London Olympia National Hall Friday 14 July Saturday 15 July 9.30am - 4.30pm
Show Guide Magazine
Floor plan Exhibitor A-Z Show programmes Volunteering Birdwatching Photos Fiction Health
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CONTENTS W
elcome to The 50+ Show Magazine and Show Guide for The 50+ Show at London Olympia in July 2017. This is our 11th show at the venue, but is our 10th anniversary - we started back in July 2007 and have been returning every summer since. A lot has happened in those 10 years; the Great Recession, the Brexit Referendum, Trump and more recently the Grenfell Tower disaster, but it hasn’t all been bad news. We are getting older, but remaining healthier for longer. Older people are the happiest people in the country. Retired people on average bring home more money than people at work. Wow! In those 10 years, we have had a lot of help to put on the show. David Thomson was instrumental in the early success of the show, and many other colleagues have worked on the show in the last decade as well. Lately, my brother Danni and colleague Reina have worked hard to make the show a success. AIM Exhibitions (main contractor), Havills (electrics), Remote AV (audiovisual), QRS (registration) and Europa (furniture) have worked with us from the start. Thank you all! In this magazine you’ll find some of the winners in our short story and photography competitions. as well as the show programme for each of the two days of the show, the exhibitor A-Z and the show floorplan. On behalf of the whole organising team, we hope that you enjoy both The 50+ Show Magazine and Dr Robert McCaffrey Editor, show director The 50+ Show at London Olympia!
On-line survey address - Take the survey and be entered into a draw for £50!: http://50-plus-show.polldaddy.com/s/50-plus-show-london-visitor-survey-2017
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The 50+ Show floor plan and A-Z of exhibitors Where to find the exhibitors you are looking for!
SHOW PROGRAMMES
‘September on the Isle of Wight’ by Fiona Taylor - the winner of The 50+ Show Photography Competition 2017 - as seen on our front cover!
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
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Show programme for FRIDAY Show programme for SATURDAY
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Featured exhibitors & Show competitions
FEATURES
11 Want to start birdwatching? Here’s how! 12 Three cheers for volunteers! Volunteering is good for you. 13 The 50+ Show writing competition: winners and selected runners-up We asked our previous visitors to send in their true stories on the subject of ‘courage and strength’ - and they did not disappoint. Here are the winner and selected runners-up. Do you think that you could do better? Then it might be time to put pen to paper....! 22 Six things you need to know about high blood pressure... Read this - it might just save your life! 23 The 50+ Awards 2017 25 The 50+ Show Photography Competition 2017 Winners and runners-up in The 50+ Show photo competition, including photos on this page. Visitors are advised to satisfy themselves as to the bona fides of the exhibitors prior to finalising any transactions. 3
July 2017
SHOW PLAN
ENTRANCE
Fascia Name AAP Financial Solutions Ltd Adagio Holidays Adjustamatic Bed Age UK London Trading Algarve Portugal Alzheimer’s Research UK Alzheimer’s Society Anglia Home Improvements ASK ERIC - Equity Release Information Centre Beauty Gate Free Massage Bergs Designs Berkeley Parks
The 50+ Show Magazine
Stand No. F5 H5 W 1-3 G9 V5 P4 G5 M3 D3
Birdwatching Bold Age® by Blu Lake Boots Hearingcare British Heart Foundation Brooklands Museum BT Getting to know the Internet BT PLC Cancer Awareness Roadshow Celtic Haven Resort Co-op Funeralcare Complexions Conservatory Insulations Crystal Windows and Doors Ltd Cultural Breaks
M4 U2 Q1
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S3 H9 J7-J8 K6 S5 F8 F7 M6 V1 N1 Q31 J5 H7 S1
July 2017
Exhibitor A-Z David Urquhart Travel Dental Art Implant Clinics Donat Mg Donna Bella New Look New You Explore Fish Insurance Flying Colours Food Sensitivity Test Garlic & Ginger Grater Hidden Hearing India Tourism Inghams Kirbys Coaches London Hearing Ltd McClure Solicitors Merlin 2-in-1 Vac Oakdale Oakleigh Park Homes Pamper Yourself Now Pancreatic Cancer Action Penthouse Studio Pieroth Wine Poligrip Revitalise Respite Holidays Royal Albert Hall Royal National Institute of Blind People Saga Personal Finance Scope Opthalmics Silver Travel Advisor Silverspain Sole Mates St James’s Places Stately Albion TextCare Home Monitoring The 50+ Show Company Ltd The Independent Thornton + Baines
The 50+ Show Magazine
T4 L4 J9 H1 T1 F6 D1 V2 J4 K4-K5 S4 T6-7 S2 H4 E3 W5-6, F11 K1-K3 Q4 F1 J10 Q32 M1 L1 L3 V3 P1&P6
Tingdene Homes TLH Leisure Resort Traveleyes Travelsphere & Just You Turmerix U3A UK Hearing Care Vine Vera Western Union Woodland Trust WSL - Willwriting Services Ltd YourZooki Ltd Zero Gravity
H6 V4 T2 T5 H3 G3 J2-3 G1 F4 J6 P3 L2 L5-6
E1 J1 S6 T3 G7 E2 PH1, PH2 P5 Q2 D2 U1
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July 2017
10.00 - 12.30
Start time
FRIDAY 14 JULY Seminars Money Matters Seminar Theatre
Travel Seminar Theatre
Health Seminar Theatre
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
11.00 Your pension options and Retirement income - How to avoid common (and costly) mistakes
10.30 Introducing Experience Nature
10.45 Making the most of your hearing
Ashley Grove, Experience Nature
Clare Kewney, UK Hearing Care
Guy Myles, CEO, Flying Colours
v 11.00 Choosing your first cruise Alan Fairfax, Silver Travel Advisor
11.45 The Importance of Estate Planning
Adrian Howlett, McClure Solicitors
11.45 Adagio – explore the world gently on foot. Helen Nelson and Tony Maniscaldo
11.30 Gardening Q & A Shining a Light on Gardening w/ Expert Tips from the Swinging 60s Panelists: Gardening Experts Geoff Hawkins, Paul Harrison and Neil Miller Ashley Grove, Wildlife lecturer
12.30 - 14.30
12.30 Retirement Planning Lawrence Gold,
12.30 The blind man that wants to show you the world
12.40 Brush up on your oral health with Poligrip®
Eden Park Associates Ltd
Andrew Milburn, Traveleyes
Dr Amit Rai
13.15 Inspirational volunteering – helping others to have a holiday
13.15 Are you Pancreatic Cancer Aware?
Revitalise Respite Holidays
Ali Stunt, Founder and Chief Executive of
v 13.15 Managing your wealth in a volatile and uncertain market. Should you consider releasing tax free money from your home in retirement?
