Yours Magazine issue 236

About to star in a stage musical, Sheila Hancock chats about staying energised, her family and fighting injustice

By Richard Barber heila Hancock fixes me with those vivid blue eyes. “When you get to my age,” she says, “you can start to seize up and, if you sit for a long time, you do. Whereas, if I’m rushing around, I feel much healthier.”

Little wonder, then, that she looks the picture of health – not bad for someone who celebrates her 83rd birthday in February.

“I don’t care about the age thing at all. I just care about being nearer to death which I don’t want.

I may be a bit creaky sometimes but I accept that as just part of the package. And I am very busy.”

You can say that again. She has just guest-starred in a 30th anniversary special edition of Casualty and popped up in a children’s programme, The Dumping Ground (“It’s a favourite of my seven-year-old grandson, Louis”).

On the day we met, she arrived hotfoot from recording a play for Radio 4. She is also planning another book of memoirs, probably based on places she wants to revisit.

But first she must tackle her leading role in a new stage musical.

She’s naturally fit and healthy, she says, although she doesn’t leave that to chance. “I’m careful about what I eat. I try to walk a lot. I also

PIC:ALPHA PRESS; REX SHUTTERSTOCK; SCOPE

S

‘I don’t care about the age thing’

‘I’m careful about what I eat. I try to walk a lot. I also swim fairly regularly.’

26

YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

❙ star chat ❙ swim fairly regularly. I do a tiny bit of yoga just to keep myself supple. I’m lucky that I’m naturally slim.”

Sheila has been alone since 2002 when her second husband, actor John Thaw, succumbed to oesophageal cancer aged just 60. She wishes he was still here, of course, but she’s philosophical about the blows life has dealt her. “The older you get, the more you appreciate your own company. That can be dangerous, though, because you can get things out of proportion if you don’t talk them through with someone else.”

It’s true, she thinks, that time is a great healer. “You never forget but you learn to accommodate your grief. In fact, I realised the other day that now when I remember John I laugh more than I cry. I still cry for what might have been but then I’m someone, like my father, who cries at the drop of a hat. After a couple of gins, I’ll always have a good sob.”

There’s no question of another chap, though. She did go on a date not too long ago. “Halfway through the meal, I started wondering whether I’d remembered to switch on the electric blanket.” She laughs.

“I haven’t got enough time left for another big romance. But I do want to participate in life until I drop.”

Sheila has never been afraid to say boo to a goose. Take the recent incident of her car insurance tripling overnight, rising from £800 a year to £2,400. “I wanted to know why. Was it because of my age, my profession? I’d had an accident which had had absolutely nothing to do with me. The other person’s insurer paid up without a qualm.

“I’d also made a phone call to my insurance company asking whether there was any point making a claim after another car scratched mine. They told me no. But when I queried

the huge hike in my annual premium, they wrote to say that if you have two no-claim accidents you’re more likely to have a real accident in the future.

“Well, I wasn’t having that. I asked to see the statistics that supported this extraordinary assertion. I wanted proof. Of course they couldn’t provide it because, they said, that information was confidential.” So she filmed a report for BBC1’s consumer programme, Watchdog.

By her own admission, Sheila’s a bit of a petrolhead. “Oh yes, I love cars. I’ve had a Morgan, Jaguars, MGs, always very beautiful machines. I’ve currently got a specially built twoseater Mini. John used to buy them for me; he got me my first Jaguar sports car.”

And she has just discovered a new app that’s changed her life. “It’s called JustPark. I was rehearsing in north London not long ago. There was only a two-hour meter available so I had to keep running out to feed it. Then someone told me about JustPark.

“You enter the postcode of where you are and then you get all these offers from people with driveways or unused underground parking spaces.

There turned out to be one opposite the rehearsal room. I had to pay, but much less than parking on a meter and I could use it all day. Job done!” says the unstoppable Sheila Hancock with her sunniest smile.

The real Edith and Edie Bouvier Beale lived an amazing eccentric life captured on film in1975

New stage challenge Sheila is about to star in Grey Gardens, a new stage musical based on the 1975 documentary of the same name about Edith and Edie Bouvier Beale, Jackie Kennedy’s eccentric aunt and cousin, who lived in a raccooninfested mansion on Long Island.

