Retirement today new year 2016 by Amra Media Solutions

today

R E T I R E M E N T

www.retirement-today.co.uk

The magazine for pre and post retirement

FINANCE•LIFESTYLE•TRAVEL•CULTURE•COMPETITIONS•HEALTH•RECIPES

Issue 85 New Year ‘16 £2.90

RETIREMENT

today

CONTENTS

5 Sunset or New Dawn –Facing the future Read about how to approach retirement with optimism, treating it as an opportunity for new kinds of fulfilment.

WELCOME TO RETIREMENT TODAY MAGAZINE

7 Learning After Retirement (it could be easier than you think) Why not embrace the prospect of retirement by learning a new skill or honing an old one by way of keeping the mind active. Alastair Wallbanks looks at some of the options available.

graphy by Martin P 13 Photo oole

Image bottom left: Every Room Tells a Story by Kit Kemp and Fiona McCarthy Photography by Simon Brown Image Middle Right: The Power of Three by Dale Pinnock Photography Martin Poole

Competitions Your chance to win an overnight stay in Bath, plus theatre and exhibition tickets.

WIN

PAGE 13

15 Volunteering – A new challenge

If endless days filled with social activities feel a little unchallenging for your retirement, why not consider volunteering, a chance to bring a lifetime of experience into the charity sector.

18 Footloose – Tales of the Thames Debra Rixon explores the Thames on foot, discovering strong emotions in those who live and work near, or on it.

20 Where in the World Read about some of the adventures of housesitters Lee and Les, who have worked and lived the expat lifestyle for over twenty five years.

23 Out and About

Read about events taking place up and down the country

24 The Power of Three A selection of recipes from The Medicinal Chef, Dale Pinnock.

26 Book Reviews A review of some of the best books currently available.

27 Retirement Living Alastair Wallbanks takes a look at some of the options available for Retirement Living.

29 Update Silver divorce rates on the increase; Pensions power boom in gym start ups; Advisors anticipate room in equity release enquiries; The new state pension is born, but confusion reigns over the changes.

Amra Media Solutions Ltd The Old Lavender Mill 46a Brook Street Aston Clinton Buckinghamshire HP22 5ES

30 Be Bold When it comes to interior design, don’t be afraid to be bold and let every room tell a story.

• Tel: 01296 632700 • Email: info@amramedia.co.uk • www.retirement-today.co.uk • Designed by: Tom Evans Design All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Although every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and the advertisements contained within the magazine, the publishers cannot accept any liability. Retirement Today would be pleased to receive your articles and photographs for possible publication. Although all reasonable care will be taken the magazine can assume no responsibility and contributors are advised to retain a copy.

32 Keeping Active is Fitness Friendly You don’t need money, or lycra or fancy trainers to keep fit!

35 Park Homes If you are approaching retirement or contemplating semi-retirement and wondering what options are available, then the Park Home lifestyle is something well worth considering.

39 Why making a Will matters Read about why it’s so important to make a will.

41 Charity News Give families like Veronica’s a future free from hunger; Abseil 165ft down the iconic Forth Rail Bridge for Age Scotland; Heart Matters.

42 Charity News Fergus the dog walks his owners nearly 200 miles for the Animal Health Trust; Wold-leading violinist joins dementia charity; Sir Derek Jacobi opens new Research Centre

IBC Subscription Subscribe and have Retirement Today delivered direct to your door.

Photography by Simon Brown

• Published by:-

30 32

10th July - 6th August 2016

With over 600 courses available there’s Something for Everyone

etirement, like going to school for the first time or having your first child, is a major life landmark. As such, you’re likely to have to come to terms with two major changes: long periods of free time in which to occupy yourself in a satisfactory way; and feelings of loss regarding the structure and purpose that work provides.

01672 892388 | summerschool.co.uk

DILLINGTON HOUSE

Sunset or new dawn?

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Unleash your creativity • First-class accommodation • • Delicious food • • Excellent tutors •

Discover Dillington www.dillington.com 01460 258613

RETIREMENT

today

Although we all view retirement in individual ways – depending on our personal circumstances, priorities, and personalities – psychologists have identified three key approaches:

Excessively negative An unappealing future looms – with a loss of purpose and self-esteem.

Realistically positive A new phase of positive Fulfilment and social engagement is about to begin. You have an array of inner and social resources to draw on.

SUNSET OR NEW DAWN?

element of uncertainty; with several options available to them, choosing one way over another seems inherently risky. Excitement is a common response, too: the sense of a new life beckoning, of a long-awaited rebalancing, or a freedom from commitment as if a debt had finally been paid off. You’re likely to have complicated feelings about retirement, often with a degree of apprehension. This apprehension may be linked to aging, rather than leaving work, and some doubt will centre on the adjustment required to make the best use of a new and very different phase of life.

FACING THE FUTURE

We all face retirement in our own way. Some see it as a gift, while others may think of it as a challenge. The key is to approach retirement with optimism, treating it as an opportunity for new kinds of fulfilment.

A golden age?

Are you happy and confident about the prospect of retiring, having perhaps found work a burden you’re relieved to be free of? Or are you anxious about the change, concerned how you’ll cope without the career that occupied so much of your waking time? Sometimes people in the lead-up to retirement describe it as carrying an

WHAT’S IN STORE?

WILL YOU COPE?

BRIGHTER LATER

Any or all of the following uncertainties may complicate your attitude to retirement:

Uncertainty about the future causes people to react in different ways, but psychologists have identified four common responses – which do you identify with?

Here are some of the ways in which retirees make good use of their free time and give their life new purpose and structure:

At Work How much, if at all, will you miss the following features of work? • Purpose and self-esteem • Work community • Income from employment

In your new life How well will you adjust to the following new aspects of life? • More time to yourself • More time with your partner • More time at home

Other Issues How well will you handle issues in the following aspects of later life? • Your own health and that of your partner or family members • Financial security • Social or political changes

1. You dwell on the risks and dangers, including threats to your emotional security and self image. 2. You think you won’t cope when the time comes because, you reason, you’ve been unable to make a clear plan of action. 3. You procrastinate, allowing the uncertainty to continue. 4. You prioritise safe activities over challenging or unfamiliar experiences. There’s no single cure-all to these issues, but you could reduce any anxiety linked with uncertainty by, for example, preparing for several different possibilities.

A new, contented life of leisure and fulfilment will unfold automatically and start immediately.

–

Unrealistically positive This is the “happy-ever-after” fallacy, when retirement feels like the solution to all life’s problems

–

Self-Development • Personal projects • Some form of work, whether entrepreneurial or supportive • Volunteer activity • Learning subjects or skills

Friends and Family • New phase of life with partner • New friendships • Caring for elderly relatives or grandchildren

Leisure and Fitness • Holidays, staying with friends • Use of local leisure facilities • Walking and other fitness pursuits • Hobbies

An extract from Retirement the Psychology of Reinvention by Kenneth S. Shultz, PhD with Megan Kaye and Mike Annesley

RETIREMENT

today

Sunset or new dawn?

How do you feel?

The quality of your retirement may depend, in part, on your existing circumstances: any unresolved life issues will probably remain difficult, any may be magnified once the distraction of work has gone. It will also depend on your attitude and, in particular, the enthusiasm, energy and resourcefulness you’re able to channel into shaping a new life for yourself. Retirement is a new dawn in the sense that it represents a great opportunity to reinvent or fine-tune your life according to a template of your own making. The best preparation is to reach a level of self-understanding before the big day and use this as a basis for setting long-term priorities and goals.