14.30 - 16.30
Country Gentlemen’s Association
Pancreatic Cancer Action
14.15 How to be a Birdwatcher
Wildlife Photographer
14.15 Blood pressure - how to understand the numbers and get tested.
and Lecturer
Julie Ward, Blood Pressure Project Manager,
Ashley Grove, Birmingham-based
14.15 Bold Age® - Your Retirement Legacy
British Heart Foundation
Becky Craig, Director, Blu Lake
15.30 EXHIBITION TIME
v 15.00 The state of UK Woods and Trees Steve Marsh, Woodland Trust
15.30 EXHIBITION TIME
15.00 FREE PRIZE QUIZ Are you a brainiac or perhaps Britain’s next mastermind? Come along and test your knowledge! 15.45 EXHIBITION TIME
v Signed by a BSL Interpreter The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
Cookery Theatre Theme ‘Southeast Asia’
Start time
FRIDAY 14 JULY Features Performance Stage & Dancefloor
10.00 - 12.30
10.00 Tai Chi
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
Jean Anderson, Tai Chi instructor
10.45 SUSHI MAKING with THE SUSHI QUEEN, KEIKO YAMAMOTO
10.45 Ballroom & Latin dance workshop
Keiko is the brains and talent behind Sushi Queen. Her expertise and knowledge of Sushi, Teppanyaki, and Sake far surpasses. For over a decade she has inspired and impressed her clients across the globe and has traveled to many corporate and entertainment events for her work. She worked for Benihanna, Matsuri, The Colony Club, Ozu County Hall, AAYA, and the Kingly club-kiyashii restaurant, Inamo, Sakeno hana, and Gordon Ramsey restaurant.
Gemma Morton, Dance instructor
11.30 Line Dancing class Janice Golding, Dance instructor
12.15 ROCK CHOIR
v 12.00 INTRODUCTION TO FILIPINO CUISINE
Teresa Argones, Heaf Chef & Owner, Nilo’s Filipino Restaurant, located at Willesden Lane, Kilburn, London For reservations, call 02076251118
13.15 FILIPINO CUISINE PART 2
13.00 Ballroom & Latin dance workshop
v 14.15 CELEBRITY JAN LEEMING Single Traveller, My journeys through Croatia and Italy 14.30 SUSHI MAKING with KEIKO YAMAMOTO THE SUSHI QUEEN
Breech Lane Curry House is an Indian cookery school in Surrey. Jaya holds classes from her home kitchen in the picturesque village of Walton on the Hill near Tadworth. The mission of her venture is to promote her traditional family recipes using the village’s local produce and homemade spices to teach dishes that are honest, healthy and homemade. For more information, visit: www.breechlanecurryhouse.com
The 50+ Show Magazine
15.30 COCKNEY SINGALONG with TOM CARRADINE Not to be missed!
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14.30 - 16.30
15.00 ROCK CHOIR
15.15 Paneer tikkas w/ coriander chutney
12.30 - 14.30
Gemma Morton, Dance instructor
July 2017
10.00 - 12.30
Start time
SATURDAY 15 JULY Seminars Money Matters Seminar Theatre
Travel Seminar Theatre
Health Seminar Theatre
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
11.00 Your pension options and Retirement income - How to avoid common (and costly) mistakes
10.30 Introducing Experience Nature
10.45 Making the most of your hearing
Ashley Grove, Experience Nature
Clare Kewney, UK Hearing Care
Guy Myles, CEO, Flying Colours
v 11.00 Choosing your first cruise Alan Fairfax, Silver Travel Advisor
11.45 The Importance of Estate Planning
Adrian Howlett, McClure Solicitors
11.45 Adagio – explore the world gently on foot. Helen Nelson and Tony Maniscaldo
11.30 Gardening Q & A Shining a Light on Gardening with Expert Tips from the Swinging 60s Panelists: Gardening Experts Geoff Hawkins, Paul Harrison and Neil Miller Ashley Grove, Wildlife lecturer
12.30 - 14.30
12.30 Retirement Planning Lawrence Gold,
12.30 The blind man that wants to show you the world
12.40 Brush up on your oral health with Poligrip®
Eden Park Associates Ltd
Andrew Milburn, Traveleyes
Dr Amit Rai
13.15 Inspirational volunteering – helping others to have a holiday
13.15 Are you Pancreatic Cancer Aware?
Revitalise Respite Holidays
Ali Stunt, Founder and Chief Executive of
v 13.15 Managing your wealth in a volatile and uncertain market. Should you consider releasing tax free money from your home in retirement?
14.30 - 16.30
Country Gentlemen’s Association
14.15 Bold Age® - Your Retirement Legacy Becky Craig, Director, Blu Lake
15.30 EXHIBITION TIME
Pancreatic Cancer Action
Photographer and Lecturer,
14.15 Blood pressure - how to understand the numbers and get tested.
www.ashleysanologs.wordpress.com
Julie Ward, Blood Pressure Project Manager,
14.15 How to be a Birdwatcher Ashley Grove, Birmingham-based Wildlife
British Heart Foundation
v 15.00 The state of UK Woods and Trees Steve Marsh, Woodland Trust
15.30 EXHIBITION TIME
15.00 FREE PRIZE QUIZ Are you a brainiac or perhaps Britain’s next mastermind? Come along and test your knowledge! 15.30 EXHIBITION TIME
v Signed by a BSL Interpreter The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
Performance Stage & Dancefloor
Cookery Theatre Theme ‘Southeast Asia’
Jean Anderson, Tai Chi instructor
10.40 SUSHI MAKING with SUSHI QUEEN, KEIKO YAMAMOTO
10.45 Ballroom & Latin dance workshop Gemma Morton, Dance instructor
Keiko is the brains and talent behind Sushi Queen. Her expertise and knowledge of Sushi, Teppanyaki, and Sake far surpasses. For over a decade she has inspired and impressed her clients across the globe and has traveled to many corporate and entertainment events for her work. She worked for Benihanna, Matsuri, The Colony Club, Ozu County Hall, AAYA, and the Kingly club-kiyashii restaurant, Inamo, Sakeno hana, and Gordon Ramsey restaurant.