She says: “I was drawn to it for two reasons – the mother/ daughter relationship and the fact that it’s very often the daughter who’s left with the care of the elderly mother. I’m the mother of three girls and I’m making absolutely sure that my life is tidied up so that I won’t be a burden to them after I’ve gone.” ✢ Grey Gardens is at the Southwark Playhouse until February 6. For details visit www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Sheila shared joyous times with Morse star, John Thaw

‘I realised the other day that now, when I remember John, I laugh more than I cry’ YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

27

n o i h s a fresolutions

Style 5

By Fashion Editor, Michelle Nightingale

Ditch the black

Try a more flattering navy. Black can instantly wash you out, whereas classic navy always looks chic. Pair navy with white for a softer take on the monochrome look.

l

l

38

YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

Layering up will keep you cosy and ensure you’re prepared for our changeable weather. Avoid adding unnecessary bulk by layering lighter fabrics and complete the look by adding a belt on top to help create a slimmer waist. ✢ Cap-sleeved textured cardigan, £29, 8-22, M&Co; floral shirt, £26, 8-22, M&Co; white top (just seen), £8, 8-24, M&S Collection; denim skirt, £35, 8-22, M&S Collection; belt, £14, Next

l

Learn to laye r

✢ Floral bodycon dress, £50, 10-26, Lorraine Kelly for JD Williams; navy pointed court shoes, £59.99, 3-8, Lotus shoes

Smarten up

l l

Make 2016 your most stylish year yet, with these simple rules for all-year round chic

l

notes

Neatly tailored trousers and tops can be just as comfy as more casual wear, but instantly look like you’ve made an effort. Smart needn’t look stuffy, either; this top looks effortlessly stylish and cleverly skims over lumps and bumps, too. ✢ Funnel-neck blouse, £35, 6-22, Autograph at M&S; wool blend trousers, £38, 6-22, Next; navy suede loafers, £65, 3-9, Lotus shoes; earrings, £8, Jon Richard at Debenhams

Build good foundations Nude belly-buster

SMOOTH shaping brief, RESULTS £14, 8-20, Bhs.

Gives a sleek silhouette. Made from bonded technology so there’s no VPL!

Wear more colour Wearing a flash of colour instantly lifts your mood and confidence. Try a bold, coloured dress like this one, or simply brighten up your accessories with a colourful bag or scarf.

✢ Bardot belted shift dress, £28, 8-22, Bhs; print heels, £28, 3-8, M&Co; earrings, £8, Jon Richard at Debenhams

Black high-waist shaping knickers, £16, 10-20, Bhs. Gives firm control, helping to trim the waist and hips and flatten the tummy.

OTHER COLOURS AVAILABLE

l

l

Hunt for a good pair of dark denim jeans, which are flattering because the dark wash instantly slims, plus they can easily be dressed up or down. Team with a simple stripe top and a statement necklace and you have a winning classic look.

✢ Stripe top with three-quarter sleeve, £25, 6-22, Autograph at M&S; shapeenhancing bootcut jeans, £35, 8-20, Principles by Ben de Lisi at Debenhams; leopard print loafers, £89, 3-8, Jones Bootmaker; necklace, £4, Next

STOCKISTS: Bhs 0344 411 6000 www.bhs.co.uk; Debenhams 0344 561 6161 www.debenhams. com; JD Williams 0871 231 2000 www.jdwilliams.co.uk; Jones Bootmaker 0800 163 519 www. jonesbootmaker.com; Lotus shoes 01706 219 222 www.lotusshoes.co.uk; M&Co 0333 202 0720 www.mandco.com; Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000 www.marksandspencer.com; Next 0333 777 8000 www.next.co.uk. Details correct at time of going to press

MUSTHAVE BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY RUTH JENKINSON; STYLIST JO WINCH; HAIR AND MAKE-UP SARAH JANE GREEN

l

Stock up on basics

Pink slip, £19.50, 8-22, M&S Collection.