RETIREMENT

today

LEARNING AFTER RETIREMENT (It could be easier than you think) By Alastair Wallbanks

Which one to choose? Manchester Metropolitan University’s central campus is situated close to Manchester’s city centre and there is a second campus in Cheshire, 36 miles (58 km) from Manchester. MMU are broadening their portfolio offering courses online through distance learning. From September 2016 these will include MA’s in Creative Writing, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), European Philosophy, European Philosophy (Aesthetics) and History. One of their retired students, who completed an MA Creative Writing, Howard Mason said, “What I like is that the course is wholly orientated to assisting the would-be creative writers through well-focused workshops enabling them to understand how the writing of established authors can inform their own projects, exchange constructive criticism with their peers and draw on the experience of the tutors.” Catherine Fox, novelist and lecturer in Creative

Writing at The Manchester Writing School, said, “They say everyone has a book in them. But that’s where most of them seem destined to stay. A really good book is often a long time in the brewing, and that’s why so many of our students at the Manchester Writing School come to us at retirement age.All our tutors are published authors themselves, and know the process from the inside. Whether it’s a collection of poems, a children’s book, an adult novel, or place writing, our MFA (Master of Fine Arts) programme offers the perfect way of transforming your book from a dream to a reality. And what we often find, is that books that have been marinating for a lifetime are the ones most worth waiting for. So why wait any longer?” Closer to the capital is The University of London, many levels of study are covered here including a wide range of short courses and summer programmes. Margaret Joachim is a student at the School of Advanced Studies, when she retired after 30 years in IT, having always had an interest in the Folio Society, she signed up for a course at the Institute of

English Studies studying the History of the Book. At the completion of her course Margaret will graduate as an MA. She told me that she is then considering going on to complete a PhD in the study of 14th century illuminated manuscripts. Colonel Anthony (Tony) Russ is studying at the Institute of English

Learning after retirement

chievement doesn’t have to end with retirement, and it’s a proven fact that keeping active in mind and body prolongs life. Why not embrace the prospect of retirement by learning a new skill or honing an old one, it’s one way of keeping the mind active. There are many establishments and institutions available to assist you, many offering part time, weekend and distance learning courses.

Colonel Anthony (Tony) Russ RETIREMENT

today

Learning after retirement

Studies. Having retired from the Army after 34 years’ service, he was determined to undertake a period of study to enhance his interest in antiquarian books. Tony told me, “In January 2015, I embarked upon a 2 year Master of Research (MRes) course in the History of the Book at London University. “My motivation was primarily to develop a better understanding of the books I had been collecting for over 15 years.” Tony wanted to prove to himself that, despite being over 60, his brain is still capable of rigorous analysis. He says, “I genuinely feel more academically confident now than I felt over forty years ago when undertaking my first degree (Physics). “I have really enjoyed the whole experience of being a mature student, I would strongly recommend further academic study to anyone it’s what genuinely makes me want to get out of bed in the morning.” London Artscom (University of the Arts London) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing art. Some of their graduates go on to work in and shape creative industries worldwide. The University draws together six renowned colleges, each with its own world-class reputation. Their excellent facilities include everything from letterpress machinery to studio theatres and college archives. London Artscom have launched the careers of many creative and cultural leaders, including more than half of all Turner Prize nominees, over half of the designers named British Designer of the Year and more than a third of the 40 artists named in the Catlin Guide’s most promising graduate artists. Shauna Scott, Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator for Central Saint Martins, one of the six colleges making up the University of the Arts London, said, “We find students over 60 on a wide range of courses, including graphics, jewellery fashion, business and writing courses.” Shauna went on to say, “The benefits of enrolling in one of our courses include the community feeling and sense of structure that comes with attending weekly sessions.The short courses provide opportunities to meet new people, learn new skills, all while enjoying the buzz of ‘being in art school’” They continue to nurture creative talent and strive

to establish new, cutting edge programmes such as MA Fashion Media Production at LCF and Camberwell’s postgraduate conservation course. UAL’s courses are delivered by an inspiring and supportive teaching staff made up of professional artists, practitioners, designers, critics and theorists. If that’s not for you why not consider Marlborough College Summer School, which will run from 10th July to 6th August 2016 and host courses including Arts and Crafts, Body and Mind, Landscape and Architecture, Science, Technology, History, Country Pursuits and Sports. 2016 also sees the first Summer School courses run in Spain, with birdwatching in April and a watercolour course in September, both in Andalucía. Marketing and PR Officer Rachel Wheeler said, “All of our adult courses are suitable for retired people! Furthermore, thanks to our young people’s courses, some of our retired customers can even enjoy the chance to spend quality time with their children and grandchildren during Summer School”. The Summer School team have surpassed themselves with this year’s entertainment programme. The Gala performances every Tuesday and Friday, include An Evening with Michael Palin, and Illyria’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After Sarah Jones’ husband passed away, she didn’t much fancy the prospect of holidaying on her own. However, this changed when her daughter came across the Marlborough College Summer

Marlborough College Summer School RETIREMENT

today

School online and encouraged her to book an Art course. Although Sarah arrived apprehensive, she soon relaxed when she realised that she wasn’t the only person attending that week by herself. She thoroughly enjoyed her course and is looking forward to making her 10th visit and already has a get together planned with the Summer School friends that she’s regularly in touch with throughout the year. In 2009 George and Ellen Miller first attended Marlborough College Summer School on the recommendation of friends. They were thoroughly impressed with their first Summer School experience and promised they would return the following year. Seven years later and they are still attending and now even bring their grandchildren. The Royal School of Needlework is an exciting forwardlooking charity dedicated to teaching, practising and promoting the art of hand embroidery in the 21st century. They offer short leisure courses of 1-5 days in a wide variety of techniques. Many are labelled ‘introduction’ which means they expect no prior knowledge so people can just turn up and they will teach them. Chief Executive, Susan KayWilliams said, “The RSN also run part time Certificate and Diploma courses in technical hand embroidery for those who wish to take their skills further. We display the work of students each year in July to show what can be achieved with a needle and thread.” Student Marion Tiller comments, “I have always done simple sewing, but working full time with a young son did not leave any free time. On retirement from the NHS, I received RSN vouchers, and was quite amazed how many varied courses were available. “It is lovely just to attend a day course without any pressure, to enjoy fully the embroidery. Hampton Court is a magical setting, the tutors are inspiring, encouraging and patient. My time is now filled with planning my next course, and completing my projects. The RSN has really given me a new lease of life, as well as a whole new group of friends.” The maxim “Everyone has a book in them”, has already been quoted and another institution dedicated to the promotion of the written word is The Literary Consultancy. 2016 is the 20th anniversary of The Literary Consultancy which

POSTGRADUATE STUDY

The School of Advanced Study (SAS) is the UK’s national centre for the support and promotion of research in the humanities. Part of the University of London in the heart of Bloomsbury, SAS provides an unrivalled scholarly community in which to pursue postgraduate study and research.

MA in Understanding and Securing Human Rights, including a Latin American pathway

MA in The Making of the Modern World: Decolonisation, Democracy and Development

MA in the History of the Book

The London Rare Books School

MA in Garden and Landscape History

MA/MRes in Historical Research

The School offers nearly thirty full- and parttime postgraduate programmes in a wide range of humanities subjects, including art history, classics, Commonwealth studies, English and American literature and culture, history and historical research, human rights, Latin American studies, law, and modern languages.