11.30 Line Dancing class Janice Golding, Dance instructor
12.15 ROCK CHOIR
10.00 - 12.30
10.00 Tai Chi
10.15 EXHIBITION TIME
Start time
SATURDAY 15 JULY Features
v 12.00 INTRODUCTION TO FILIPINO CUISINE
Teresa Argones, Heaf Chef & Owner, Nilo’s Filipino Restaurant, located at Willesden Lane, Kilburn, London
13.15 Dahi chicken curry w/ aromatic basmati rice BREECH LANE CURRY HOUSE
13.00 Ballroom & Latin dance workshop
v 14.15 CELEBRITY JAN LEEMING Single Traveller, My journeys through Myanmar and India
12.30 - 14.30
Gemma Morton, Dance instructor
14.30 SUSHI MAKING with KEIKO YAMAMOTO THE SUSHI QUEEN
Teresa Argones, Heaf Chef & Owner, Nilo’s Filipino Restaurant, located at Willesden Lane, Kilburn, London. For reservations, call 0207 625 1118
15.30 MEDAU DANCE MOVEMENT
14.30 - 16.30
15.00 ROCK CHOIR
15.15 FILIPINO CUISINE PART 2
Above: ‘Sinigang’, Seafood Sour Stew The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
Featured exhibitors
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Celtic Haven Luxury Cottage Resort - Stand V1 Celtic Haven is nestled on the Pembrokeshire cliff-tops near Tenby. Our beautiful selfcatering cottages, idyllic coastal location, excellent facilities and friendly faces will add up to a truly memorable holiday in Wales! Many of our 30 cottages date back to the 12th Century with stunning views across the sparkling water to Caldey Island. You’ll find West Wales’ only Elemis Premier Spa, ‘Waves’ bar and restaurant, a 9-hole headland golf course, leisure club with an indoor swimming pool and more. We’re offering an exclusive ‘50+ Show’ holiday offer for only £189pp, this is a HUGE saving of 40%! Enjoy a 3 or 4-night break with dinner, spa and an amazing ‘Fire & Ice Experience’ all included in this exclusive ‘50+ Show’ offer price. For full details visit us at stand number V1. Bold Age® by Blu Lake - Stand H9 Blu Lake is a UK life coaching company which specialises in helping people 50+ to visualise and plan what they want from the rest of their life. Any life change can be both exciting and daunting, especially reaching Bold Age® when there is scope for so much more freedom. Blu Lake offers 1-1 and couples coaching, as well as Bold Age® Life Planning Retreats to help you find your focus, achieve your dreams and live a life you love post 50. We apply a supportive (and challenging!) 5-step process which guides you through building a Bold Age® vision and plan, as well as help you break through any barriers standing in your way. Just like in sport, coaching helps you achieve your outcomes quicker than if you tried to get there yourself. Right now, it’s time to invest in yourself! Email: becky@blulake.co.uk; Phone: 07714 329339 Post: Blu Lake Development Limited, 16 Fairwood Road, Verwood, Dorset BH31 6UA Web: www.blulake.co.uk and www.bold-age.co.uk; Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @blulakecoach Traveleyes - Award winning holidays for blind adventurers! - Stand T2 But these are no ordinary holidays. Our groups are a mixture of both blind and sighted travellers. As a sighted traveller, we simply ask that you share your eyesight by describing the wonderful world around you to a blind partner and in return, for those sharing their vision, travellers receive up to 50% off. You don’t even need any experience of blindness. Come and visit us on Stand T2.
Competitions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AAP Financial Solutions Ltd F5 Please come and see us on stand F5 to enter into our Free Prize Draw to WIN National Garden Vouchers. 1st Prize £50 plus 2nd and 3rd Prizes £25 each. Terms and Conditions apply. Dental Art Implant Clinics L4 Dental Art Implant Clinics’ dental team can give you the smile you deserve with dental implant treatment. Visit their stand at the show to enter the draw to win a £250 voucher for dental implant treatment. Equity Release Information Centre D3 Win a £150 luxury hamper by visiting the Equity Release Information Centre and entering our prize draw! Inghams T6-7 Come to the stand for a chance to win a fantastic hamper packed full of goodies from Filippo Berio including olive oil, white wine vinegar and pesto. This free prize draw is only open to show visitors. TLH Leisure Resort V4 Enter our free prize draw for your chance to win 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast at TLH Leisure Resort, Torquay, use of the fantastic leisure facilities and nightly entertainment included. Special offers also available on the stand. The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
How to be a birdwatcher By Ashley Grove Many people enjoy watching the birds in their garden and it’s a great place to start if you want to tell the different species apart and perhaps develop this interest into a very rewarding and fulfilling hobby. Birdwatching will increase your knowledge of nature as a whole, it’s a great stress-buster and when you start to travel to see new species of birds either in the UK or further afield, you will undoubtedly go to some wonderful places that you may never have even thought to visit before. Mandarin duck Blackbird Ashley Grove is a midlands based professional wildlife photographer, tour leader and nationally known speaker and we are lucky enough to have him at The 50+ Show. He’ll be giving you some tips on how to get started as a birder and some initial pointers to tell those garden birds apart. On Friday Ashley will be advising on how best to attract birds to the garden, what food is likely to tempt which species, what equipment you might need to get started and also how to tell some familiar garden species apart. Part 2 of the talk on Saturday will take you past the garden gate, to discover some more of Britain’s wonderful bird life, from the Scottish Highlands, to the Isles of Scilly. Running his own business called ‘Experience Nature’, he offers a range of UK and foreign experiences for Birdwatchers and Photographers alike. These include Dawn Chorus Walks, Photography Workshops, Weekend Birdwatching Breaks and Tours to various destinations worldwide. Ashley’s talks will be held in the Travel Seminar Theatre, so look out on the programme to find out more. Being recommended as a speaker by the Royal Horticultural Society and the RSPB, his talks are bound to be both entertaining and packed with some quality images from his wildlife portfolio. Why not take a sneak preview at his website, www.ashleygrovewildimages.co.uk Each talk is 30 minutes long and with a tight schedule, built for your entertainment, there won’t be time for asking questions afterwards, so please visit Ashley and his wife Wendy on stand S3, next to the climbing wall to find out more. Starling
The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
Volunteering
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Three cheers... for volunteers!
When you volunteer, you help others. But did you know that volunteering is good for you? Really good for you? Then read on - and then volunteer!