Helps prevent dresses from clinging and gives a sleeker silhouette.

Memory foam multiway bra, £22.50, 32A-36E, M&S Collection.

The unique fabric keeps it in place without the need for silicone.

Soft padded t-shirt bra, £20, 32A-38DD, M&S Collection. Gives a smooth, natural shape, invisible under your clothes. ✢ NEXT ISSUE Look slimmer with our essential handy figure-fixing fashion guide YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

39

HEALTH &

vitality Resolutions don’t have to mean big changes in your lifestyle, start thinking small this year

By Stacey Carter

7youhealth should m

ome the New Year it’s tempting to try and reinvent yourself, overhaul your lifestyle and make some major changes – but all too often, we have abandoned our ambitious goals before February arrives. The resolutions we’re most likely to stick to are the easy ones.

Changing our habits slightly, or gradually, is the best way to achieve new goals. Start simply with these seven suggestions to help you achieve a healthier, happier lifestyle that is here to stay.

C

Add spice instead of salt Too much salt is bad for your blood pressure so try using herbs and spices to add flavour to your meals instead. Research shows that replacing salt with herbs and spices when cooking could significantly decrease the amount of sodium (the unhealthy compound in salt) in your diet.

Cutting down on your salt intake could help to lower your blood pressure and reduce water retention, making you feel less bloated. Instead of seasoning your chicken with salt, roll it in spices such as cumin or paprika to add flavour, or oregano and garlic if you don’t like the heat.

Take time for meditation Meditation is gaining support from doctors and some NHS trusts now recommend it as a treatment for all sorts of health problems from stress and anxiety to pain. Research has also shown that people who meditate have a better memory, attention span and learning ability.

Take a few minutes out of your day to find a quiet space, turn off all outside distractions and try to clear your mind completely. Sit in a comfortable position and try to pay attention to your breathing. If any thoughts drift into your head, ignore them and let them float away.

Make Monday meatless Making one of your weekdays meat-free is a good way to increase your fruit and veg intake. Studies have shown that vegetarian diets are linked to better health. If you’re skipping meat, make sure you eat plenty of pulses or beans along with vegetables, dairy products and nuts.

Veggie recipes can be just as tasty and are often cheaper to make, which is great news. Why not swap your chicken curry for a chickpea one, or your pasta bolognaise for a veggie lasagne?

If you’re skipping meat, make sure you eat plenty of pulse s or beans

Increase your water intake Drinking water is one of the best ways to stay well. It helps to lubricate your joints and keeps your kidneys healthy.

Experts recommend that we drink two litres (that’s about three and a half pints) of water a day, which sounds a lot if you’re not used to it. Start by drinking one or two glasses of water a day, one mid-morning and one in the afternoon.

Gradually increase your intake. If you’re struggling, herbal and fruit teas count.

changes

make this year! switch one hour of sitting to walking Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. make it fun by planning a weekly walk with a friend or just take the dog out first thing in the morning. Recent research found that those who swapped one hour of sitting with standing each day boosted their longevity by five per cent.

If an hour a day seems like too much, start by walking for just 15 or 20 minutes a day and slowly build up to 60 minutes. Find out if there is a local ramblers’ group you can join. Walking is a wonderful excuse to get out of the house to enjoy fresh air and winter sun.

Snacking between meals won’t help you achieve your New Year weight-loss goals, but it can be a tricky habit to give up. Instead of cutting out your snacks try to snack smarter. A protein-based snack will help you stay fuller for longer between meals. Nuts are a great option and come with an added hearthealth boost.

If nuts aren’t your thing, try plain yogurt with fruit, houmous with crudités or a glass of milk and some fruit.

Check up on your hearing Hearing loss affects one in six adults in the Uk and often it takes us ten years to accept we’re struggling to hear. In 80 per cent of cases, it will be a close friend or family member who finally prompts us to get our hearing checked. Don’t waste time missing out on important conversations or feeling self-conscious, make getting your hearing checked a routine job.

Regular hearing checks are important and it’s recommended that you have a hearing test every year if you are over 55, or every two years if you are under 55. Hearing tests and aftercare at Specsavers are free if you want a check-up in 2016.

