Lanai Outdoor Living

London Craft Club

London Hearing

Madeira Islands

Merlin 2-in-1 Vac

N1, Red5-6

Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London

M3+M4

Miigen

NutriPot

Oakdale

K3 & K4

Opatra Skincare

B6, G6

Pancreatic Cancer Action

Pensionwise

Pieroth Ltd

Police - Fraud Advice

Professional House Sitters

Qi Wellness

J3-J4

RNIB

Royal Air Force Museum

Scope Group

Serenity Holidays

Silver Travel Advisor

South African Golf Holidays by Luxury Train

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau

Stately Albion Ltd

Park Homes

Sun Park Lanzarote

Susan Fleck Associates

The Body Doctor Ltd

Thornton and Baines

Titan Travel

Explore Worldwide

TLH Leisure Resort

Eyejusters

Travel sphere & Just You

Falklands Islands Tourist Board

Triangle Community Services

Financial Ombudsman Service

U3A

F10

Fish Insurance

Veggetti

Fortina Spa Resort

Vine Vera

Future Legal Services Ltd

Vision Hotels

Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors LLP

Visit Benidorm

Girlings Retirement Rentals

Western Union

Guide Dogs

WSL Willwriting Service Ltd

K5+K6

Yakult UK Ltd

W3-6

Hilltop Gardens Retirement Village - Malta

Your Choice

A4 & A5

Incognito Anti-Mosquito

Hidden Hearing

The 50+ Show Magazine

The show organisers can be found on Red 4 5

July 2016

COMPETITIONS

Featured exhibitors

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ATTIGO, Stand P4

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM, Stand U1

ATTIGO is a digital skills training company that helps adults gain confidence in using computers, tablets and the internet. We are passionate about reducing the technological exclusion faced by those in the digital age. Our mission is to improve the understanding of technology in society by offering basic computer training and internet courses for adults. Unlike other training providers, we offer a complete Learning Journey which includes workshop sessions, an e-Learning platform and ongoing support from an ATTIGO tutor. Website: www.attigo-training.com

With two great sites in North London and Shropshire, the Royal Air Force Museum provides a free, fantastic day out for the whole family. On display across our two sites are over 175 historic aircraft from around the globe, together with other artefacts and memorabilia such as uniforms, medals, RAF vehicles, paintings and missiles – all complemented by interactive kiosks and booths which bring the exciting world of aviation to life. Visit : www.rafmuseum.org London Address: The Royal Air Force Museum London Grahame Park Way, Colindale, London, NW9 5LL Telephone : 020 8205 2266 Email: london@rafmuseum.org Cosford Address: The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP, Telephone : 01902 376 200 Email: cosford@rafmuseum.org

GEOFFREY LEAVER SOLICITORS, Stand F6 Making a Lasting Power of Attorney puts you in control if there comes a time when you can no longer make decisions about your everyday life. Don’t assume your relatives can just walk into a bank and access your money, even if it is to help you. We at Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors can help you to make a Lasting Power of Attorney to appoint someone you trust to look after your affairs when you are unable to do so. Visit stand F6 or call 01908 689317. www.geoffreyleaver.com

SUN PARK LANZAROTE, Stand Z3 Sun Park is an inspiring home-from-home community for active independent singles and couples over 50. A unique complex of self-catering apartments set amidst beautiful tropical gardens with its own café, shop, bar and private pool, in the heart of the popular resort of Playa Blanca, Lanzarote. Enjoy a perfect year-round climate in an exclusive private resort. This safe, secure and friendly community is close to all local amenities and shops and, better still, you can stay for as long as you like. The unique and welcoming community spirit at Sun Park quickly embraces you and you’ll soon feel part of a much wider group of friends. Come and experience all that Fabulous Lanzarote has to offer.

GIRLINGS, Stand P3 Girlings offer a variety of housing options across the UK to the active 55+ age group. When you rent a retirement property through Girlings, services and property maintenance are included in the rent allowing you to budget effectively. The majority of developments offer communal facilities and a house manager is on hand for help and advice. Reassurance and peace of mind are covered through the 24 hour emergency call line. Discover the freedom renting in retirement can bring... Tel: 0800 525 184 www.girlings.co.uk Girlings Retirement Rentals Limited, Glanville House Frobisher Way, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6BB

SUSAN FLECK ASSOCIATES, Stand D3 Providing Independent Financial advice we offer a bespoke service to the ‘Baby Boomers’ across the UK about pre- and post-retirement planning. Pension changes in 2015 means there is a bewildering choice in pensions - we remove the mystique. We also offer advice on post-Brexit tax efficient investments, succession planning and Inheritance Tax mitigation. Your initial consultation is free, so make the most of your retirement years and speak to us on stand D3 without obligation. It may save you money. Susan Fleck Associates Ltd. 46 Throwley Way Sutton Surrey SM1 4AF Tel: 0208 722 0860, email Rob@susanfleck.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL HOUSE SITTERS, Stand X5 PHS is a fantastic new service which enables home owners and house sitters to enjoy the benefits of stress free travel. For home owners, our house sitters, all of whom have current police checks, will look after your home and pets, giving you peace of mind while you’re away. For sitters, it’s a great way to travel the world rent free while living like a local in family homes. Our annual membership of Euro120 offers exceptional value for money. Visit our website www.professionalhouse-sitters.com

TLH LEISURE RESORT, Stand X4 Perfectly situated in the heart of Torquay, TLH Leisure Resort has everything you could want from a UK break. Four quality 3 star hotels combine with outstanding on-site leisure facilities, plus yearround nightly entertainment - and all just 400 yards from the sea. On sunny English Riviera days, enjoy 2 outdoor pools and spacious sun terraces, or if the weather lets you down, there’s the Aztec Falls indoor pools complex, or the luxury Aztec Spa – a haven of holiday pampering. TLH Leisure Resort, Belgrave Road, Torquay TQ2 5HS. Tel: 01803 400500 Email: rooms@tlh.co.uk Web: www.tlh.co.uk

TRIANGLE COMMUNITY SERVICES, Stand L2 Triangle Community Services, a registered charity, provides home care services across North London, Surrey, Essex, Worcestershire and Dorset. Our motto is ‘your home, your care, your way’ and we offer the support you need to live independently and in your own home for as long as possible. We support people across the south east with a range of care, from personal care to shopping and cleaning. For more information visit www.triangle.care, call us on 01273 789342 or email info@triangle.care The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

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COMPETITIONS

FRIDAY 15 JULY Seminars

12.30 - 14.30

10.00 - 12.30

Start time

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Sponsored by

Money Matters Seminar Theatre

Travel Seminar Theatre

Health Seminar Theatre

10.15 EXHIBITION TIME

11.00 Lasting Powers of Attorney: Protecting myself and my assets

11.00 Choosing your First Cruise

10.45 Miigen the story of your life stored as a Digital Capsule, v

Speaker: Silver Travel Advisor’s Alan Fairfax

Speaker: Dagmara Kulczykowska, Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors LLP

11.45 Adagio – Holidays with Character

11.45 Making sense of end of life planning v

Speakers: Helen Nelson, Product Manager

Speaker – Alan McAloon, Head of Estate Planning, Future Legal Services

and Tony Maniscalco, Marketing and PR Manager

Speaker: Craig J Lemmon, CEO of Miigen

11.30 Gardening Question and Answer Time

Panel consists of gardening experts Geoff Hawkins, Paul Harrison, Neil Miller and Brian Fisher.