V
olunteering is often pitched as something for students to do on their gap years, but increasingly it’s no longer the preserve of youth. Having reached or surpassed the key milestone of 50, we have a huge amount of life experience and knowledge to share, and as we approach retirement most of us are able to give our time more generously.
and pinpointed a plethora of personal and social benefits. Benefits of volunteering 96% of Revitalise’s volunteers told the charity that volunteering had made them more aware of diversity issues, 95% said volunteering had made them more tolerant towards others, 93% said it had improved their self-confidence and 79% said it had inspired them to take a more active part in their communities. Clearly the many benefits of volunteering have not been overstated! But it’s the impact of volunteering on feelings of social isolation that are perhaps the most pertinent to older volunteers. The Office for National Statistics has found that people in older age groups value friendships and local associations more than younger people, and it is often quoted that lacking social connections is as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In this graphic context the beneficial impact of volunteering is clear: volunteering helps reduce loneliness, which helps reduce the health risks of being lonely. But, beyond the research, there is no better testament to the life-enhancing impact of Revitalise’s volunteers than the words of its guests. One recent guest, Steve, commented: “I like meeting people and all the volunteers from around the world. I can learn about their lives and they can learn something new – they learn so much in such a
Volunteering holidays are on the increase, for people who want to take a break and enjoy themselves, but are looking for something more than cocktails on a beach or the obligatory shuffle round the tourist hotspots. There are numerous tangible benefits for the volunteer, from keeping mind and body active, to interacting with new groups of people, to learning new skills. Volunteering is used a tool to tackle a great many social issues, and research from Revitalise backs this up. Revitalise provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers. In fact, Revitalise it is the largest such provider in the UK, operating three fully accessible holiday centres in Chigwell in Essex, Southampton and Southport. Each centre provides 24-hour on-call nurse-led care as standard, coupled with a programme of fully accessible excursions, activities and entertainments, all in an informal holiday atmosphere. As such, Revitalise prides itself on offering its guests something truly unique – a respite break that feels like a proper holiday. Revitalise would be the first to admit that none of what it is proud to achieve could be accomplished without the contribution of its army of volunteers. As evidence of this, Revitalise runs one of the largest residential volunteering programmes of any UK charity, welcoming around 1,500 volunteers at its centres each year. The majority of Revitalise volunteers spend a week or two living and working at the charity’s three holiday centres, providing practical and personal support to the disabled guests, offering them a helping hand and a friendly face to talk to, enabling them to make the very most of their holiday. Revitalise recently analysed the feedback provided by the volunteers themselves The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
Volunteering
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A warm welcome to all Revitalise actively welcomes people from all backgrounds, races, nationalities and faiths. The charity regularly accommodates volunteers from all over the world, travelling from continents as far afield as Asia, South America and Africa as well as our European neighbours. Students, graduates, retired people, employed or unemployed - all are welcome to visit and help the guests have a great holiday. Significantly, age is no barrier and Revitalise’s volunteers range in age from their teens to their 80s. In short, volunteering is a great way to give something back to the community, build confidence and combat loneliness. There are numerous volunteering opportunities with Revitalise, from becoming a residential volunteer at one of the charity’s centres to helping out in one of its shops or at its head office. For more information about volunteering with Revitalise, visit www.revitalise.org.uk or call 0303 303 0145.
short space of time. We are put together as a family and it doesn’t matter where you come from, everyone gets on. It works so well and brings you out of your shell.” As if enhancing the lives of the thousands of disabled guests who pass through Revitalise’s doors each year were not enough, the benefits the volunteers themselves reported were many and varied. Mature volunteer Christina spoke of the impact of volunteering on her own life: “I’m 73 years old and have been volunteering for the past 11 years, since my husband died. I live on the Welsh borders and make the journey to Revitalise a few times a year. I enjoy the companionship of meeting with old friends I’ve got to know over the years. It’s good to stay active. I’m glad to be able to give something back to the community through volunteering with Revitalise.”
The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
TRUE STORY WINNER
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Never give up
True story by Rose O’Doherty of Glasgow, winner of this year’s writing competition on the subject of ‘courage and strength’
T
he sun is shining and the spring birds are chirping in the background – Firenze, aah the wonder of it – yes, I’m glad I had the courage and strength to come back –it always lifts my soul and develops my wellbeing. I’ve been visiting here annually since 2010.
money advice worker helped me move onto Employment Support Allowance (ESA) with an element of support from Disability Living Allowance (DLA). And so, a new life, one which continues today (at 58 in 2017), started for me. I threw myself into volunteering in the community for a well-known medical charity and at my local hospital. Unlikely to work again – I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder in 2010 – I have found a niche in which I am happy, fulfilled and more importantly for me (due to my strong work ethic) useful. On my good days I function very well and almost feel like the old me at the height of my career, but on my bad days, and recently there have been many, I am literally bed-bound, depressed and very unmotivated. I have had to move my volunteer role to an organisation which can accommodate my mood swings and since April this year I have given support to people like me (as a volunteer) in a safe and understanding environment. A regular feature of my condition (since the early 2000s) is ‘panic attacks’ which render me totally incapacitated and last several hours and even on recovery leave me exhausted and sad. I have tried all kinds of remedies and solutions to no avail. However, recently I had a breakthrough when my mother gave me the idea to try hypnotherapy. I consulted my psychiatrist who was a bit sceptical especially as I would have to go private with not much money at my disposal. After further thought, and really quite desperate, I did some research and found a charming female practitioner in March this year. I took the plunge and felt confident after my initial session with her that a positive result was in sight. Two months and three sessions later, my life has changed for the better. In that time I have only had two ‘mini’ ‘panic attacks’. For the moment, I have my life back. A combination of her courage and wisdom to treat me and my courage and faith in her to try something different has given me new strength and hope. So today, 22 May 2017, I sit writing this in Firenze, Italy – it is 8am on a sunny Sunday morning and in three days I’ll return to Scotland to start what I hope is the next part of my journey in wellness. And just for today, the possibilities are endless and v that’s cool, don’t you think?
The decline in my wellness started officially in 1993 (but probably existed, undiagnosed, much earlier). Only a few months into a new job in England, the internal politics and stress initiated a psychotic breakdown early one spring morning. Repatriated home to Glasgow that same day, followed by several days of sedative-induced sleep and rest, I was diagnosed by the psychiatrist as having ‘clinical depression’. Despite taking time out from my job and rest, I never fully recovered and in November 1994, I was dismissed from my job without a reference due to my ongoing mental health problems. Returning to Glasgow, I knew it was also the end of my professional career and so, in June 1996, now settled in my housing association flat on the south side of Glasgow, I became self-employed and for almost 13 years, worked hard and supported myself on a modest income. However, stress took its toll again and in 2005 I was voluntarily hospitalised in an acute psychiatric ward, fortunately only for a month and rediagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic, a label which scared me and led to me having to declare myself ‘medically retired’ on St Valentine’s Day in 2009. Only 50, I had to navigate, for the first time in my life, the welfare system which only served to increase my stress levels, although my very able community psychiatric nurse (CPN) and a very helpful
“...in three days I’ll return to Scotland to start what I hope is the next part of my journey in wellness...”
The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
TRUE STORY RUNNER-UP
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You are not forgotten
Memories of a special friend inspired Ms. Ann Rowe to put pen to paper.
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hen I was 18 years old I was living and working in New York. I was doing temporary office work and one day I was sent to work for The Chrysler Company. There I met another English woman called Isabelle Gronert. She was in her late 60s and although she had lived in America for years she was more English than I was. She reminded me of the actress Margaret Rutherford with her BBC accent and her passion for tea. We became firm friends and she had a little brownstone apartment where she would invite me for cucumber sandwiches and jam scones!