For further details, visit www.sas.ac.uk/graduate-study or visit us during our humanities open day on Thursday 10 March 2016, 4pm–8pm: bit.ly/SASopenday16rt If you would like to receive a copy of the course brochures, please contact us at sas.info@sas.ac.uk | @SASNews

INSTITUTE OF ENGLISH STUDIES

School of Advanced Study

University of London

RETIREMENT

today

Learning after retirement

Dillington House. Photography by Helen Hooker

was set up in 1996 by poet and author Rebecca Swift, making it the first editorial consultancy in the UK. Its aim is to provide a range of editorial services to writers at all levels covering all genres.Their in-house team is matches to each client to a reader for assessment of their manuscript or for mentoring services. All TLC’s editors are professional writers, creative writing tutors or have extensive publishing experience. TLC work across fiction and non-fiction, poetry, short stories, scripts and screenplays. Rebecca states, “At TLC we know how many people have a book they want to write. There are many reasons for writing, amongst them pleasure, family record, or more ambitiously to see if you can produce something which might stand out and have a commercial market. We work with writers at any level, offering reliably honest and detailed professional feedback to help you hone your skills and understand what options there may be for your project. If you finally have time now you are retired to have time to get down to ‘putting pen to paper, ‘ it might help to know that we are here.” Dillington House in Somerset provides one of the most idyllic settings in which to learn and relax. Located amid mature park lands it’s the perfect place to get away from the pressures of everyday life. Some adult education courses take the form of weekend study breaks, others are held as intensive day courses, and some as more leisurely summer schools. Programme Manager Denise Borer says, “Dillington offers a wide programme of residential and nonresidential courses mostly at weekends but also longer courses during the summer holidays plus a large number of day courses. There is a lively programme of classical music concerts and public lectures from leading figures in science and the arts.” The range of courses on offer include Singing, Egyptian studies, Politics, Scottish and Flamenco dancing, ukulele, lacemaking, the Songs of ABBA, Spanish culture and Elizabethan stumpwork to name but a few. Denise continued, “Art History and Music are always very popular, but it’s never too late to learn a new hobby. Our classical guitar week and our string quartet weekend are fixtures as are Scottish country dancing and the recorder weekend. The Chamber Music Weekend has become very popular and sells out months in advance. RETIREMENT

today

“Lifelong learning is extremely valuable to an individual’s health and well-being and many people have been coming to Dillington for over thirty years, some students now in their mid-eighties. Retired people have a thirst for knowledge and I think this quote sums it up “Came last year, shall come next year!” Field Studies Council is an environmental education charity providing informative and enjoyable opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to discover, explore, and understand the environment. Paige Merrick, Marketing Assistant,

stated, “FSC offers a wide range of courses which are enjoyed by retired people, from walking and discovering natural history to painting drawing and crafts. Participants feel inspired on our courses, by learning new techniques and skills and meeting likeminded people.” Paige went on to add testimonials from some of their students. This from one who attended ‘Watercolour: Awash with Ideas at Flatford Mill’, “Fabulous, course leader was excellent, very friendly, funny and so encouraging and supportive. I learnt so much and have booked to go back next year. The other students were all such fun and lovely people. The accommodation was good, the food amazing, all the staff at Flatford Mill were lovely. The area was beautiful, lots to see and do the best course I have been on in the best location. I cannot wait to be able to attend more art courses at their centres.” A final comment from a visitor to Drawing and Painting the Flora at Malham Tarn, “I loved being in the Dales and at Malham Tarn Field Centre. The staff were friendly and the food plentiful. The array of different wild flowers we saw from the boardwalk across the fen and bog was stunning, and I learned from a good and patient tutor the beginnings of how to draw and paint the plants. A very happy few days.” Further information on all the aforementioned can be found by visiting their websites, just enter the name of the institution.

MY LED O NCH

Royal School of Needlework § Detailed critical assessments and services by professional editors for writing at all stages of development, in all genres TLC’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION § Links with publishers and agents, and advice on self-publishing

LITERARY § Six online sessions covering up to 60,000 words § TLC assessment of the completed book § A meet-the-industry day with publishing professionals

• Join us for exciting hand embroidery Day Classes • All levels are welcome from beginners to advanced • Learn from our expert Tutors to a high technical standard

§ Masterclasses and skills workshops § Literary Conference June 10th and 11th

• Study traditional hand embroidery techniques on our flexible Certificate & Diploma courses

T 020 7324 2563 E info@literaryconsultancy.co.uk W www.literaryconsultancy.co.uk

Summer Intensives make a great stitching holiday!

FSC_Retirement Today 2016 ad_Layout 1 06/01/2016 11:31 Page 1

• Classes are held at Hampton Court Palace as well as our satellite centres in Exeter, Rugby, Bristol, Durham and Glasgow.

www.royal-needlework.org.uk/learn T: 020 3166 6938 RCN 312774

LEARN ABOUT and be INSPIRED by THE OUTDOORS A range of day and short residential courses to help you discover and enjoy the natural world. Walking, Photography, Wildlife & Arts courses l Stunning locations across the UK l Meet like-minded people l Comfortable sole occupancy accommodation l

Call: 01743 852100 Visit: www.field-studies-council.org/discover-something-new RETIREMENT

today

The University for World-Class Professionals

MA Creative Writing Join the most successful Creative Writing course in the UK and complete a full-length book under the guidance of established writers directed by Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. • Novel • Poetry • Writing for Children & Young Adults

MA English Studies

with specialist pathways available in Contemporary Literature & Film and The Gothic. Online distance learning available for MA Creative Writing. A range of English short courses are also recruiting now. Visit our Postgraduate Fair on Wednesday 24 February. Find out more: mmu.ac.uk/english/postgrad or email: postgradenglish@mmu.ac.uk

Move More, Feel Better, Become Stronger.

We provide a home-based personal training service for people who find it challenging to access the community and want to become more active as a way to improve their health and wellbeing. Currently operating a London-based service only.

Phone: 0300 030 1033 Email: info@nabled.org.uk Visit: www.nabled.org.uk 12

RETIREMENT

today

COMPETITIONS

For a chance to win, send in your name, address and tel no (quoting reference code) to: Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Bucks, HP22 5ES or email: info@amramedia.co.uk

Francis Hotel Bath-MGallery Collection ©Jeremy Phillips

WIN an indulgent break at Francis Hotel Bath MGallery by Sofitel

Francis Hotel Bath-MGallery Collection ©Jeremy Phillips

Francis Hotel are offering you the opportunity to win a fabulous hotel break in the historic city of Bath with a one night stay including a gourmet breakfast for 2. Francis Hotel is a 4 star hotel, distinctive and full of character, comprising 7 town houses that were joined into a single residence in the late 19th century, refurbished in Regency style. With an extremely central location in historic Queen Square near the Circus, Royal Crescent and Roman Baths, the hotel is in the heart of the stunning town of Bath. Francis Hotel is a marvel of traditional beauty. PLUS, why not book a fabulous winter break at Francis Hotel and enjoy dinner on us at Brasserie Blanc! Book your stay before 29th February and enjoy a stay at Francis Hotel with breakfast included, plus we will treat you to an evening meal in Brasserie Blanc which is just a short stroll through our hotel. → To book your stay, all you need to do is contact us on 01225 424105 and quote WINIRR To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the question below:-Q) How many town houses are joined to make Francis Hotel? Terms and Conditions. Winter Break Offer – book before 29th February 2016 for stay dates until 28th April 2016. Rates provided at the time of calling based on bed and breakfast for 2 people and complimentary 3 course evening meal based on set menu at Brassiere Blanc. Customers must quote WINIRR at the time of booking to receive the complimentary meal. Prize - 1 night stay, on a bed and breakfast basis. The winner will need to make their own travel arrangements and the winner has to redeem the prize by 30th September 2016. Dates are subject to availability. The prize is not for resale, non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered. Winners will be required to present photographic ID on arrival at the venue (only a Passport, EU ID card or UK Photo Driving Licence will be accepted).