12.30 FREE PRIZE QUIZ!

12.30 - 14.30

12.30 The Devil in YOUR details Speaker: Tony Blake, Senior Fraud Prevention Officer, Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit

13.15 FIVE Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do Online for Free Speaker: Sabrina Huish, ATTIGO

Speaker: Gillian Girling, Chief Executive

14.15 Planning for the future to leave more behind Dignity Funeral Plans

15.00 Be Fraud Smart with Western Union Speaker: Gavin Peniston-Bird, Regional Fraud Risk Manager-Europe, Western Union

13.15 Dementia Friends Information Session Speaker: Dementia Champion, Alzheimer’s Society

of Girlings Retirement Rentals Ltd

13.15 Turn your Holiday Experience into a Life Experience Speaker: Adam J. Jackson, Author of The Ethos & the bestselling Secrets of

Speaker: Mark Hull, Head of Marketing,

14.30 - 16.30

12.30 Lock up and leave – Discover the freedom renting in retirement can bring.

Abundance series

14.15 The Key to Better Hearing & Health for Life Speaker: Dr Hilary Jones

14.15 JAN LEEMING , TV broadcaster, author, actress and presenter and Just You Ambassador speaking about:

15.00 Find work at 50+

15.30 EXHIBITION TIME

· Single travellers · Myths & barriers about travelling solo as part of a group · How to overcome these barriers · What companies like Just You are able to offer v

15.30 EXHIBITION TIME

Speaker: Denise Taylor, award winning career psychologist, personal branding strategist & author. Denise is the author of ‘You’re Hired: Find Work at 50+.’ Find Denise at: www.amazingpeople.co.uk

v Signed by a BSL Interpreter The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

In association with

Cookery Theatre

Performance Stage & Dancefloor

10.30 Intro to English Paper Piecing

10.15 Keep fit with LadyXsize

11.15 Wok Cooking @ Home

12.30 Laurynas Pausa

10.30 Flower Arranging Workshop with Morgan Nuth, Old Oak Florist and Flying Flowers 12.00 Decoupage 11.45 Medau Group

13.30 Arm Knitting

12.30 Enchorus Gospel Choir

14.00 Flower Arranging Workshop with Morgan Nuth, Old Oak Florist and Flying Flowers

13.15 Keep fit with LadyXsize 14.00 Dance! dance! dance! with dance instructor Gemma Morton

15.00 Design and Print a Pocket Square, London Craft Club

15.00 Enchorus Gospel Choir

13.45 Wok Cooking @ Home

15.00 Laurynas Pausa v

“I have created kitchenHEIST to help people, like YOU, gain the confidence and learn new things in the kitchen. It does not matter whether you want to cook better family dinners or host a fancy dinner party, we are here to help all levels of home cooks.” Find out more here: www.kitchenheist.co.uk

Start your creative journey with one of London Craft Club’s workshops, socials or events! For more information, visit:

v Signed by a BSL Interpreter The 50+ Show Magazine

15.30 Dance! dance! dance! with Dance instructor Gemma Morton

14.30 - 16.30

www.flyingflowers.co.uk

12.30 - 14.30

Head Chef and owner of KitchenHeist Cookery and one of TryMyKitchen’s most popular chefs, specialising in various cuisines. His knowledge of healthy cooking and flavour combinations will be handy for any event!

10.00 - 12.30

10.15 EXHIBITION TIME

Craft Zone

Start time

SATURDAY 16 JULY Features

www.londoncraftclub.co.uk

July 2016

CELEBRITY CORNER

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Rosemary Shrager

Rosemary Shrager will share her manifesto for happiness this Saturday at 2pm on the Performance Stage. When Rosemary Shrager turned 40, she reinvented herself as a cook who now manages her own cookery school, has published six books, and enjoys a burgeoning television career. Known for her energy, enthusiasm for life and infectious good humour, here’s how she does it: Never stop learning, it keeps you relevant and fresh. Once you get past fifty, you need to grow or you’ll start to shrink.

5 minutes with Rosemary... Q: You must have such a busy life, when was the last time you had a holiday? A: I had a few days with my grandchildren recently,

It’s okay to spearhead a new career at the same time your contemporaries are thinking of retiring. Work is powerful and exciting.

which was heaven, but then of course last year was busy combining travel with television on The Real Marigold Hotel. It was a blast!

What you lack in energy, you gain in stamina and life experience. (We know the shortcuts.)

Q: What are you looking forward to at The 50+ Show A: Well I’m intrigued actually, and looking forward to

Grandchildren are an enduring delight - love every minute you spend with them, then give them back and have a G&T!

having a good look round, particularly the travel area. I feel very positively about a show that’s specifically tailored to an older age group. Not everything should be targeting the youth.

Forget any received ideas about what it means to grow older, chart your own path and go with what you feel is right for you.

Q: What’s next for Rosemary Shrager? A: Such a busy time at the cookery school – I’ve

Travel whenever possible. Experience new places and people - their culture, food and architecture – see as much as you can.

recently partnered with the Hadlow Group so we can give our young apprentices the best possible opportunities right at the beginning of their careers. Television is busier than ever, I’ve got another series for BBC2 coming up – I’m off to Japan and Florida, plus I’ll be filming another Chopping Block with the lovely John Whaite. At this moment however, I’m busy with preparations for my one woman show that will be travelling around the country, which is exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure! v

Enjoy good food and the company of friends whenever possible (ideally, simultaneously). And remember that friends can be of any age. Laugh as much as possible, always, it’s the essence of life.

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

CELEBRITY CORNER

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The Rosemary Shrager and Hadlow Group Cookery School Rosemary Shragerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cookery school, as you would expect, is luxurious, beautifully equipped and situated in picturesque Royal Tunbridge Wells, close to where she lives. There are a host of day or weekend courses for cooks of all abilities, from the complete novice to the highly skilled. Alternatively, for those for whom cooking is more of a viewing pleasure, try the Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Table, a 5 course tasting menu dinner and exclusive dining experience for up to ten guests who watch while the (friendly) chef creates culinary magic. www.rosemaryshrager.com Telephone 01892 528 700