“...she was eventually betrayed (by her own husband) and was arrested by the Germans...” apartment in New York and stayed there for the rest of her life. She became very involved in animal charities and could be found, late at night, scouring the back streets of some of the roughest areas of Manhattan for stray or abandoned cats. When we met I was pregnant and when my son was born she was a very loving and doting unofficial godmother. We were still working together and when, a year later, my relationship broke down she was an enormous support. Without any hesitation she offered to lend me the money to take my son back to England. She was a huge support at a time when I was feeling very low and isolated. When I was back in England we stayed in touch and visited each other whenever we could. Once, when she was in the UK I drove us down to Devon and Cornwall and we had a great week. I never tired of hearing her stories from the past. Typically, whilst we were there she managed to find a stray female cat and kittens and insisted on re-homing them before we headed back to London! As Isabelle got older I was aware that she had a blood condition which required her to have regular transfusions but she played it down and was always vague about how serious it was. She never let it stand in the way of her charity work. It was a shock when I received a telephone call from her lawyer to say that she had died. Only a week before she had been demonstrating in Central Park against vivisection. She was 79 years old. Although she had few relatives, she had a lot of friends who missed her enormously. As was her way, she had left instructions that she did not want a funeral or memorial service, she just wanted her ashes shipped to England to be scattered on her mother’s grave. I and one of her relatives did this for her. In her varied life she had touched the hearts of lots of people and she was the bravest, strongest women I ever met. You are still missed Isabelle!
Over our meetings she began to reveal an extraordinary life. Her mother had died when she was young and she had been sent away to boarding school. When she finished school she went to live in Paris and got married there. She lived quite a privileged life for a while. I saw photos of her driving a small sports car with her pet Siamese cat draped around her neck! When the Second World War broke out she joined the French Resistance and was instrumental in helping many people. However she was eventually betrayed (by her own husband) and was arrested by the Germans. She was sent to a Prisoner of War camp in Germany and spent the rest of the war there. She didn’t like to talk about that experience much. When they were liberated she stayed in Germany to help repatriate other prisoners. She was multi-lingual and therefore a great help in reuniting prisoners with their lost families. Finally she returned to Paris not knowing what to expect. She went to her old apartment, knocked on the door and was greeted by the sight of her husband’s mistress wearing Isabelle’s clothes! Unsure where to go from there, she answered an advertisement for a lady’s companion in New York. She worked and travelled with the American lady for some years but eventually rented an The 50+ Show Magazine
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A very ‘Mature Student’ A true story by John Garley, (spoiler alert) BA (Hons) English.
I
recently attended a Graduation Ceremony at the University of Northampton. I was there with my wife, my two daughters, and my son; I was feeling particularly proud to have been invited. Which member of the family was wearing the gown, hood and mortarboard? All three children are in their forties and they all graduated years ago so I am delighted to tell you that, at the tender age of seventy years, it was I who was being ‘elected to the nobility’ – or that’s how it felt! How did the adventure begin? It’s a long story, but I’ll give it a go……………..
“I had been simmering for many years over the fact that I had opted out of going to University from school those fifty-odd years ago...”
It was all of eight years ago that the seed was sewn in my fertile brain. My wife, Celia, and I were visiting a friend’s house in High Barnet and over dinner were discussing life in general. My host’s wife, who was deeply into the creative arts and crafts world, brought the conversation around to the creative art of writing. She had just completed a twelve month course in Creative Writing. I trotted out the old cliché that ‘everyone has a book in them’ – she responded by inviting me to find a similar course near to home in Northamptonshire and getting myself on it! It took five years for the seed to germinate but three years ago that’s exactly what it I did do! After an excellent Grammar School education, instead of progressing to University I opted to leave the theatre of learning and joined the Civil Service with the Inland Revenue – nowadays called Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. For the next fifty years I held various supervisory, management and administration positions in the private sector, culminating with a thirty year spell (complete with one gold watch) in clothing leather businesses. My final ‘gainful employment’ was helping to develop my son’s co-owned leather merchanting business from its’ small beginnings in 1999. The Company continues to expand to the present day and is currently a major supplier of leather in the UK. I had deferred drawing my State Pension, but in 2009, at the age of sixty-seven, I decided that I had gone as far as I wanted with working for a living, activated the pension and switched on the thought process as to what options were open to me in the future. In spite of various medical problems that had been overcome, my body and brain were still keen and active; slippers and
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daytime TV were not an option. I discussed the situation with Celia, who had already retired some four years previously, and she told me she would support me in whatever option I decided. The support of your wife and family are essential, whatever lifestyle you chose to lead. I had been simmering for many years over the fact that I had opted out of going to University from school those fifty-odd years ago - perhaps it was too late at
this almost geriatric age to cope with being a ‘mature’ student? There was the challenge! I had never been one to decline a challenge throughout my business and personal life – perhaps it wasn’t the time to opt out of this one. The more the thoughts simmered the more I became determined to pursue the idea. My thoughts took me back to that conversation those five years previously. My determination and stubborn streak needed to ‘lay the ghost’. It became almost an obsession! The University of Northampton, only fifteen miles away from home, has an excellent all round reputation. I needed to find out whether they would accept a guy of a ‘certain age’ on any of their Creative Writing courses. In February 2009 I visited the University’s Avenue Campus 16
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------to give a leather presentation to the third year Fashion students and I made an appointment to talk to Dr Phillippa Bennett, Head of English Studies, about the possibilities. This meeting was to turn out to be the beginning of a three year association, and I like to call it, friendship, with Phillippa and many other talented lecturers and tutors at the University.