For a chance to win send in your details and answer to the above question. Closing date: 24 February 2016

Since its inception in 1978, Jeff Wayne’s original double album has become one of the most ground breaking and best-selling musical works of all time – with over 15 million copies sold and 330 weeks in the UK Album Charts to date, 8 years of worldwide arena tours, and huge critical acclaim across the globe (and probably the universe!). The show will include new music, a star cast, and a full supporting company of performers – as well as video walls, the iconic Martian Fighting Machine, special effects and in 3D holography Liam Neeson as The Journalist. This new production will incoude an all-star cast featuring debuts from singer/songwriters Daniel Bedingfield and Jimmy Nail who will perform alongside star of film, TV, concerts and records David Essex and longest serving Sugababe Heidi Range. The cast will also feature west end heavyweights Madalena Alberto, playing Carrie, fresh from her triumph as Eva Peron in Evita at The Dominion last year and Michael Praed who has regularly starred on Broadway and in the West End. The War of the Worlds Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AQ 8th February – 9th April 2016 Tickets from £29 Book Tickets / 0845 200 7982 Terms and conditions apply, prize is subject to availability. Winner’s tickets are valid for Monday – Thursday performances between the 08/02/16 and the 31/03/16, excluding the 17/02/16. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred of exchanged. No cash alternative will be offered.

For a chance to win send in your details, quoting reference WW. Closing date: 24 February 2016

WIN 1 of 3 pairs of tickets to the Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum!.

Designs of the Year is the Design Museum’s exhibition of the most innovative, interesting and forward-looking design of all kinds, from around the world. Now in its eighth year, Designs of the Year celebrates design that promotes or delivers change, enables access, extends design practice or captures the spirit of the year. Highlights from this year’s exhibition include; ‘Human Organs-on-Chip’ a way to research drugs without testing on animals, Google’s self-driving car and ‘The Ocean Clean-up’ a campaign to rid the sea of plastic waste. “Find out what the world’s geniuses have been up to for the last 12 months.” Time Out Every Wednesday the Design Museum offers seniors 20% off museum entry and a free tea or coffee in the cafe. There are also free guided tours of their latest exhibition, Cycle Revolution, every other Wednesday. https://designmuseum.org/ things-to-do/events/seniors-day Buy a ticket to the Designs of the Year and also gain entry to the Designers in Residence and Cycle Revolution exhibitions. Entry to 3 exhibitions for the price of 1. Book Tickets : 020 7940 8783 Booking until March 31st 2016 Adult tickets £13.65 www.designmuseum.org Terms and Conditions. Prize is subject to availability. Tickets are valid until 31st March 2016. Prize is as stated

For a chance to win send in your details, quoting reference DM. Closing date: 24 February 2016.

RETIREMENT

today

Competitions

Win 1 of 3 pairs of tickets to see The War of the Worlds at the Dominion Theatre JEFF WAYNE’S MUSICAL VERSION OF THE WAR OF THE WORLDS MULTI-AWARD WINNING MUSIC PHENOMENON FEATURING AN ALL-STAR CAST

RETIREMENT

today

Bobbie: Saving food and changing lives “Volunteering ‘shakes you out of your nest’” says Bobbie, “it gets you out of your comfort zone.” Bobbie retired in 2010 and for the past three years has spent each week

etirement is a life changing experience, full of expectation and a step into the unknown. Perhaps endless days filled with social activities feel a little unchallenging after the hustle and bustle of the daily grind and you are looking for something more rewarding. What could be more life affirming than volunteering and bringing a lifetime of experience into the charity sector. Countless charities couldn’t function without people who give up part of their day to gift their time and expertise for the benefit of others. And for those that do just that, the rewards are great. The fulfilment offered and the range of skills needed mean that for those looking for new challenges, this offers the perfect solution. In the next chapters we look at those who have done just that, given their time freely and selflessly to help others.

Hero Anne puts CPR training into practice! Sunderland’s life saving CPR hero Anne Ambrose is a great all-rounder After five years volunteering at the busy Sunderland F&E store, Anne Ambrose retains an energy and passion for her work that puts younger people in the

shade. After a 30-year career as an advice and welfare officer for the local authority, in retirement Anne chose to volunteer with the BHF as her family has a history of heart disease. Anne uses all her management skills to great effect. She controls the main desk, telephones and tills, organises customer collections and deliveries, and even sells on the shop floor. Store Manager Simon Mitchelson says Anne’s approach to customer service is first class, with a friendly bedside manner reminiscent of a bygone age. Anne has also joined our Nation of Lifesavers, performing CPR on a volunteer who had collapsed in the shop. ‘One of our young volunteers had collapsed and stopped breathing. Fortunately, we’d only just received our CPR training in the store, so with the help of my colleagues Susan and Barbara, I could do what was necessary until the paramedics arrived.’ Thankfully the volunteer recovered well, and is working her normal hours again. ‘Anne has more drive, enthusiasm and passion than most people I have met in my 20 years of retail experience,’ says Simon. ‘She has been involved in every fundraising event, working with councils, major retailers like Asda and Tesco, and seeking out new opportunities for the store. She is a fantastic ambassador, taking our work to the heart of the community. ‘The store simply would not be the same without her,’ says Simon. ‘She’s worth her weight in gold.’ www.bhf.org.uk

in a lively London warehouse and out on the road delivering food to people in need. She does both as a volunteer for FareShare, a charity that saves good food that would otherwise go to waste and sends it to charities and community groups who transform it into meals for vulnerable people. Arriving in the morning, Bobbie pulls on her steel-toed boots and her hi-vis vest and gets stuck in sorting food in the warehouse, from fresh fruit and veg to meat and fish, getting it ready to go to some of the 233 charities FareShare London supports across the capital. Afternoons might be spent out on the road, helping a volunteer driver to deliver much needed food in one of FareShare’s vans. As well as doing something active and feeling that she’s making a tangible difference to her local community, being part of a diverse team of volunteers is what keeps Bobbie coming back. “It’s invigorating meeting people of all ages and walks of life in the warehouse, you are always learning” she says. “Being constantly in the company of people means you are never lonely and hopefully refine and grow your interpersonal skills.” FareShare has 20 Regional Centres right across the UK that are always looking for volunteers, especially drivers. Find out more at www.fareshare. org.uk/volunteering/, enquiries@ fareshare.org.uk or 020 7394 2468. RETIREMENT

today

Volunteering – a new challenge

Police, but the experiences of my uncles gave me a realisation of how little help there is out there for exservicemen. My father-in-law a retired Army officer, is very involved in SSAFA. He persuaded me that if I was to offer my time to a charity it should be SSAFA.” He continues: “SSAFA has a volunteer network reaching into every county of the UK and provides support both on military bases and

Mike Madin – Divisional Secretary Erewash Division – Derbyshire Branch Mike Madin is an ex-police officer, having retired from the Derbyshire Constabulary in 2006. He initially worked full time for a national charity until a period of ill-health brought about his retirement. Following a successful recuperation Mike began to think about offering his services to a charity on a voluntary basis. Now 58 years old, Mike has been volunteering for SSAFA for 3 years. Mike picks up the story: “So why did I opt to volunteer for a Services charity? After all I do not have an Armed Forces background. However, in my part of the County there were two basic choices of career for school-leavers, the coal-mines or the Armed Forces. My father and my uncles were either miners or soldiers. I was the odd-one-out in the family as I joined the

RETIREMENT

today

in local communities. The network also reaches 13 countries around the world. SSAFA believes that the commitment of our Forces and their families deserves lifelong support and SSAFA’s unique presence, both inside military bases and in local communities, means we are experts in the issues affecting the welfare of Forces personnel and veterans.” For more information visit www.ssafa.org.uk

Food heroes wanted

Your legacy is our future

If you have ever loved an animal you will know how important their health is. Everything the Animal Health Trust does has the health and welfare of companion animals at its heart. Thanks to previous legacy gifts, the AHT is constantly finding new ways to prevent and reduce the suffering of present and future generations.