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

MONEY MATTERS

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How fraudsters exploit the natural human tendency to trust Tony Blake – Senior Fraud Prevention Officer, Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU)

undreds of thousands of people become victims of fraud every year. One in every ten people are estimated to have been a victim of financial fraud, with over £750 million being lost to fraudsters last year. To commit their crimes, the fraudsters need one vital tool – your personal details. While criminals do sometimes use the latest technology to steal our data, one of the most common methods I see has actually been going on for centuries. Using simple confidence tricks or deception crimes, fraudsters attempt to get people to part with their personal information. As banks use increasingly sophisticated security system, fraudsters are turning more and more to targeting consumers directly through unsolicited approaches by phone, text, email and in person. Pretending they’re from the bank, the police, a mobile phone provider or a range of other trusted bodies, these criminals are using sophisticated techniques to persuade people to give away their personal and financial details. The fraudsters may even ask you to transfer money to what they claim is a ‘safe account’ because they say your bank account is at risk. The scams often sound almost too simple too be true. How could someone just give away their security details or even hand their money straight to a fraudster? “People must be stupid to fall for it” is something I hear a lot of when I’m at events just like The 50+ Show. So why – on an almost daily basis – do we hear of another person being tricked by these conmen? I’ve heard recording of these fraudsters at work and they are extremely professional and sound very convincing. Their techniques play on a natural trait that is built within all of us. A trait that can be as positive as it is threatening. That trait is trust. Trust, in psychology, is seen as our default status. We all naturally trust other people, unless we are given a good reason not to. When someone calls, texts or emails us, we naturally believe they are who they say they are. And if they’ve already got a little bit of information about us, maybe our name or address, then we’re even more trusting. So what can you do to avoid becoming a victim of

The 50+ Show Magazine

fraud? First, if you get any phone calls, texts or emails out of the blue asking for your personal or financial details then be on your guard. Before you do anything, take five minutes to think carefully about the situation. Many victims of fraud have said that as soon as they put the phone down or sent the email they thought something was suspicious. Perhaps if they have taken five minutes to think about it first, the outcome might have been different. If you’re at all concerned about what you’re being asked to do, then hang up the phone, and do not reply to the text or email. Instead contact your bank on a number that you trust – such as the one on the back of your bank card – to report it. Remember – people aren’t always who they say they are. Taking those five minutes to think about it will help you spot the crooks.

Top tips on staying safe from fraud

• Be extremely wary of phone calls, texts or emails which come out of the blue asking for personal or financial details, regardless of who they claim to represent. • Are you being asked to verify yourself? Shouldn’t you be verifying who you are talking to? Call them back on a number that you know is correct, not a number you have been given to call. People are not always who they say they are. Never feel pressurised into making a rapid response, since scammers will sometimes try to hurry you into taking action. A genuine organisation will always give you the time you need to make an informed decision • Telephone numbers and text messages can easily be spoofed. You should never trust the number you see on your telephone display. You should not respond to text messages even if they appear in a thread of genuine messages. Fraudsters can easily create these messages and make them appear that they come from your bank, phone provider or anywhere else. Do not click into links in these messages. • Criminals may already have some information about you in their possession, for example your name, address, account details. Do not assume that a call, text message or email is genuine just because they have these details or because they claim to represent a le-

July 2016

MONEY MATTERS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------gitimate organisation you use or a person that you know. • End a situation if you feel uncomfortable. Call the Police on 999 if you feel threatened or in immediate danger. • Being asked to keep something quiet should always raise suspicion. It is important that you feel you can discuss financial agreements with family or friends so that you can get a second opinion. • Falling victim to a scam can be devastating. Scams can have serious financial and emotional consequences for victims, and can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, fear and anxiety. Please know that you are not alone in falling for a scam. • If you think you have been the victim of a fraud or scams of this nature you should call your bank or card company immediately. You should also report the matter to Action Fraud at http://www.actionfraud. police.uk/report_fraud or on 0300 123 2040. • If you want to contact Action Fraud on behalf of a vulnerable victim, they will provide an enhanced service to help. Please make it clear that you are contacting them on behalf of a vulnerable victim. For further information and advice relating to fraud v visit www.financialfraudaction.org.uk

COMPETITIONS AT THE 50+ SHOW Come to the Bupa stand K9 and enter our FREE prize draw for your chance to win a KINDLE! The winner will be announced at the end of Saturday’s show! Come along and find out more details at the stand! Win £50 John Lewis Voucher! Visit the Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors stand F6 to enter the FREE PRIZE Draw! Simply fill in the entry form and drop it into the entry box on Stand No. F6. Don’t forget to pick up your complimentary trolley coin. Terms and conditions apply. Win £100 Marks and Spencer Vouchers! Visit Girlings at Stand P3 to enter our free competition! Simply fill in your details and post it in the entry box on our stand! Terms and conditions apply.

MONEY MATTERS SEMINARS sponsored by Dignity Prepaid Funeral Plans

Helping you plan ahead to leave more behind Call us free on

0800 151 3595

dignityfuneralplans.co.uk

The 50+ Show Magazine

e For your Fre g in n n la P l ra Fune s u on Guide, visit

1 STAND D

July 2016

THE 50+ SHOW PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION Winners & Runners-up Overall winner: Swan Dripping Water -Â David Bannister

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION WINNERS

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‘Expression’ category winner Newborn Bliss - Jennifer Nisbet

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION WINNERS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SOME OF OUR OTHER FAVOURITE ‘EXPRESSIONS’ ENTRIES Judi Saunders

Brothers in race Harry Shakeshaft

Dorothy Crichton Marion’s House, 1985 ‘Mum & Nan’ Susan Langabeer

Worldwide Adventures Explore the world… …choose from 500 trips in 120 countries

Seven fantastic destinations with the holiday specialists

Come and visit us at stand R4

 Small group trips, Self-guided holidays, Private departures & Tailor-made options  Cultural Discovery, Walking, Cycling, Families, Wildlife & Polar Voyages  Perfect for solo travellers – no compulsory supplements

The Gambia • Senegal • Cape Verde Goa • Corsica • Sardinia • Sicily

Visit us on stand S1 to

SAVE UP TO £50

WIN A HOLIDAY!

on any trip*

 Award-winning Explore Leaders  35 years’ travel industry experience

*Book by 16th October 2016 – offer terms and conditions apply, see leaflet on stand or visit explore.co.uk/50show.

Call: 01252 883 443 Visit: explore.co.uk/50show

The 50+ Show Magazine

16S017 50+ show advert.indd 1

20/06/2016 13:04

July 2016

JUST SHARING....

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION WINNERS

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SOME OF OUR OTHER FAVOURITE ENTRIES

Chunk and Dad Margaret Carvalho

David Richardson

Ken Windsor

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION WINNERS

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Judi Saunders

Ken Windsor

Only Natural category winner Waxwing London Ealing - Les McCallum

JUST SHARING....

SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE ‘ONLY NATURAL’ ENTRIES

Greg Bradbury

Diana Speller

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

JUST SHARING....

SOME OF OUR OTHER FAVOURITE ‘ONLY NATURAL’ ENTRIES

Sea Barrier- Margaret Carvalh

TerryKnowles

Seasonal colours

OUR FAVOURITE ‘SEASONAL COLOURS’ ENTRIES

Bittern WW T London Les McCallum

Nigel Walker Winner: Midsummer Sunset over Jura David Bannister

David Shuttleworth Nigel Walker

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

Do you REALLY know who you are sending money to? BE INFORMED. BE AWARE. IMPORTANT TIPS: Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person and confirm emergency situations are real before sending money. Learn More on our website (www.wu.com/fraudawareness) or by following us on facebook (facebook.com/WesternUnion) and Twitter (@WUStopFraud) If you think you are a victim of fraud, call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 0800 026 0309.