Unconditionally accepted
I was told that I could be accepted, unconditionally, as a mature student; I could study for a degree, either full-time or part-time in Creative Writing, or English Literature with a Creative Writing module. I left the University that day with the same enthusiasm that remained with me over the next three plus years. That evening, at home, I talked it over with Celia and decided to go for a three year fulltime course in English Literature with a Creative Writing module. I really was in eager anticipation of studying classic literature of all ages – from the 16th century to the present – from Shakespeare to Dickens, Congreve to Martin Amis, Wordsworth’s The Prelude to Milton’s Paradise Lost. My reading activity over the past fifty years had been sadly lacking – Denis Wheatley and Jack Higgins being the only authors in whom I can remember being interested. This was my chance to enter the world of academia, absorb myself in some real classic literature, accept the challenge of putting the clock back fifty years and testing the brain’s reaction to its’ first taste of study in all that time. How would the memory hold up? How would it cope with essay writing? What a great challenge was coming its’ way! Having sorted out the financial aspects of University life, I now had the summer to contemplate the trepidation of a ‘Freshers’ week and the meeting with the eighteen year old students who would be my class-mates for the next three years. What would their reaction be to having a ‘grand-dad’ as a fellow student? I needed to get acclimatised, or at least get the ‘feel’ of the future life of a literature student. I had the reading list – I bought the books – “in for a penny…..?” Suddenly reading became a way of life – Steinbeck was absorbing, George Orwell was interesting, Jeannette Winterson was weird, Samuel Becket was downright puzzling! The Gothic horror stories were a trifle tame for this age hardened student – but it was the first time I had actually read Dracula and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. But I was reading and becoming increasingly eager to commence this next chapter of my life, even though the understanding of the Victorian poetry of The 50+ Show Magazine
Tennyson, Morris, Rossetti et al was the most daunting exercise I had undertaken in years. I said a sad farewell to gainful employment at the end of August 2009, managed to fit in a quick holiday, with Celia, in the sun in Sorrento and Capri, and then headed home to face a three day acclimatisation course for mature students at the University. Of course I was the oldest student there but thoroughly enjoyed joining in the role plays and listening to all the good advice being offered. The following week was a gentle ‘easing in’ to the courses, meeting the tutors, being given the general rules of each of the six modules being studied in the first year. After meeting the tutors en bloc we eventually met each one individually at the first seminars. As you would expect, each tutor has his/her own characteristics, idiosyncrasies or quirks, but, as you would expect at a University, quite different from what I remember of school days, they treated the students as adults. But I wonder why I was the one to whom they turned for clarification of World War Two events?
Pen pictures of the academics
Let me give you my own version of brief pen-pictures of the major ‘guys’ in my academic life. We were not so much lectured by Dr Charles Bennett as entertained by him. He was an effervescent, born actor with a repertoire of many voices, but also a well versed published poet, who, in spite of his façade of fun, had the determination to pass on his superior knowledge to the students. His chastising of late-comers to his seminars was a work of art. He was someone with whom I could relate – someone with my sense of humour and taste in classical music, which went well with my determination to absorb the information he was giving out. His trademark was his cup of tea, brought to every seminar in his favourite china tea-pot. Charles is married to Dr Phillippa Bennett, an accomplished amateur flautist and the Head of the English courses. Some of Charles’s sense of humour has rubbed 17
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------off on to Phillippa, and this was evident in her seminars. However, what was impressive about Phillippa was her extensive knowledge of her subject, the books we were examining, and her ability to grasp the students’ attention and hold it. Similarly, I was suitably impressed by the knowledge imparted by the twin force of Dr Mark Brown and Dr Richard Chamberlain – especially in the fearsome module of Literary Theory, not the easiest subject to teach, or even understand. Their contribution to
to extend their seminars. I gave a cursory hand wave for them to carry on much to the amusement of the ‘real’ tutors! This final year of the three year course was perhaps the most stressful, but again the most rewarding. Apart from Renaissance literature – Milton, Spenser etc – there was the module on Romanticism, the poems of Wordsworth, Keats, Byron etc. Even though poetry is really alien to my straight forward thinking, I can look back with a more positive opinion on the use of language and words used to express their thoughts. The 10,000 word dissertation was a daunting task – I chose to write about the “Modernist Aesthetics and Sexuality of Virginia Woolf”. The research for this was intense, especially as it was interspersed with other assignments, but the pride felt when handling the finished article was worth the expended brain-power. Mark Brown was my supervisor and his advice was priceless. Philippa Bennett’s Fantasy module was also well received even though I was reading Water Babies and Alice through the Looking Glass for the first time. The close examination of the Hunting of the Snark was a revelation – I was awarded one of my few ‘A’ grades for that essay. I thoroughly enjoyed the Creative Writing module – there really is a book in me – I am sure I will be able to tease out the creative juices, let the imagination run riot during the winter days and possibly come up with a Man Booker short listed novel! Well, it’s another challenge and I’m renowned for accepting challenges. This one might be a little more difficult though. By the way, I graduated with a B A (Hons) and a 2:1 to boot. Heady days. I’ve caught up with our three children now and my official portrait, complete with mortar board, nestles in the hall alongside theirs. I would encourage any other senior citizen to follow my lead and not to allow themselves to be put off the ‘Lifelong Learning’ programme if they ever get the chance to continue their education – even after a gap of fifty years. I can honestly say that I enjoyed the experience over the three years, increasingly so as time went by. Not only are you absorbing the deeper aspects of classical English literature, but also the necessary skills of time management, an important singular attribute. The sense of achievement I felt when I held each completed assignment in its clear plastic folder was exhilarating. I feel that I have truly ‘laid the ghost’ of my decision to leave school without undergoing a University education. However, I am pleased to confess that I believe that I feel more of a sense of achievement at this later stage of my life than I would have felt at twenty-one. In the material world I have no doubt the degree would have been more use to me earlier, but the fact that I volunteered for the challenge of enhancing my knowledge of literature made v the choice far more enjoyable.
my learning over the three years was awesome. Mark, with his no nonsense approach to the dissemination of knowledge, his ability to hold the class’s attention with his animated direct approach to his subject. He is always approachable and willing to help the ‘lost soul’. Then there’s Richard, with his superb mastery of anything Shakespearean or remotely ‘Renaissance’, but also a quiet, unassuming character always willing to discuss any problems students might have in the understanding of his modules. He needed to play along with the humour I dished out in the many interesting seminar discussions we had, mostly relating to sex in the 16th century!
The jealousy of the young for the old...
The students, on the whole, accepted me for what I was – a fellow student. I suspect that, at times, they were a little envious of my old age and the experience that comes with it. The majority of them had accumulated their experience of life over eighteen to twenty-one years – mine was over almost seventy years. I could recall personal history going back to World War Two – the most notable experience in one student’s life was ‘eating her first Chinese meal’! The big advantage the younger students had over me was that they were straight out of sixth form! They had studied English at school only a few months prior to University – they were already in ‘study mode’. It was easier for them to adapt to University teaching methods – they had already studied some of the books on the course. I had to dig deep in the first year to get my brain synchronised with theirs and also with the course. The old brain triumphed in the end. There were times, however, when age and wisdom merged to elevate me to the staff – there were occasions when, standing next to a ‘younger’ tutor, I was the one that other tutors approached to ask for my permission
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Rachel’s story
Losing everything, but rising up strong. A true story by ‘Rachel.’