Every day we save good food from going to waste. Help us get it to the people who need it most.

For your FREE Legacy Guide please call: 01638 555648 or email us: legacies@aht.org.uk or visit us online: www.aht.org.uk

Volunteer to be someone’s food hero www.fareshare.org.uk/volunteering enquiries@fareshare.org.uk 020 7394 2468

(please quote reference RT15) Registered charity number: 209642

Registered charity number 1100051

bhf.org.uk/volunteer 0800 915 3000

Make your spare time really count

VOLUNTEER TODAY Join our team of volunteers in our shops. You can meet new people, use your skills and help save lives.

We have all sorts of job roles that can help you make any spare time really count: Sales Assistant • Telephonist • Stock Generator • Ebay Assistant

Roz, Volunteer

RETIREMENT

today

Footloose – Tales from the Thames By Debra Rixon

Footloose – Tales from the Thames

Kelmscott Manor

RETIREMENT

today

here can be few people in the UK who have not heard of the River Thames. Many will know parts of it, particularly in our nation’s capital, but very few will know all of it. An historic river, it is arguably England’s most famous river, and for those who know it well, it is the only river. We discovered it evokes strong emotions in those who live and work near or on it when we made our walking film Tales from the Thames. We started our trail, as you might expect, at its source which is not without controversy to begin with! There exists a dispute as to the exact whereabouts of the source of the Thames, and as we didn’t want to take sides, we chose the one that was most convenient to us - near Kemble in Gloucestershire. It’s a pretty unprepossessing source to the point of having no water evident at all. We had to start looking for it, and across a couple of fields our boots found soggy ground, and then we discovered water. It might have been an inglorious start, but it was a

gorgeous day in high summer. and learned the racy back-story to Once found, the infant Thames Mr Morris’s seemingly innocent speedily became a stream and then desire to live in the country! a small river. The Gloucestershire We walked mostly on the villages enjoyed its cool Thames Path, and parts clear non-celebrity status Oxford is where of didn’t always follow threading through them, the Thames the riverbank. As we and we came upon its comes of age, approached Eynsham lock, first of several course and you realise the last before Oxford, changes at the Wild it was obvious that the that it was Duck Inn at Ewen. In the waterway was now a field adjacent had been an important serious pleasure and leisure commercial option. The lock was busy, a horse drawn mill, but the present course of the transportation and it is hypnotic sitting stream is nowhere near it. watching the comings and route It made an excellent stop goings through the lock for an expensive lunch before the whilst slurping an ice cream. You can serious stuff set in and I would be idle away a lot of time on the side of on sandwich rations. the river, just looking. The Thames enters its next significant stage on its journey to the sea at Lechlade, where the first lock is situated and the river now becomes navigable. Here are the familiar rowing boats and small cruisers, and we see the first of the colourful narrow boats that have successfully made the transition from canal to river. We chatted with the then lock-keeper at St John’s Lock, and began to grasp the uniqueness of a working life on the waterway. As we made our way downstream, we found lovely Kelmscott Manor nestled beside the willows. Once home to William Morris, we were shown some of the house’s treasures,

Debra and David walked mainly on the Thames Path, with detours to suit their fancy. Information on all the Thames societies is given at the end of the film. After David took early retirement from the BBC, he and Debra have focussed on their own productions, and for over ten years have been renowned for their walking films in Europe. For information on Tales from the Thames and all the Footloose films, take a look at www.grindelwald.co.uk or watch previews of the walks on Youtube.

Win

We have 5 copies of Tales from the Thames on DVD to giveaway. For a chance to win a copy send in your details quoting TOTT to: Amra Media Solutions, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Bucks HP225ES. Closing date: 10 March 2016 RETIREMENT

today

Footloose – Tales from the Thames

Oxford is where the Thames Hornblower travelled the fly boats comes of age, and you realise that to other adventures. Tragedy lingers it was an important commercial at Godstow Nunnery, where Henry transportation route. Oxford is II’s roving eye lighted upon poor a glorious place to spend time Fair Rosamund. No match for in whatever you are doing, and Queen Eleanor’s jealousy, she chose spending it on the river is de rigueur. the poisoned chalice in Rosamund’s Of course, it isn’t called the Thames Bower at Woodstock. She was at Oxford – it becomes the Isis, brought back and buried here at which Colin Reynolds (then the the nunnery. Fanciful or not, this River Thames Society’s Education river begins to work on you as you Officer) explains appreciate its history. with a wry smile. The Locks and weirs, Hanging up the Thames features in festivals, events boots for a bit, we literature now, as Lewis and traditions travelled on a nostalgic Carroll’s Alice stories abound on this Salter’s Steamer, past were inspired by his the wonderfully boating exploits and glorious national named weir Sandford artery C S Forester’s Horatio Lasher, through the deepest lock on the Thames to historic Abingdon. On board was the delightful Mr Andrews – one of four brothers who lived and worked on the river, like their father before them. The Thames played its part in World War 2 – it was to be the transport artery for London if the Luftwaffe succeeded in bombing the road networks, as Mr Andrews explains. His son is skippering the boat, yet another generation seduced by this waterway. Abingdon, an ancient market town, holds its

traditions dear, and Morris Men are at the heart of them. The town has the luxury of two mayors, and the election of the Ock Street Mayor was taking place amongst the ‘town side’ of Morris Men when we alighted from our boat. If you’re going to cover an event, you have to do it properly, wouldn’t you say? So we followed the troop from pub to pub – with some dancing in between – throughout the town to return to Ock Street where the ballot papers would be counted. The flowers on the Morris Men’s mayoral throne were lovely, and it made a colourful and very merry parade on yet another hot summer’s day. The river is busy now with pleasure craft and looking a fair size as it rushes inexorably on. Dorchester is a wonderful stop along the water and we follow the path towards Wallingford, Streatley and Goring, and discover the joys of boating on a pleasure cruiser to bustling Reading. At Marlow we retrace our steps, because we are to go Swan Upping with the Queen’s Swan Marker to Henley. What a tremendous pageant that is, and we felt privileged to be part of their annual count of the Queen’s swans. Henley is famous for its Regatta of course, and it was fun to be on the course as the Swan Uppers finished this stage of their count. A traditional boat rally is another draw to this lovely riverside town, with some wonderful vintage boats to admire. Locks and weirs, festivals, events and traditions abound on this glorious national artery, and what better place to finish our trail but Windsor, with Debra Swan Upping the majestic castle overlooking it? Beyond, the Thames becomes the mighty working river we all know and love as it snakes through London to its final destination. And it is love that you feel for it; at our finish I now understand what I didn’t at our start – this river gets in your blood.