HOOP your way with LadyXsize! Now, we can all remember spinning a hula hoop as a child, it so much fun! Tricky though, as a hula hoop is very light and spinning it is a challenge: Enter the Powerhoop Slim. This is a weighted fitness hoop and is designed for the more mature and sensitive user. It’s 3lbs in weight and is super easy to put together. Hooping is such a good way to stay trim, and here’s why. 1. Hooping tones your deep core abdominal muscles. The main one, the Transverse abdominus, has a corset effect, so toning this will help with spinal stability. 2. Pelvic floor muscle tone. As we get older we lose tone in this area. Events like childbirth take their toll, so the better tone we have here, the more likely we are to stave off inconveniences such as incontinence. 3. A full body cardiovascular workout. Hooping will get your heart rate up and improve blood circulation. This is good for heart health, metabolism and hormones and could help to lower your risk of maladies such as cardiovascular disease. 4. Burning calories. It’s exercise, which means you will need fuel to do it. 5. It’s Fun! I loved this hoop so much that I created a home workout with it. Check it out on my website, www.ladyxsize.com, where you can pick up the Hoop and Home Workout DVD, with lots of tips and advice, or find it on QVC. Happy Hooping!! The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

TRUE STORY WINNER

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The Reunion True story by Jim Rumsey,

winner of this year’s writing competition on the subject of ‘fathers.’

had not seen him for a while – was it fifteen months or so? Probably because of that, I was not prepared for the shuffling gait as he entered the bar. I knew he had suffered a stroke, I had visited him in hospital on his road to recovery. The last time I had held a conversation with him he had begun to speak more clearly, if slowly, than in the aftermath of the stroke when he had barely been able to utter a sound.

could not tell me then when I would be able to join another ship. I was told to report to them once a week. I found some digs in the Rocks area by the port. That way, also, I would be able to see if any ships arrived.” I noticed that his glass was empty and had it refilled. “The weeks soon became months,” he continued. “In the end I gave the consul my address and told them to get in touch with me! In the meantime, I had made good friends with a local hotel owner and eventually he gave me a job serving drinks and beer. My waiter’s experience proved very valuable.”

Was this the father of whom I had such limited memories? Apart from his career as a merchant seaman which meant he was away far more than at home, he and my mother had separated – and then finally divorced – when I was still at Junior School.

“But, you were – what – twenty two years old,” I queried. “Were there any ‘distractions’ in that time?”

Although I did not know it for many years later, his mother – my grandmother – had applied successfully to social services to act as my guardian. This meant that I was always within ‘touching distance’ of my father although he was rarely there. Ultimately he had remarried and raised another family that contained four children. I never felt marginalised since that marriage had happened away from my grandmother’s home and I just got on with my life.

“Here we were, two men of the world. His life had been full of incident.”

It was the ‘and other things’ that captured my attention. He was a year alone with no responsibilities. I tried to think of myself in the same situation. But more pointedly I was about to visit the city where he had been all alone some forty years before. How could I phrase it? Eventually, I asked directly, “Am I in for any surprises when I get there?”

Now here I was meeting him in a local pub after getting in touch with him to see how he was. “My wife and I are off to Australia for a holiday,” I began, “you must have been there in your sailing days.”

I know that he knew what I meant. Here we were, two men of the world. His life had been full of incident. I knew that he had spent time in prison in Argentina in the 1950s when he had been caught smuggling cigarettes to British prisoners held by the Peron regime. There were other adventures and stories I had heard over the years. Now, looking at his rather frail man who had shuffled into the bar, I thought how virile and active he must have been in his twenties.

“Too true,” he replied with just the slightest hint of slurred speech. “I know Sydney particularly well, for I spent over a year there.” My interest grew because we were intending to stay in Sydney for a few days. “When was that?” I enquired. “We went to pick up some Australian soldiers during the war. I managed to get appendicitis and was rushed to the hospital. The ship sailed while I was recovering. I went to the local consulate and explained the position. They were sympathetic but explained that because of the war conditions and the necessity for secrecy they The 50+ Show Magazine

“Well. It is true that as soon as I got my strength back and what with so many Aussie young men going to the war, I found myself in demand for dances and other things.”

“Any surprises?” he repeated. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said, as he sheepishly raised his glass to his lips. For a brief moment, the father I had known in his prime re-surfaced, as I caught the twinkle in his eye. v 24

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Carrots for Christmas

True story by Ann Wilson, runner-up winner of this year’s writing competition

he carrot in my hand would never win a carrot beauty contest. It will never join the ranks of shiny, attractive vegetables in the local supermarket, or appear in a TV advert, or star in a cookery show, but as I gaze at its knobbly face and green hair, it’s the most beautiful carrot in the world to me.

“If all he had left in the world was a fiver and you needed it, he would give it to you without hesitation.” were sent to soldiers and patients smoked in hospitals. His health had never been good, but amazingly his positive outlook beat the cancer.

I am performing my usual Christmas Eve task of preparing vegetables for the traditional feast. A familiar carol plays on the radio and I am transported back to my childhood, sitting at my dad’s feet as he sang us a song about a little boy that Santa Clause forgot. On reflection, the song probably meant a great deal to my dad. His own childhood as the eldest of eight was far from happy, but my brother John and I just loved hearing dad sing and were thankful that we were not that little boy.

When given the all-clear he was determined to not waste his chance. Having had a close call, he paid for and arranged his funeral so that when the time came no one else would have to shoulder the burden. He ensured the house was decorated and in good order for my mum. He gave, as he had always done, to all of his grandchildren and to John and myself, everything he could.

Dad had a good voice. His Al Jolson impression was legendary and he was the star turn of the Review shows performed by the nursing staff at the psychiatric hospital where he worked. He loved his nursing role and was heartbroken when the ‘Care in the Community’ policy forced the hospital to close. His passion for his job was typical of many of the things he did. I remember watching fiercely competitive table tennis games, a dining room filled with water colours, handmade cards and easels during his artist phase, observing him patiently making fishing flies and pondering the merits of different rods, coming home to cook his catch. Giving his all to each new hobby.

He gave up smoking and researched as much as possible without the aid of Google, although he did have a go at joining the digital age. True to form he bought a computer and printer and taught himself how to use them. He decided that the way forward was definitely home-grown organic vegetables. The back garden was set to work. Every patch available was given new soil, fertilised and tilled within an inch of its life. Carrots, potatoes, onions and sprouts were lovingly planted. Glass domed nurseries cherished young seedlings. No weed dared to raise its head above the loamy brown carpet, or tangle its limbs with the roots of the precious legumes. Strange homemade foul-looking concoctions, many smelling of fish, were sprinkled as offerings of nourishment. Dad was excited and proud and shared his greatest wish of the whole family sitting down to Christmas dinner, eating his very own home grown organic vegetables.