B Find out more at specsavers.co.uk/hearing, call 0808 143 1143 or just talk to a member of staff in-store.

B see your GP before taking vitamin supplements or herbal remedies, particularly if you take prescribed medicines. Always speak to your GP before stopping any medication or before starting any diet or exercise regime.

B Next issue Revitalise your body and mind with our tips

YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

51

PICS: jUmP FOTO; ISTOCk PHOTO

snack smarter

x

Good to KNOW... | DID YOU KNOW? |

CASH SAVER Support your local bookshop by buying

Edinburgh has been revealed as the best UK city to live in, in a quality of life survey. As well as stunning architecture, the Scottish capital benefits from low rents, living costs and crime rates

books, music, DVDs, toys and stationery from Hive.co.uk. Around 5-8 per cent of the purchase price goes towards supporting your favourite independent bookshop. For free delivery, opt for second class or collect your order from the bookshop.

GH EDINBUR

Source: MoneySuperMarket.com

THE

WATCHING

PENNIES

Best Buy We spend £98 a year on medication for our pets.

Asda says it can save owners 30 per cent with its new Pet Prescription Service. It offers medicines from heart disease and arthritis medication to flea treatments. Simply take your vet’s prescription to your local Asda Pharmacy.

CASH IN THE ATTIC Founded in 1751, English porcelain maker,

| IT’S A FACT | Open wide! The cost of a private

dental check-up varies by £170 across the UK, with Birmingham the cheapest location with a trip to the dentist costing £15, while in London, it’s a whopping £185.

NHS treatment (www.nhs.uk) costs are fixed and can work out cheaper Source: WhatClinic

the Worcester factory, became known as Royal Worcester in 1862, its forms and decorations inspired

by Oriental porcelain. The early 20th Century saw it suffer as sales fell and it was declared bankrupt in 1930. Saved

by C W Dyson Perrins, it entered another ‘golden age’. Today, Royal Worcester sells many figurines designed during this period. However, with its traditional styling, many Royal Worcester ceramics are out of fashion, so more affordable for collectors. This January figurine from the ‘Months of the Year’ series, is valued at £50-£70.

Source: Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2016-17

TH WOR

£5070 -£ 58

YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

x

Fre e bie s OF THE FORTNIGHT!

HOW TO...

FINANCE HOME ALTERATIONS often provide and fit for free (costs may come out of your personal care budget). This includes things like ramps or lighting/heating controls that are easier to use ✢ Major adaptations: If you need a stairlift or downstairs bathroom, for example, you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant from the council. ✢ For details, visit www.which.co.uk/ financing-home-alterations

Greenwatch Mis-use of appliances can leave us out of pocket. Almost half of us (47 per cent ) boil more water than we need to when using the kettle; one in five switch on the dishwasher before it’s full and a whopping 89 per cent don’t fill their freezer to capacity so it’s working harder to freeze air, rather than food. “Not switching appliances off at the wall is another cash drain,” says Mark Kelly at AppliancesDirect.co.uk.

“Use appliances wisely and consider energy-efficiency ratings when shopping for new items.”

BUDGET BEATER

People living with sight-loss can now enjoy Talking Books by best-selling authors including David Walliams and Hilary Mantel for free. Readers used to have to pay but now you can access books on CD or USB or as a digital download by calling 0303 123 9999 or visiting rnib.org.uk. The service was launched in 1935 to help soldiers blinded in the war.

Want to save money and enjoy something for free?

Every fortnight we’ll share our top freebies and money-saving offers.

Fre e BROW WAX Start the New Year with a new look! Join the Debenhams Beauty Club (0844 800 8877), and enjoy free makeovers and a Benefit eyebrow shape and wax on your birthday.

Fre e TEA SAMPLES Select up to three Birchall tea samples, and they’ll send you them free of charge.