SHRIPNEY GARDENS CARAVAN PARK

Small, select site of caravans in beautiful W. Sussex countryside. Non-letting holiday park, open 12 months. Homes fully serviced, pets welcome.

PARK EXTENSION! 6 luxury caravans for sale, full c/h & d/g used caravans from £7500

Tel. 01243 823479 Mob. 07940 354424

www.shripneygarden.co.uk

Where in the World

Near Chichester, Arundel & South Downs. 1.5 miles from Bognor Regis and Sea

RETIREMENT

today

Where in the by Staying for Free.com

e have worked and lived the expat lifestyle for over twenty five years. Making quick decisions is what we do, but when it came to picking the right spot for retirement -we simply couldn’t decide. Having visited more than sixty countries during our working life, returning back-home to Europe was highly likely, although somewhere with plenty of winter sun narrowed the field. Governments around the globe have developed an assortment of programs aimed at tempting retirees to their shores; relaxing entry visas, offering tax-free residency incentives, protecting pensions and boasting about affordable living costs. But, because just being cheap isn’t enough, we felt that we should get out there and dig deeper. Signing up for a VAT free lease car we drove around Europe for six months, part R&R, part house hunting. With the luxury of time, we developed a schedule with tons of flexibility. Filing the initial plans in our back pocket - we decided to wait and see where the journey might lead...which turned out to be right back into one of our lifelong favourites, southwest France. A chance conversation tempted us to try It sounded ideal long-term housesitting. It sounded ideal for living like a for living like a local rather than a passing tourist, checking out the housing market and local rather than sampling the weather in a variety of locations. a passing tourist We’ve landed some top notch assignments, bang in our target areas too. In France, signing up for vineyard views on the outskirts of a captivating medieval village was retirement time well spent, it taught us many things - and knowing that living in France year round would not feature on the menu, was worth more to us than any bottle of vintage Bordeaux. Croatia tempted us with alluring sea views, sunshine and a relaxed lifestyle; while Portugal pulled out all the stops, offering friendly rural villages with farmhouses ripe for renovation and new purpose built try-before-you-buy communities aimed at the 50+ market. Offerings from Italy surrounded us with layer after layer of history, spectacular scenery, a constant supply of cappuccino, and not forgetting, tons of red-tape. Combining long-stays in beautiful

hotels or smart serviced apartments, with housesitting assignments in amazing properties, our retirement plans have evolved into non-stop travels around the world, and it’s all working out really well. In our search of a place to call home, we have tapped into a global demand for trustworthy and reliable sitters with a wealth of life skills - allowing us to test the water for retirement living while indulging our life-long love of travel. Grand manor houses, brand new villas, luxury country estates and splendid holiday hideaways have tempted us to enjoy assignments further-a-field too. Saying yes to homeowners from southern India, to South Africa and Thailand, has willingly diverted us from our search; providing fabulous memories of full blown extravagant Indian weddings, following Rhino’s on horseback in South Africa and meditating with monks in Thailand. Although none of these far-flung locations appear on our research list, we found that each country have their own plans to attract overseas retirees. Our last trip to Northern Thailand was more than thirty years ago, when many would have considered the area off the regular tourist-track - but returning recently as temporary residents, we found a completely different slice of life. Thailand’s economy is booming. Expats are helping to transform the Thai lifestyle, and the kingdom has never been more attractive to overseas retirees, who can now enjoying a range of European style facilities at affordable prices. Contemporary custom designed homes are packed with modern conveniences and service departments are springing up like flowers after the rain.Western style supermarkets, stocked with British brands, are a sweet bonus for many of us Brits. Add in multi screen cinemas, shopping malls and first-rate medical and dental centres - all within chanting distance of centuries old temples and reclining Buddhas - and Thailand can be extremely attractive to adventurous retirees. In southern India they too are busy building western style homes, mainly for their own expat community returning in increasing numbers from the UK and from careers carved out in the Arab world. Blending the best of both worlds, new homes offer a well equipped western kitchen alongside the

Read more about Les & Lee’s adventures or invite them to sit for you at: www.stayingforfree.com Staying For Free.com RETIREMENT

today

Where in the World

World

more traditional, and smaller, outdoor kitchen that most Indians are familiar with. Not to miss out, South Africa has simplified entry visas and has plans to relax residency restrictions for non passport holders. Along the renowned Garden Route, new construction offers smart and sophisticated homes, flooded with natural light through oversized windows that make the most of the stunning scenery. Housesitting may not be for everyone. Not all of us feel comfortable meeting strangers,stepping into their shoes and being entrusted to care for their home. But, if you are looking to try before you buy overseas or, maybe you just fancy a change of scene - if you consider yourself reliable, are a dab hand at house keeping and can provide a clean background check -having a bash at housesitting could be a really smart decision. An assignment in Andalucia, Spain is the latest stop on our retirement tour. The promise of good winter weather and clear blue skies brought us here, while a fantastic converted farmhouse, positioned on the edge of a pretty white village, is enough to keep us here - and with plenty of time to laze around the swimming pool - soaking up the vast open countryside with rugged mountain views, we review our journey so far. Retirement has taught us many things, it’s a relaxed lifestyle that’s been a long time coming, but well worth the wait. As for those lovely homes with stunning views, in friendly communities sprinkled around the world - we’ve learned a lot too. And, we’ve decided. It’s unlikely that appealing homes will disappear anytime soon. Chances are, they, along with many more offerings, will still be here in three months, six months, even twelve months; whenever it feels right for us to settle down again and call one place home. In the meantime, we continue to collect stamps in our passports. We have also put our housesitting knowledge to good use - creating a popular how-to website that shares our sitting experience. Offering advice, along with a few pointers, to prospective housesitters and homeowners, the site is geared towards helping both sides navigate their way to a successful arrangement. So, if you are tempted to try out an overseas retirement - or, you just find yourself searching for the winter sun - we can provide you with plenty of encouragement and some good suggestions; starting with howto exchange your on-site presence for free upmarket accommodation and, where to land a deal on stylish yet affordable long-stay accommodation. Housesitting has turned out to be a smart decision for us. Deciding where in the world to retire deserves due consideration and we have been doing just that, although very much at our leisure - because, there’s nothing to say that we can’t have a thoroughly entertaining time carrying out the research.

SOCIABLE SKIING HOLIDAYS SOCIABLE SKIING HOLIDAYS FOR DISCERNING OVER 50’s FOR DISCERNING OVER 50’s

“Great skiing, fine food “Great fine food andskiing, good company”

and goodAll-inclusive company” luxury half-board ski holidays with 6 full days’

All-inclusive luxury half-board guiding or instruction. ski holidays with 6 full days’ guiding or instruction.

Reservations: 01444 390242 Reservations: www.classicalpine.com

01444 390242 www.classicalpine.com

SOCIABLE SKIING HOLIDAYS FOR DISCERNING OVER 50’s

Great skiing, fine food and good company” All-inclusive luxury half-board ski holidays with 6 full days’ guiding or instruction.

Reservations: 01444 390242 www.classicalpine.com

8 MARCH TO 11 APRIL 2016 including:

8-14 MARCH HANDEL ARIODANTE 17 MARCH HANDEL BERENICE 25 MARCH BACH ST MATTHEW PASSION 31 MARCH OPERA SETTECENTO 11 APRIL HANDEL ALEXANDER BALUS HANDEL SINGING COMPETITION 2016 DEADLINE: 8 JANUARY 2016 FIRST ROUND: 1-3 FEBRUARY SEMI-FINAL: 21 MARCH - FINAL: 4 APRIL

LAURENCE CUMMINGS MUSICAL DIRECTOR

ADRIAN BUTTERFIELD ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Booking starts on 19 January Please see our website for information. Box office: 01460 54660 londonhandelfestival@gmail.com

www.london-handel-festival.com 22

RETIREMENT

today

Out&About...