He started running when he was well into his fifties and considered himself lucky to complete the London marathon twice. He was a very generous man. If all he had left in the world was a fiver and you needed it he would give it to you without hesitation. He started a football team for the local lads, buying kit and equipment with his own pension, turning blue with cold as he cheered on the side lines.

My thoughts return once again to the carrot before me, and its misshaped companions waiting on my work top. We will be eating dad’s hard won vegetables this Christmas day, but the whole family will not be enjoying the feast. Stomach cancer defeated dad in a devastating six weeks. He did not see the full fruits of his labour, and will not taste their sweetness.

I think back to the chilling phone call when he told me he had been diagnosed with Leukaemia, the smile in his voice as he tried to make light of it. Dad was the life and soul of the cancer ward, laughing and joking with the nurses despite the hell and suffering caused by strong chemotherapy. He had been a heavy smoker since the age of 14, a byproduct of a different era when cigarettes The 50+ Show Magazine

His legacy of loving and giving will be with us at the v table however, as I dry my tears and start to chop. 25

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HMS Icarus 1-class destroyer

True story by Les McCallum

remember as a young boy of around eight years old, standing in the queue for Saturday morning pictures. I was at the Odeon Peckham and was retelling to a friend a story that my dad had told me. My Dad, Sydney Ramsey McCallum, a sailor on H.M.S. Icarus, had followed a German submarine for some time and eventually got close enough to drop depth charges above it. A massive explosion from below was followed by a plume of bubbles, oil and debris which spread out on the surface. From this huge mess of flotsam up popped the German Captain, completely un harmed. The crew pulled him aboard and waited for other survivors - but none appeared. The Captain was then taken aboard as a prisoner of war. My dad was the hero when this story was told. This of course was just a few years after the end of the second

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Later on in my life, I began to think that perhaps this was just a made up story told to a young lad who was eager to know what his Dad did in the war.â&#x20AC;? world war. In fact Dad never said much about the war or his experiences and I only managed in later years to get him to write a few pages about his life and experiences onboard ship. Later on in my life, I began to think that perhaps this

Picture: The crew of H.M.S Icarus. Sidney Ramsey McCallum bottom row 4th from right, and opposite.

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------was just a made-up story, told to a young lad who was eager to know what his Dad did in the war. Whoever heard of someone surviving the huge pressures from the bottom of the sea bed?

H.M.S. Icarus along with the corvette H.M.S Mignonette were in the vicinity when the S.S. George Hawley was hit. She and another destroyer managed to locate the submarine responsible and scored direct hits on her with a hedgehog [anti submarine weapon] and two depth charges.

Just a few years ago I visited the Imperial War Museum with my brother-in-law Chas. A little way inside I noticed a counter with the sign ‘Enquiries. I said to Chas, “Hang on, while we are here I am going to enquire about the H.M.S. Icarus.” Within a few minutes all relevant information was written down and given to a curator and I was asked to return in an hour.

And here is the part that gave me goose pimples: “Subsequently, a large amount of wooden wreckage, oil and large air bubbles were observed and one survivor rescued.

The museum is a wonderful place to visit and some four hours later as we were leaving Chas reminded me about my enquiries. We returned to the counter not expecting much.

The submarine was later identified as UB1199.” The only survivor was listed as Friedrich Claussen, not the Captain as Dad thought but the navigator.

“Ah yes, Mr McCallum, we do have some information for you.”

He had been ordered by the German commanding officer Rolf Nollman to open the hatch. This proved hard to do, but suddenly it exploded open, sending him quickly to the surface. The fact that he was the only person to be wearing his life jacket undoubtably saved him.

With that, he called over another member of staff and we were taken through some side doors and up to a library. All was very quiet inside as we were passed on to a lady librarian who then led us to a table on which several books lay open and various documents were laid out. We were then invited to be seated and told that if we needed to photocopy any-thing to just let her know.

The full list of those that did not survive was also available and it made me shiver. In all, 48 young submariners, mostly 21 to 23 years old, had died in a most dreadful way, just a little way off the Scilly Isles.

Here it was in front of me; all the history of the destroyer H.M.S. Icarus. I got to the point where the ship was sent to be modified as an Anti Submarine escort destroyer: When completed in 1943 she was transferred to the Western Approaches Command as a unit of escort group C2. In 1944, after a 30 hour chase, the German U Boat 744 was forced to the surface and sunk after taking aboard the crew as prisoners.

Incidentally the Captain of H.M.S. Icarus was Colin Maud, who was the Juno beach master at the D-day landings. Kenneth Moore played his part in the film ‘The longest day.’ What had been told to me by Dad, nearly 60 years ago was absolutely true! When I now see wartime footage of ships in mountainous seas, fierce battles and ship after ship exploding and then sinking within minutes in freezing conditions, I am so thankful that I for one didn’t live through that war, or any other war come to that.

The following year on 21st January 1945 the American ship S.S. George Hawley was torpedoed while part of convoy TBC43. She was holed in the engine room but managed to stay afloat and was later towed to Falmouth.

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We Baby Boomers truly are such a lucky generation.v

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My Dad was a hero True story by Cecil Lowry

family would not have been able to buy in post war Britain because of the rationing still in place. When he tipped them all out of his kit bag onto the kitchen table, their mouths opened wide with surprise: they had not seen such luxuries since before the war. Of course his family and friends would quiz him about his experiences in the Far East and what it was like to be free again. The only words he could find to reply to such questions was to thank God for looking after him and to say, “Think to yourself: water is there for you at the turn of a tap; bread, butter, beans, milk, eggs, a cup of tea, an aspirin. Deprive yourself of them for even two or three weeks. Add in some bashings and a few deadly diseases. Take away your freedom to walk, talk and do what you like, when and where you like. Maybe you might just get a glimmer of what freedom means to me.” They would just nod their head in amazement. After his traumatic experiences in the Far East, life in the beautiful little county town of Downpatrick was idyllic for my dad. My grandmother cooked him the most wonderful meals and his young sister Patricia worshipped her elder brother. With his back army pay he was able to help the family with the household bills and was able to afford the luxuries of post war life, especially the local hostelries of Downpatrick. Getting a job was not important as he enjoyed his much sought-after freedom. Unfortunately, he had forgotten what life was like out of uniform and it was obvious to his family that the horrific experiences were still playing on his mind. He would spend most days in the pubs and would often stagger home in a drunken state shooting Japanese soldiers. Whilst post-war Downpatrick was not exactly the West End, there was a lively dancing scene, particularly in the church halls and sports clubs. Of course with his dark good looks and plenty of available cash, he was popular with the girls. There was one attractive brunette however who had caught his eye on several occasions and eventually he plucked up the courage to ask her out. One of five sisters, she curbed his drinking, persuaded him to get a job and was eventually to become my mum. Army back pay of course did not last forever and as he had been trained as a driver, he obtained a job driving a fuel tanker supplying the expanding petrol stations in Ulster. Of course with his new job and the influence of my mum, his drinking was considerably reduced and with his traumatic memories fading, he settled down into a much more stable lifestyle. On boxing day 1946, he married my mum and on 12 March 1948 I entered the world. I was the apple of his eye for the next 42 years until he died of cancer in 1990. “Why me, after all I have gone though” were his last words. The fall of Singapore on 14 February 1942 was said by many to be Britain’s greatest military defeat. 137,00 Allied soldiers including my dad were taken prisoner on that fateful day. They have often been dubbed cowards for surrendering, but they had little choice as history will tell you. v My dad was not a coward, but a hero and I’m proud of him.