W
hen Rachel married back in the 60s she and her husband Alex rented a,privately owned, self- contained flat, and at the time they thought they were so lucky to find such a nice place to live. The following year their daughter Louise was born, followed by their son Paul. Unfortunately the marriage didn’t last and after 13 years they divorced. Rachel and her children continued to live in the flat and by the time of this story she had lived there happily for many years. Rachel’s parents lived just around the corner, and her work and the children’s school were in a short walking distance.
and as she tossed and turned on a very uncomfortable camp bed she suddenly had an idea. The next day she made up the three beds as usual in her parent’s sitting room using the sofa for her daughter, two armchairs pushed together for her son and the camp bed for herself and telephoned the local newspaper who agreed to send a photographer and reporter. A few days later they arrived and photos were taken of all three of them in bed and details were taken of the cramped living conditions. To Rachel’s amazement the following week their picture and story appeared on the front page of the paper and within 48 hours she was asked to contact the local council who then offered them temporary accommodation in a half-way house where she and the Then one Thursday morning children could be together. The flat everything changed. While Ra“...the whole flat went up in flames was some distance away across the chel was at work and the chilother side of town and where she and Rachel and the children lost dren at school someone broke and the children had been used to into their home, and if breakeverything but the clothes they walking to school and to work, for ing in wasn’t bad enough, the first time they had to take the they also set the place on fire. were wearing that day...” bus, although Rachel thought all Thankfully the emergency serthings considered this was a small vices arrived quickly and the price to pay for a place of their fire didn’t take hold. Since the own. The organisation in charge of the half-way house supdamage was only superficial, Rachel, with the help of her faplied them with three beds and cooking facilities and allowed ther, managed to redecorate. Rachel to buy a few bits of furniture of her own. She made However, a few weeks later exactly the same thing hapthe place as comfortable as possible and they stayed there pened again but this time the outcome was different - the for about a year before being rehoused permanently by the perpetrators succeeded. Using some sort of accelerant on the council. bed covers this time the fire did take hold and the whole flat Of course Rachel was really pleased, and relieved, to get this went up in flames. Rachel and the children lost everything offer of a council flat but not too pleased by its condition. On but the clothes they were wearing that day – they lost literally her first visit the flat appeared to have been used as a toilet everything – but worst of all the fire had made them homeand as a massive dart board by the previous tenants and as less. The local council advised them that they couldn’t stay she opened the door the smell of urine was quite strong and with family or friends as they wouldn’t be considered homethere were holes in every wall and every door. The flat was less. Instead they had to go into bed & breakfast accommoalso located on the top floor of a block and had 64 steps to dation. This they did for a few weeks then Louise became ill climb to reach it. Nevertheless, after a good scrub throughand Rachel wasn’t allowed to take her back into the B&B in out, lots of disinfectant and help from her family it wasn’t case she was contagious. At this point Rachel considered her long before the place resembled something like home – and children had had enough to cope with already in their young after what seemed like an eternity, it was home. A very nice lives and to split them up now would be a step too far - and lady lived in the flat next door, which given the circumstances she had no intention of letting that happen, regardless of the was a bonus, and they remained good consequences. neighbours to each other over the years. Rachel’s parents had quite a small As nice as Rachel made the flat look, house which certainly wasn’t big enough she was determined to save and save to accommodate the family but they inevery penny she could in the hope that sisted Rachel, Louise and Paul move in one day she and the children could with them, as they needed to know they move to a place of their own with a garwere safe. However, these extremely den, and hopefully while the children cramped living conditions were far from were still young enough to enjoy their ideal for them all. childhood. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. Then one night Rachel couldn’t sleep
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As a single parent with only one income she couldn’t save quick enough and a few years later when Louise got married she had to walk down all 64 steps in her wedding dress. Thankfully the janitor at the time knew about the wedding and gave the steps and landings an extra clean that morning for which Rachel was extremely grateful. Then finally after 11 long years of saving Rachel finally had enough money for a deposit to buy the flat they were living in, under the council’s ‘right to buy’ scheme, and three years later she sold it and was able to buy her much-wanted house with a garden. Sadly it was too late for her children as by this time they were both adults, but it’s been absolutely wonderful for her grandchildren. The police never caught the perpetrators who broke into their home, and why it even happened will always remain a mystery. Perhaps mistaken identity, who knows. Rachel will always have regrets that her children had to grow up in such an unsettled way. She is also sorry that her parents didn’t live to see her lovely house as they both died before she was able to move. However, all this happened a long time ago and Rachel is now settled and positive and thinks that in some very strange way that it may have been a blessing in disguise. Had there not been a break-in and fire, and the flow of events that followed hadn’t happened she wouldn’t be where she is today.
Of course she wishes it had never happened but the situations she and the children encountered along the way and the experiences they went through have hopefully given them a broader understanding of life and people. Rachel is retired now but still lives in her lovely house and both Louise and Paul also now own their own homes and visit regularly. It was a shocking few years for them but with courv age and strength they managed to get through it.
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Signs unseen
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Sometimes life takes you down the path you least expect... writes Helen Schofield
A
nything goes these days – in marriages too. When I got married first in the 1970s, things were very different from what they are now. Some things just couldn’t be talked about.
that was part of the attraction, as an only child. Our subconscious plays strange tricks on us. We holidayed together, went on trips at weekends and, slowly, decided to get married. I cannot say that everyone was enamoured of B. He could be difficult at times and controlling, but it didn’t bother me. He liked my parents, and in turn they accepted my choice of partner. When my father died suddenly of a heart attack – on the golf course – I was naturally devastated. The week before this happened I was feeling a bit uncertain about marriage, for whatever reason but events made this too late. Maybe it was just nerves at tying myself down – I was an independent only child. I tried to give my mother the support she needed, and suggested postponing the wedding. She was adamant
I met ‘B’ through work. Our paths crossed at various PR functions. He ran his own company which, over the years, became very successful. Friendship became more, we began ‘dating’ and soon we were an item. I was sharing a flat in London with three girlfriends at that time. It wasn’t long since the swinging 60s, and life was what you might call ‘fun’ – a social whirl in fact, parties and all the excitement the capital had to offer. Added to that, our jobs were socialising too. I worked for a drinks company. B had more than a passing resemblance to my father. Maybe
“About a year into the marriage, ‘B’ began to stay out late. Sometimes he’d go off for a night, sometimes for two or three nights...”