Choose from Earl Grey, Camomile, Peppermint and more at https://birchalltea. co.uk/free-sample/

Fre e ULTRA LIGHT PADS

| IT’S A FACT | Nearly four million of us have nowhere to park the car as our garages become workshops (26 per cent), offices (20 per cent), extra bedrooms (13 per cent), or are knocked through for an extension (16 per cent) Source: Sainsbury’s Car Insurance

✢ NEXT ISSUE Know your online shopping rights

Get a free sample pack of iD Light Ultra Mini pantyliners when you fill in the request form at http:// bit.ly/1MP4NgU

Fre e MEALS OUT Join The Mystery Dining Company, and eat, drink and stay at great restaurants and venues. Complete a detailed report on your experience and they’ll reimburse your bill! Find out more on 01225 470281 or visit www.mysterydining.net ✢ This round-up is supplied by our friends at MagicFreebies, the UK’s most popular freebie website. Visit www.magicfreebies.co.uk for all the latest free stuff, offers, competitions, money-saving articles and more.

YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

59

WORDS: SARAH JAGGER. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, IT’S ALWAYS WISE TO CONSULT AN AUTHORISED PROFESSIONAL ADVISER PICS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK; GETTY IMAGES

Adapting your own or a relative’s home to help them stay independent?

These tips from Which? Elderly Care could help: ✢ Get assessed: Ask your council for an Occupational Therapists’ assessment. You will only qualify for financial help if an OT confirms it’s needed ✢ Small adaptations: If adaptations cost under £1,000 the council will

Valery in1971

Every issue Editor at large Valery McConnell relives the best bits of our lives. This fortnight the triumphs and disasters of learning to knit!

ack in the Fifties and Sixties, homes were full of knitted dishcloths and kettle-holders – two of the three favourite starter items for would-be knitters, if your letters and emails are anything to go by.

The third, of course, being a scarf, as Mrs Phenton remembers... “Mum cast on the stitches and I decided it would be for Dad. It seemed a bit lacy, but every time I showed it to him he said how lovely it was.

“At school the teacher asked if any of us could knit and I put up my hand.

She asked me to bring my knitting in to show the class. The scarf was about six inches long and it did look a bit unusual but I was so proud. The teacher gave one horrified look and made me stand on a form in front of the class as she unravelled the knitting and made me roll it into a ball.” How mean.

So, hurrah for Catherine Jones...

“I was taught to knit by my mum and gran aged eight. In junior school we were told to bring in some needles and wool to learn to knit. My hand shot up and I said, ‘Please Miss, I can already knit.” I was told to bring my knitting in.

The teacher’s face was a picture when I brought in a double-rib polo neck jumper, almost finished.”

Another knitting natural was Eileen Morris who, like many of you, was taught to knit by a man who had been in the Armed Forces. “We lodged with Mr and Mrs Greenslade and he had been in the Boer War at the siege of Ladysmith.

Aged four, I loved to watch him knit, so he

B

taught me. I started on four needles and knitted a pair of socks – I even turned the heel.”

That didn’t go so well for Pauline Redsell. “When I was expecting my daughter, I decided to knit a pair of bootees. Number one looked sweet and I’d soon finished the second one but, oh dear, it was quite different to the first bootee. Undeterred, I knitted another – only to discover it was also different, not just in size but pattern too. It was my first and only foray into the knitting world.”

Of course, there was sabotage... Dorothy McKown and her sister Lily were being taught to knit by their mum. “When we were on our own, Lily told me there was a stitch that was knit one, drop one. I believed her and ended up, as you can imagine, with no stitches and a mess.”

But so many of you had tight-lipped tales of knitting for partners, like Anita

‘My sister told me I should knit one, drop one…’

Pritchard: “I treated my husband Brian to a hand-knitted cable jumper. At the time he helped the vicar run the youth club and wore it on a canoe outing.

Several years later the same vicar made a speech at a Scouts’ evening and included memories of this outing.

Apparently Brian had capsized, his jumper had stretched to enormous proportions and dragged him into the water. Brian, not wanting to upset me and my ‘knitting skills’ got his mum to sort it out. This was the first I’d heard of it, so you can imagine the atmosphere in the room at this revelation.

“He was, eventually, forgiven.”

YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

67

PICS: ALAMY

Knit one, purl one