On the 16th August 1945 my dad was languishing in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp near Kanchanaburi, Thailand. For the previous three and a half years he had suffered at the hands of a brutal and ruthless foe. More than 90,000 men had died building the infamous Thai/ Burma railway and he himself had been close to death on several occasions. On that day the Japanese camp commander strode into my dad’s hut and said in broken English: “All waru pinish, u men to Englando and make babies.” He was closely followed by a Japanese interpreter who calmly informed the men, “Two huge bombs have been dropped by the Americans, killing many Japanese people. The Imperial Japanese Army has surrendered. It is very bad,” he said, “Japan is appealing to the United Nations.” After four years of hell, it dawned on my father that perhaps he might just see his family again back in Ireland. Yet he was fearful of such a thought as it had become so ingrained in his mind over the past three and a half years that a violent and painful death was inevitable. His hopes of survival had been dashed so many times that he simply refused to believe these men, for whom he held such hate. A senior British Officer came into the hut and confirmed that the Japanese had indeed surrendered. Many of the men knelt down to pray, others were shouting and some were crying, some didn’t move at all and those who were too weak to move just lay there staring up at the ceiling. They were all going home. From Chungkai camp, my dad was transported by train to Bangkok and from there flown to Rangoon before finally boarding the SS Ormonde, arriving into Southampton on 24th November 1945. It had been seven long years since he left England with the East Surrey regiment, as a fresh-faced 21 year old. He was now 28 and felt as though he had left his youth behind in those stinking prison camps in the Far East and that he was now an old man. It was a truly emotional moment when he stepped off the Liverpool/Belfast ferry onto Irish soil again. He dropped to his knees and kissed the damp concrete, breathing in the cool Ulster air. He was really home. An hour later he was alighting from the train in Downpatrick station and walking the 300 yards up Market Street to the family home in Saul Street, carrying all his worldly possessions in his kit bag. My grandparents, aunt and uncles, were unaware that their son and brother was arriving that day, even though they had been informed by telegram that he had been released. Details of exact travel arrangements were not possible in a Britain that was still recovering from the after-effects of the war. Tears flowed freely in the Lowry house that day when my father was reunited with his family - a very emotional time. Four of the Lowry boys had served King and country in WW2 and all had returned home unscathed, much to the delight of my grandmother and grandfather. On the journey home my dad had accumulated all sorts of luxuries; sweets, chocolates, cigarettes and many other small items which the The 50+ Show Magazine

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So, thanks Dad True story by David Shuttleworth

‘

You’re turning into your Dad’ is a phrase many of us dread as it’s usually said in a negative way.

My father didn’t share much of my creative, sensitive nature and the only comment of encouragement that I remember from him was- ‘is that the best you can do at your age?’ But I now also think about the way he introduced me to the outdoors - camping and mountain climbing and making a bike seat so he could take me on his epic cycling days out through hidden moorland villages and quiet country lanes, ending up with huge shared pots of tea in cyclists’ cafes. This shaped me as much as the constant bickering did and led to my obsession with travelling and adventurous outdoor pursuits. I’ve been round the world twice and at 58, I still don’t own a car but brave the elements and explore those country lanes on my trusty bicycle. The highlight of my foreign trips is often renting a rickety brakeless bike for the day and meandering through banana plantations, mangrove-lined riverbank paths or dusty villages being followed by hoards of inexplicably excited little coloured faces. I attempt to pass this on to my daughter and we rented bicycles in Egypt; getting up at dawn to cross the river and explore the Valley of Queens before the day got too hot and the tourist coaches flooded in. Next week I’m off to Wales with my mates, the week after going walking up the snowy Alps and in a couple of months I’ll be climbing a lava lake volcano in Congo

I get annoyed when I recognise some typical ‘Dad’ traits such as increasing ‘pedanticness’ and general irritability and intolerance but then have to laugh at the sad inevitability of it all and hope that as a species we will improve as each generation become a little less infected with ‘Dadness’ Like most teenagers I rebelled against just about everything; especially everything my parents did, wore, said and suggested and especially, especially my Dad. We were poles apart yet uncomfortably similar. I turned away from his rather traditional manly aggressive nature by metamorphosing into a vegetarian hippy pacifist wearing ridiculous home-made patchwork threadbare rags which I called clothes. He didn’t understand me and I didn’t understand him. Furthermore I was puzzled by his apparent lack of affection, encouragement and interest in anything I did unless it related to something he was interested in, but I did learn from these traits, which I perceived to be his shortcomings. When my daughter was born I vowed to be a different kind of Dad - to not repeat these shortcomings and have a better, healthier and more fulfilling relationship with her. I would mercilessly squash any sign of my father that appeared in me and curse those inevitable ‘Dadness’ traits that grew as the years went by. But I had a bit of a revelation recently. A chance remark that literally changed the way I thought about, and responded to my Dad. Quite simple it was this:

“He didn’t understand me, and I didn’t understand him...”

So, thanks Dad. In a way he was even responsible for my dress sense that used to annoy them both. I remember when I was young and wanting to go on my bike in winter but could only find an odd pair of gloves. ‘He can’t wear those- people will laugh’ said my mother. ‘It doesn’t matter what people think - if it keeps his hands warmhe’s wearing them’ was my Dad’s reasonable response. And I took that to the nth degree and pushed it- making it one of my raisons d’etre - to deliberately wear things that would annoy or at least perplex as many people as possible.

‘You might think it’s okay to blame your parents for your inherited faults but make sure that you give them credit for the good things about you too.’ Wow - so simple and so obvious! So why did it take me 50 years to realize it?

It took me quite a while to realise I wasn’t the perfect son. In hindsight I was a bit of an arse. Actually, a lot of an arse. I’m not going to say I got everything wrong (I still reckon my threads were way cooler than anything they tried to make me wear) but my attitude sucked. I am trying to make amends and it’s not just because my father is no longer a fit and healthy man, or because he’s inevitably mellowing out with age - I think maybe I’ve just finally grown up.

Strictly speaking it’s not even fair to blame them as they could just blame theirs and so on back to Adam or the missing link whichever you believe in. But I realised I had been doing that all my life - being critical of their weaknesses and failures and frankly unattractive attributes that affected my personality and my development without ever praising them or being thankful for the ones that shaped me into who I am in a positive way.