‘Burning Belief’ by Anthony Clark A.R.C.A The Bowes Museum 27 February-1 May

See over 50 paintings, drawings and etchings by the renowned artist Anthony Clark, who has been exhibiting his work for the last forty years. He has been holding both one-man shows and mixed exhibitions and his work is represented in numerous public and private collections including those of President Carter, Cardinal Hume and L.S. Lowry. Clark works primarily in watercolour, integrating gouache and acrylic to achieve brilliant effects. In his work he focuses on atmosphere, capturing ‘belief’, and combines this with a strong sense of space to create astonishing paintings. www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Painting Norway:

Nikolai Astrup

Modern Scottish Women Painters and Sculptors 1885-1965

Dulwich Gallery, London 5 February – 15 May

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Until 26 June

London Handel Festival 2016 8 March to 11 April

Each year the London Handel Festival brings wonderful performances from both established artists and young musicians making their way in a Laurence Cummings, Musical Director of the Festival. very competitive environment. The Handel Singing Competition is an exciting highlight in the calendar and the Final takes place on 4 April. Ariodante will be staged at the Britten Theatre (8-14 March), Royal College of Music, in the annual collaboration between the conservatoire and the Festival, which started in 1992. They finish the Festival with Alexander Balus at St John’s Smith Square on 11 April. The Festival also includes a Lunchtime Series, walks and talks. Box Office opens 19 January 2016 online at www.london-handel-festival.com. Telephone bookings start on 21 January on 01460 54660.

See the radicially innovative works of artist Nikolai Astrup (1880-1928), one of the most renowned Norweigan artists. This exhibition brings over 90 oil paintings and prints by an artist whose career was dedicated to documenting the landscape and tradition of his home in the mountainous reaches of western Norway. It traces a career rooted in childhood memories that ended with his premature death at the age of 47, revealing a fascinating life and an artist whose mission throughout was to develop a vibrant visual language unique to Norway. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

Curtain Up: Celebrating 40 Years of Theatre in London and New York V&A Museum, London 9 February – 31 August

The V&A celebrates the rich creative theatre talent in the West End of London and New York’s Broadway, two world class centres of theatrical excellence. This exhibition explores the extraordinary range of craft and collaboration that goes into creating Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Elwyn as award-winning plays, musicals Anthony Eden in The Audience: Photo by Joan Marcus and productions. Just some of the highlights include original costume designs from The Phantom of the Opera by Maria Bjornson, a selection of golden top hats from A Chorus Line, a tunic worn by Rudolf Nureyev in Romeo and Juilet, and Dame Helen Mirren DBE’s dress worn in The Audience. www.vam.ac.uk RETIREMENT

today

Out & About

Dorothy JOHNSTONE (1892-1980) Anne Finlay, 1920 Oil on canvas, 145.3 x 100.5 Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Collections: Purchased with the assistance of the National Fund for Acquisitions 1983

This revelatory exhibition of work by Scottish women artists concentrates on painters and sculptors, covering the period from 1885 until 1965. More that 90 works are on show, and include familiar masterpieces alongside important works by significant artists which are rarely seen and who are not widely known. The conditions that the artists negotiated as students and practitioners due to their gender, is explored, shedding new light on this vital chapter of Scottish modern art history, while at the same time uncovering and celebrating women’s contribution to it. www.nationalgalleries.org

The Power D of Three The 3 nutritional secrets to a longer, healthier life in simple recipes Scallops with cumin cauliflower purée

Chicken, avocado and blue cheese salad

The combination of scallops and cauliflower is a match made in heaven – the sweetness of the scallop with the gentle creaminess of the cauliflower creates magic. This is an immense hit of trace elements and potent phytochemicals, and is so fancy that you forget it’s actually doing you good.

This is a firm favourite of mine, a salad that is popular around California and one of the first things on my list whenever I visit. This really does encompass each principle in this book: amazing nutrient density, very low glycaemic response and rich in fatty acids...Oh, and it tastes amazing too!

SERVES 2

SERVES 1

olive oil, for cooking 1 white onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 small head of cauliflower, broken into florets 300ml vegetable stock (you may not need it all) 6 large scallops 2 small handfuls pea shoots sea salt and black pepper

2 handfuls mixed salad leaves 1 cooked chicken breast, sliced 1⁄2 ripe avocado, sliced 60g blue cheese, diced or crumbled 1–2 soft- or hard-boiled eggs, halved or chopped FOR THE DRESSING 2 teaspoons mayonnaise 3 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese

Starter

Heat a little olive oil in a pan, add the onion and garlic with a pinch of salt, and sauté until the onion has softened. Add the cauliflower florets and enough stock to half cover the cauliflower. Simmer until the cauliflower has softened, then transfer to a blender or food processor and purée. The consistency should be like a thick soup. Gently pan-fry the scallops in a small amount of olive oil for no more than 3 minutes on each side.

The Power of Three

Place a dollop of purée in the centre of each serving plate, and spread out. Place 3 scallops on top of the purée, then top each with a small handful of pea shoots and a grinding of black pepper, and serve.

ale Pinnock, aka The Medicinal Chef, believes there are three factors we should be aware of when thinking about the type of ‘diet’ to follow. They are: • Blood Sugar – keep away from the foods that will assault your bloodstream with glucose and compose your meals correctly to control the release of sugar.

RETIREMENT

today

Lunch

Place the mixed leaves in a bowl and top with the chicken, avocado, blue cheese and soft- or hard-boiled eggs. Combine the dressing ingredients and mix well, before pouring over the salad and tossing well to coat.

• Fatty acid balance – reduce your intake of omega 6 fatty acids and increase consumption of omega 3. • Nutrient density – look for opportunities and make the right ingredient choices to maximise nutrient density at every meal.

White fish with peppered mushroom topping on courgettes and broad beans This is a simple throw-together dinner that I often call on. Simple, fresh flavours. You can use any white fish – it works well with cod, sea bass or even river cobbler. SERVES 1 1 cod fillet (or white fish of your choice) olive oil, for greasing and cooking 4–5 chestnut mushrooms, sliced 1 sprig fresh rosemary 1 tablespoon soft cheese knob of butter 1 small courgette, sliced 200g broad beans (drain them if tinned) sea salt and cracked black pepper

Dinner

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Place the fish on an oiled baking tray and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a little olive oil in a pan, add the mushrooms and rosemary with a pinch of salt, and sauté. When the mushrooms start to release their juices, simmer for about 8 minutes for the rosemary to infuse its flavour into the juices. Discard the rosemary, then stir in the soft cheese, along with a generous amount of cracked black pepper.

Recipes taken from The Medicinal Chef: The Power of Three by Dale Pinnock (Quadrille £20) Photography: Martin Poole

Flax banana bread This has a lovely cakey vibe and is great with the Chocolate ‘Ice Cream’, a little crème fraîche, or on its own. MAKES 1 LOAF 2 very ripe bananas (skins turning brown), peeled 178ml milk 85g runny honey 200g wholemeal flour 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds 1 tablespoon baking powder 11⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Dessert

Preheat the oven to180°C/350°F/Gasmark4 and line a small loaf tin with baking parchment. Mash the bananas in a bowl. Add the milk and honey and whisk together. Add the flour, ground flaxseeds, baking powder and cinnamon, and mix well until evenly combined. Transfer the mixture to the lined tin and bake in the oven for 45–55 minutes, until golden brown, and when you slide a knife into the centre, it comes out clean.