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------– it had to go ahead, my father wouldn’t have wanted me to change my life because of his passing. And so we became Mr and Mrs. Our honeymoon was on a Russian ship visiting various Meditteranean ports, and we returned to live not far from my mother. Everything seemed fine. My mother even took us on a holiday, but this is where the cracks began. B took himself off at various times and seemed to develop a friendship with a younger man. This didn’t ring any alarm bells. Back home, life continued as normal and we were a normal married couple. We even spoke about trying for a child. We lived in ‘suburbia’, our street seemed to be populated with typical suburban types. Somehow though, I had the feeling that we didn’t really fit in, both working at our rather exciting and glamorous jobs in London. About a year into the marriage, B began to stay out late. Sometimes he’d go off for a night, sometimes for two or three nights. It started so insidiously. I couldn’t find out anything. Naturally, we had rows about this. He was a drinker too, and this became worse. With the drinking, his aggression and controlling attitude came out and I suffered abuse both verbally and physically. I remember on one occasion he practically pulled me all the way up the stairs by my hair. I began to lose my confidence and felt increasingly isolated. My poor mother must have had suspicions as one day she peered at my neck and asked if B had tried to strangle me! I don’t think it had quite come to that. I began to delve to find out who he was seeing – looking for evidence in the form of photos, hairs, smells of perfume and lipstick marks. It wasn’t a happy time. This went on for quite a while. I didn’t like to admit that our marriage was in trouble and couldn’t tell anyone. I never found the sort of photos I expected – instead, I found photos of men. Confronting B, he admitted that he believed he was gay. I felt as if my whole life was a sham, and it had to be something I had done or not done. I was ashamed, disgusted, I felt every emotion possible. How could this be? Everything had seemed normal. Why did he marry me? Even years later, I never found an answer. He either didn’t know, or tried to bury his true nature, or got married in order to cover it up. With this revelation out between us, we began leading a double life. B would openly mix with his gay friends, and I would continue as if nothing had happened. I couldn’t tell a soul. At that time, it was something never spoken about and such situations were never revealed. It was dreadful keeping everything secret, pretending things were all right. When B met ‘G’ they began a more serious relationship, and I knew this was the beginning of the end. G was a hairdresser, and in some perverse way I thought if he did my hair, I might be able to change things. I met him, and I have to say he was probably the best hairdresser I have ever had. Tragically The 50+ Show Magazine
though he had Aids, which again, at that time, was usually a death sentence. Years later he indeed died of it. B decided he couldn’t live without G. He wanted to move him into our house. Beside myself, I contacted a solicitor who told me I had the right to stay there – but it was hardly the ideal situation. I don’t think I mentioned that my husband actually wanted a man to move in! But regardless of everything, I was told that G was to come. At that point I moved right out, taking with me only one bag. I went to stay with a friend in Italy, and after a few weeks returned to my mother’s house. Less than sympathetic, and not knowing the full story, she reminded me that I’d just had a good holiday!!! We managed to have an ‘amicable’ divorce, as they say, although in hindsight there must have been many difficult, horrible, moments in this story. Thankfully with the passage of
time I find I can erase them from my mind. It took several years for me to move on from what happened and to begin to feel ‘normal’ again. It took a long, long time to be able to trust a man again too. My mother was never able to even utter B’s name when she knew the full story. If this happened nowadays, things would be very different. It might even be possible for two people to agree to continue together, living their own lives if they cared for each other. In spite of it all, I did care for B although I hated him for what he’d put me through. Love and hate can intertwine. I now feel nothing about what happened. We lost touch for many years, I went on to marry a wonderful man who sadly died of cancer, and in recent times B and I have resumed contact intermittently. He has lived for many years with a younger man, and they have a happy relationship. I do not have a relationship, but I don’t feel bitter. On the contrary, this experience has given me much to help on my life journey, more understanding and – yes – truly courage and strength to face anything thrown at me. v But I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. 21
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Living forever
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Six things you need to know about high blood pressure
Julie Ward of the British Heart Foundation has some sound advice to keep your ticker ticking...
H
igh blood pressure is a major cause of heart attack and stroke, but most of us don’t even know the facts. Julie Ward, Blood Pressure Project Manager at the British Heart Foundation, explains.
you should be aiming for a blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg (usually spoken as “140 over 90”). 5. Exercise reduces your risk. Not taking regular exercise can increase your risk of high blood pressure. That’s just one of the many reasons why we should all get at least 150 minutes a week of physical activity.
1. It’s a silent killer. If you have high blood pressure, you may not even know about it that’s why high blood pressure is often called the ‘silent killer.’ There are rarely any signs or symptoms, so millions of people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it.
6. Alcohol increases your risk. Too much alcohol can increase your blood pressure. Other lifestyle factors that increase your risk of high blood pressure include being overweight, and not eating enough fruit and vegetables.
2. You might not know about it until you have a heart attack or stroke. The first time you may find out that you have high blood pressure is when you have a stroke or a heart attack. High blood pressure can damage the walls of the arteries, causing coronary artery disease and stroke. It can also damage the heart muscle, leading to heart failure.
See Julie on Friday 14 July at 2.15pm in the Health Seminar Theatre at the National Hall. Heart Matters is a free, award-winning magazine for anyone with a heart condition or at risk of heart problems, or who helps to look after someone with heart disease. Sign up free at: www.bhf. org.uk/50plus or call 0300 330 5483.
3. Millions of us have it. There are around 16 million people in the UK with high blood pressure (nearly 1 in 3 adults). Nine million of those have been diagnosed, but it’s estimated that there are up to 7 million people in the UK with untreated or undiagnosed high blood pressure. 4. It’s all about the numbers. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The first (or top) number of your reading is the pressure when your blood pressure is at its highest (when your heart squeezes, called systolic pressure). The second (or bottom) number is the pressure when your blood pressure is at its lowest (when your heart relaxes, called diastolic pressure). Unless your doctor tells you otherwise,
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The
+ 50 Awards 2017
The 50+ Awards 2017: 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 2017: 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: Cunard Bronze: Princess
Best 50+ airline Gold: Emirates Silver: Singapore Airlines Bronze: Virgin Alantic
Best 50+ UK hotel group Gold: Warner Leisure Hotels Silver: Hilton Bronze: Marriott
Best 50+ overseas destination Gold: Australia Silver: New Zealand 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: Barrhead Travel Silver: Kuoni Bronze: Virgin Holidays
Best 50+ adventure travel supplier Gold: Adagio Holiday Silver: Saga Bronze: Kuoni
Best 50+ wellness provider Gold: NHS Silver: Boots Bronze: Bupa 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: Women’s Institute Silver: National Trust Bronze: U3A
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Best 50+ continuing education provider Gold: Open University Silver: University of Strathclyde Bronze: U3A Best 50+ housing provider Gold: McCarthy & Stone Silver: Churchill Bronze: Hanover Housing Best 50+ newspaper (paid-for) Gold: Daily Mail Silver: The Times Bronze: Daily Record Best 50+ free publication Gold: Mature Times Silver: Evening Standard Bronze: Metro Best 50+ magazine Gold: Gardeners World Silver: Take a Break Bronze: Yours 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: Wetherspoon Silver: Toby Carvery Bronze: Harvester
Best 50+ gas supplier Gold: First Utility Silver: Scottish Gas Bronze: British Gas
Best 50+ broadband provider Gold: Virgin Media Silver: SKY Bronze: BT Best 50+ bank or building society Gold: Nationwide Silver: TSB Bronze: Santander 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
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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 2017 July 2017
THE 50+ SHOW PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION Winners & Runners-up
The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
The 50+ Show Magazine
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July 2017
Goodbye!