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Not too much though - I’ll be wearing my lime green silk suit for v their 60th wedding anniversary bash in July...! 29

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A visit to the theatre True story by Margaret ‘Frankie’ Carvalho

must have been about six or seven at the time and my brother, Glen was only a baby of two years. On that day we travelled by train to Victoria Station with our mother and once we arrived we walked to the station forecourt and mum hailed a taxi. This was a new adventure for me as I had never travelled in a taxi before and I’m sure it was my first journey to Central London. We clambered inside the taxi and mum asked the driver to take us to the Wyndhams Theatre.

“That’s my Daddy!”

At the end of the show I hopped, jumped and cheered with pride and excitement. When the curtain calls had finished and everyone was applauding I looked round at the people behind me and shouted, ‘that’s my daddy.’ A few people smiled back at me but Mum, who appeared to be somewhat embarrassed by my performance, quietly told me to be quiet and sit down.

I was so excited because we were going to see the musical ‘The Boyfriend,’ but much more importantly than that, to see my dad, Jimmy Jack, who was the drummer in the orchestra. We soon arrived at the theatre, my first visit to any theatre and we were directed to our seats in the circle. There was a real buzz of excitement in the air. I sat down, looked around, above and below. I had never seen anything like this before and I stared at this glorious place, the lush red seating, the ornate gold and white carved wall patterns, the tiers of little boxes with happy people peering at all around them, the subdued lighting and the joyous sound of the audience laughing and chatting as they searched for their seats. Mum placed my brother on her lap and we waited for the show to start.

We went backstage afterwards, my father sweeping me up in his arms with a cuddle and then picking my little brother up as we went to meet the artists. I can’t explain how wonderful it was, seeing the dressing rooms, the make-up, the costumes and speaking to the performers. I like this world, I thought to myself. That was the beginning of my friendship and love affair with music and the theatre. An affair which has never hurt me, never let me down but only given me pleasure, year after year, after year.

Suddenly, one of the attendants tapped my mother on the shoulder and said, ‘Your baby should have a seat of his own. I’m sorry but it is not permitted for him to sit on your lap.’ Mum bristled at this rude interruption and abruptly replied, ‘My husband Jimmy is the drummer in the orchestra and our seating has been arranged by him’. The attendant shuffled off and we were left in peace. Mum had a triumphant look on her face and I looked up and smiled back at her. I felt quite important.

Sadly my father died just a few years later when I was eleven but I still hold the same pride and admiration for him now as I did when I was a child. Fortunately, his legacy lives on as my brother; Glen became a drummer and musical director and worked on many cruise ships travelling the world. My daughter, Louise married a drummer and my five year old grandson displays a real talent on the drums – maybe he’s a star in the making!

Soon the musicians arrived in the orchestra pit and my dad was waving at us. I was smiling and hopping about and could barely contain my excitement.

I hope my dad is looking down on us with pride. The curtain went up and the magic began. I’m sure he is.

Suddenly it felt as if it was just me, the performers and the music. I was in another world and completely captivated. Of course I had heard some of the music before, when my dad had been rehearsing at home but now, to hear the songs, see the actors, the scenery and the dancers was such a wonderful experience. To me it was the biggest adventure of my life.

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July 2016

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5 Ways Flowers Make You Feel Great Flying Flowers, ‘Britain’s best-loved mail order florist,’ has been busy investigating why we all love sending and receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The results may surprise you but science proves that flowers are good for you and your loved ones’ health and well-being. 1. Guaranteed to Raise a Smile You don’t need a scientific study to prove this one; we all know that smiling is good for us. In an experiment on reactions to receiving gifts, only those given flowers always elicited the Duchene (or true) smile – and they still reported a mood boost three days on. 2. Can Help You Sleep Research has found flower scents can have sleep-inducing properties; jasmine, lavender and gardenia scents are all proven to aid the quality and duration of sleep; they reduce anxiety and calm the body leading to a healthy, natural sleep. 3. Boost Your Health Whilst flowers may not be the miracle cure, they can give us an extra boost and help our well-being and recovery. Flowers were found to reduce hospital stays, painkiller usage and blood pressure. 4. Improves Creativity An experiment at Chelsea Flower Show compared people’s outputs across different office spaces and when the humble houseplant was included, creativity was boosted by as much as 45%! 5. Improve Your Memory and Attention Span The stressful world we live in is filled with all kinds of things that demand our attention. Admiring a bunch of flowers is calming, giving our brains some downtime, leaving us rejuvenated and ready for a new challenge. To make someone’s day extra special or just to say ‘I’m thinking of you’ Flying Flowers has a fantastic range of great value bouquets. Visit www.flyingflowers. co.uk and save 12% with discount code 50PLUS

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July 2016

TRAVEL

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Healthy Outdoor Activities on Holiday By Jennie Carr from Silver Travel Advisor, www.silvertraveladvisor.com

Whilst for many of us, the idea of a holiday involves a bit of a rest and lots of relaxation. All well and good, however some of the best ways to get the most from a trip away are to get on a bike or take a walk. There is no doubt that exercise in the fresh air adds to your sense of well-being, whilst giving you the chance to look around. And should you be concerned about the rain or cold, remember that great phrase, ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, merely inappropriate clothing!’ Which, of course, is just as applicable to hot climates as cold.

Many activity holidays offer graded walks, and HF Holidays, for example, have different levels of walks from their hotels each day. So you might find by the end of the week, you’re striding out happily and able to take on a longer, slightly more challenging route. Headwater adopts the ‘day-on, day-off’ approach on its more relaxed breaks, so you have alternate days to flop or explore at your own pace. Adagio offers leisurely walks, whilst taking in the sights and visits to local points of interest, so you really won’t go home needing a holiday! Ramblers Worldwide Holidays takes walkers around the globe, providing adventurous trips for the unstoppable and happily managed rambles for the weekend walker.

Hiking and trekking require careful preparation – comfortable, worn-in boots, maybe poles and bottles of water for sure on the day, with several practice walks strongly advised. But even a 3 or 5 mile stroll will be more enjoyable if you’ve taken a bit of exercise beforehand. Just some gentle stretches plus a few extra journeys up and down the stairs each day for a week or two before your holiday will make all the difference: your muscles will loosen, become more toned, feel-good hormones will be released and usually, you’ll feel more energetic and sleep better too. A definite win-win situation. A half hour spent swimming two or three times a week can make a big difference to how you feel as well, and gives you a chance to improve your breast-stroke or crawl before you travel. As with all new exercise routines, if you have any concerns about your fitness or medical suitability for this, do consult your GP first.

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And it must be remembered that escorted tours and shore excursions can often involve quite a bit of trotting about, particularly in older towns and cities where cobbled streets are best tackled with a confident step. It is amazing quite how far you do actually walk even in urban spaces when sightseeing. The size of some European castles and cathedrals can be astonishing, particu-

July 2016

TRAVEL

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------larly given that many of the former are often built at the top of a hill. It’s easy to clock up a mile or two without noticing.

tions operate using a battery although they still need to be pedalled to move onwards and upwards. There are all the joys of a normal bike, fresh air, exercise and the feeling of freedom with some impressive bonuses, like speeds of up to 25km an hour! The electric bike will take all the hard work out of cycling uphill, leaving you free to enjoy the view and take stunning photos at the top!

Cycling holidays are becoming more popular with every passing year. The success of British athletes in this sport has added to the growing passion for cycling at home and abroad on holiday. Headwater has some marvellous trips for independent pedellers who are happy to hit the highways and byways with a map, compass and mobile phone, confident in the knowledge that they will arrive at the right hotel on the right day and be re-united with their luggage. Mercurio Bike Travel will guide you in a group along the riverside cycle paths of Austria and Germany, thus limiting the chance of getting lost and missing out on a good night’s sleep!

If you wish to use the battery, turn it on, but if you are happy under your own leg power, it can stay off. Added to this, the ‘sit up and beg’ position of the bikes makes for a relaxing cycle, and avoids the back breaking, horizontal crouch used by the sportsman. And should the group have differing levels of fitness, the e-bike allows everyone to enjoy a holiday together.

Much like walking, there are various route challenges, so it’s important to pick the right one. Those quiet lanes in warm European countries, right off the beaten track with wonderful scenery taking in sleepy villages, orchards and grazing cattle, with the sparkling Med enticingly close are wonderful. As is the gently rolling countryside, which turns into the equivalent of Mont Blanc for the infrequent cyclist, the nearer you get! Suddenly a gentle spin on a bike turns into something rather more physical. This where the electric bike comes into its own. These fabulous invenSo wherever you choose to go and whatever activities you get involved in, walking and cycling are most certainly great fun, often giving you real insights into a new country as well as the chance to share good times as a couple, family or group. Fact Box: Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for independent advice, reviews and information about walking, cycling and all kinds of travel and holiday ideas for the over 50s. The following companies all offer walking or cycling holidays which are well-suited to older travellers and are recommend by Silver Travel Advisor. www.headwater.com www.hfholidays.co.uk www.adagio.co.uk www.ramblersworldwideholidays.co.uk www.mercurio-bike-travel.co.uk

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

The

+ 50 Awards 2016

The 50+ Awards 2016: The UK’s largest awards for those who are 50+ based entirely on nominations and ratings of those who are 50+. Nominations for The 50+ Awards took place in January 2016: Those most highly nominated were long-listed for the first voting phase.

• On 1 May, the top 3 highest-rated organisations in each category were shortlisted and went through to the final voting round, during which members of the public rated the short-listed nominees in an online poll which ended on 30 June. • The winners were those with the highest ratings from members of the public, rather than the greatest number of votes, to allow smaller companies to compete on a level playing field against larger and better-known companies. Congratulations to all our winners - but just to be shortlisted was a triumph!

Best 50+ UK destination Gold: Scotland Silver: Cornwall Bronze: Lake District

Best 50+ cruise provider Gold: Royal Caribbean Silver: Princess Bronze: Cunard

Best 50+ airline Gold: Emirates Silver: Singapore Airlines Bronze: Virgin Alantic

Best 50+ UK hotel group Gold: Hilton Silver: Warner Leisure Hotels Bronze: Marriott

Best 50+ overseas destination Gold: New Zealand Silver: Australia Bronze: Caribbean

Best 50+ tour operator Gold: David Urquhart Silver: Kuoni Bronze: Virgin Holidays

Best 50+ UK Coach Company Gold: David Urquhart Silver: Lochs & Glens Bronze: Caledonian Travel

Best 50+ overseas hotel group Gold: Riu Silver: Hilton Bronze: Sheraton

Best 50+ travel agency Gold: Barrhead Travel Silver: Saga Bronze: Thomson

Best 50+ Overseas holiday provider Gold: Kuoni Silver: Barrhead Travel Bronze: Virgin Holidays

Best 50+ adventure travel supplier Gold: Kuoni Silver: Saga Bronze: Ramblers Worldwide Holidays

Best 50+ wellness provider Gold: NHS Silver: Bupa Bronze: Boots Best 50+ medical charity Gold: Macmillian Cancer Support Silver: Marie Curie Bronze: British Red Cross Best 50+ non-medical charity Gold: RNLI Silver: Salvation Army Bronze: NSPCC Best 50+ group (not-for-profit club/association/society) Gold: National Trust Silver: Women’s Institute Bronze: U3A

The 50+ Show Magazine

July 2016

Best 50+ continuing education provider Gold: Open University Silver: University of Strathclyde Bronze: U3A Best 50+ housing provider Gold: Hanover Housing Silver: Churchill Bronze: McCarthy & Stone Best 50+ newspaper (paid-for) Gold: Daily Mail Silver: Daily Record Bronze: The Times Best 50+ free publication Gold: Metro Silver: Evening Standard Bronze: Mature Times Best 50+ magazine Gold: Gardeners World Silver: Yours Bronze: Take a Break Best 50+ TV channel Gold: Discovery Silver: BBC 1 Bronze: STV Best 50+ radio station Gold: Smooth Silver: BBC Radio 2 Bronze: BBC Radio 4 Best 50+ web site for content Gold: Moneysavingexpert.com Silver: bbc.co.uk/news Bronze: Facebook.com Best 50+ personality of the year Gold: HM The Queen Silver: Judi Dench Bronze: Maggie Smith Best 50+ car (modern) Gold: Ford Focus Silver: Volkswagen Golf Bronze: Ford Fiesta

The 50+ Show Magazine

Best 50+ clothing retailer Gold: Slaters Silver: Marks and Spencer Bronze: John Lewis

That winning feeling...

Best 50+ Supermarket Gold: Aldi Silver: Lidl Bronze: M & S Best 50+ ready-meal provider Gold: M & S Silver: Iceland Bronze: Waitrose Best 50+ place to eat out (not including ‘at home’ or ‘my house’!) Gold: Toby Carvery Silver: Wetherspoon Bronze: Harvester

Best 50+ gas supplier Gold: Scottish Gas Silver: First Utility Bronze: British Gas

Best 50+ broadband provider Gold: Virgin Media Silver: SKY Bronze: BT Best 50+ bank or building society Gold: Nationwide Silver: Santander Bronze: TSB Best 50+ wealth management company Gold: Nationwide Silver: Halifax Bronze: St James’s Place Best 50+ insurance provider Gold: LV (Liverpool Victoria) Silver: Aviva Bronze: Direct Line Best 50+ electricity provider Gold: Scottish Gas Silver: First Utility Bronze: British Gas

Best 50+ employer of those aged 50+ Gold: B&Q Silver: John Lewis Bronze: M&S ... and finally, the ‘Blue Riband’ of the awards: Best 50+ customer service Gold: John Lewis Silver: Marks and Spencer Bronze: Waitrose

What the voters said about the 50+ Awards The 50+ awards are a good thing as people in general are living much longer (I hope). Glad that someone is asking us over 50s our opinion as we are an opinionated bunch and our opinions should be valued.

The

+ 50 Awards 2016 July 2016

See you next year!

‘Trees’ by Karen Taylor, Weston-super-Mare The 50+ Show Photogprahy Competition