Melt the butter with a little more olive oil in a pan, add the courgette and broad beans and sauté until the courgette is soft. Season to taste.

The Power of Three

Place the courgette and broad bean mixture in the centre of a serving plate. Place the fish on top, then smother with the mushrooms.

RETIREMENT

today

BOOK REVIEWS Three inspirational interior books giving great ideas for a new year update

SHAKESPEARE’S GARDENS

Book reviews

PERFECT ENGLISH COTTAGE

ROMANTIC PRAIRIE STYLE

THINK ECLECTIC

Homes inspired by the Piet Swimberghe traditional country life Photographs by Ros Byam Shaw Jan Verlinde Fifi O’Neill Ryland Peters & Small, Lannoo, £34.95 Hardback £30 Hardback CICO Books, £19.99 Hardback This book is a homage What could be more English The essence of this book is to individual and unique that the classic country American as the name suggests. style. An ode to all things cottage. For those aspiring The reader is shown thirteen eclectic. Forget rigid style the look or for those who fascinating homes throughout the rules and embrace unique just want to update an USA inspired by the past. Natural and colourful interiors existing home this is the textures are the order of the day, with the emphasis on perfect book. Page upon think hand sewn, beams, woven page of inspiring and blankets, and Navajo rugs. Nostalgia individuality. A must have book for those who aspire creative homes celebrate with a twist and beautifully to a unique style. the country cottage in photographed throughout. all its glory.

ASK FOR DETAILS

WHERE YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM OUR HASSLE-FREE HOUSE MOVE SERVICE WORTH UP TO £5,000. FOR FREE. NOW THAT’S INSPIRED. For information or advice call Trish on 07469 856 190 or Helen on 07469 858 012

VISIT OUR SALES SUITE: FROG LANE, TATTENHALL, CHESHIRE CH3 9DN

www.inspiredvillages.co.uk CGI

RETIREMENT

today

John O. E. Clark Batsford, £14.99 Hardback A beautifully illustrated book showing how maps have defined our world. Included within are some of the most famous maps and the history behind them. Most ground breaking are the very first maps of the new world and the maps that were purely for propaganda purposes. A really fascinating insight to the history of cartography.

PRICES FROM £259,000

INSPIRED TATTENHALL CHESHIRE RETIREMENT VILLAGE.

Jackie Bennett Frances Lincoln, £25.00 Hardback The author Jackie Bennett poses the question, Was Shakespeare a passionate gardener? In this book the author explores the gardens that Shakespeare owned, alongside those he would have known and visited. We have a unique insight into Shakespeare’s world, one of travel and adventure with exposure to plants and foods imported from overseas. Beautifully illustrated and photographed throughout, it offers something unique to the playwright’s devotees and gardeners alike.

MAPS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

RETIREMENT LIVING

t must be everyone’s ambition to live as long as possible in retirement. Nowadays, due to improved living standards, advances in medical science and adopting healthier lifestyles this is becoming a reality. Inspired Villages is a company who are striving to make this objective achievable. Bringing together a world of knowledge, nous and imagination, they are reinventing retirement with their new generation of villages. In an Inspired Village, your new, liberated lifestyle comes with all the opportunity and freedom of choice to truly revel in your retirement. Their wide range of luxury apartments are painstakingly designed by a highly skilled and passionate team, who draw on decades of experience to provide you with a purpose-built home that’s filled with helpful touches to make life that little bit easier. James Cobb is the sales and marketing director for Inspired Villages, he is currently responsible for the delivery of two luxurious retirement villages; Inspired

Empraims group

Warwick and Inspired Tattenhall. He is keen to tackle some long-established misconceptions around retirement villages, he says, “Attitudes are definitely beginning to change here but it’s still not uncommon to hear occasional defeatist phrases such as ‘being put here in a home’ and ‘I’m not ready for this yet’. Our villages are very much about celebrating life and we’re proud to offer people a chance to experience potentially decades of aspirational and luxurious living.” Inspired Warwick opens in spring 2016 and will offer a collection of 49 luxurious retirement apartments in a safe village environment. Residents will enjoy an enviable array of facilities - from a spa and wellness centre to a village bistro and shop.

James says: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the results here in Warwick. When this project completes, it will be in the middle of something pretty amazing. The new village is perfectly placed with ease of access into Warwick and Leamington Spa, as well as great proximity to the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Midlands.” Landscaped gardens, indulgent eateries and luxurious facilities provide the perfect complement to this collection of stunning contemporary homes, making this an inspired choice for the retirement of a lifetime. James continued, “With spacious homes set in carefully manicured, landscaped grounds, each Inspired home will benefit from an idyllic village feel. At the heart of our mission to reinvent retirement is the passionate belief that people in later life deserve more. That’s why each Inspired Village is lavished with uncompromising care and unerring attention, to create a beautiful place for you to call home.” Representing the first wave of residents to move into Inspired Tattenhall, Mr and Mrs Jacks laid their handprints in cement at the village’s ground-breaking ceremony with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Chester. RETIREMENT

today

Retirement Living

By Alastair Wallbanks

Speaking of their experience so far, Mr Jacks says, “It has been excellent. We were very pleased when we heard about the original plan for the village and the more we have found out about it, the more we’ve been impressed. We have naturally spent a lot of time considering our options and researched the scheme extensively. As such, we’ve become firm friends with the team at Inspired Tattenhall who have already provided an excellent service and we are looking forward to moving into the new village.” The Ephraims Care Group, first established in 1995, is a family run business and enjoy extending this ethos into their homes. Their strong commitment to providing the highest levels of quality care has been the key to their success in running well managed and efficient homes. They started with the purchase of Allenbrook Care Home catering for 36 residents, a few years later they had the opportunity to purchase The Vicarage which provides specialist care for residents with severe Dementia and Alzheimer’s in the Shrewsbury area. Following The

Lodge, “We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Cadmore. We received five star treatment, our room with a view over the lake, whatever food we liked where and when we wanted it together with good company when desired. When I needed medical attention it was all handled extremely well with the manager, Laura, and her day and night staff looking after us like a mother hen with chicks.” Moving further afield, Résidences la Différence is a concept created by a company called Leisure and Land which is aimed at British and other nationalities already living in France as well as UK residents looking to make the move to a secure villagestyle environment. Richard and Eva Edds have been

Retirement Living

Tattenhall

Vicarage’s success, in the last few years they have extended working in real estate in France with their capacity to provide care for 52 residents. Leisure and Land for over 25 years. They now own and manage Oriel Care Home Richard states, “Our bungalows are in Stourbridge and The Shrubbery Care Home in virtually zero energy consumption Kidderminster. Due to strong demand, they recently built to reduce monthly costs. Via our 4 extra bedrooms and a large orangery at Oriel, and have existing network of estate agents, we just completed a five bedroom extension at the Shrubbery will assist potential buyers already and plan to further extend this home in the next few years. living, or who have a house in France, Having now purchased and manage Cadmore Lodge in to sell their existing property. Tenbury Wells,Worcestershire, Jean-Pierre Ellis, Managing “Our gites complex adjoins the Director of the Ephraims Care Group Said, “We are development and offers a wide range justifiably proud of our contribution to the caring of facilities and services difficult to community with many years of service in residential match elsewhere.” care, nursing, dementia care, and in the specialist field of EMI, (Elderly Mentally Infirm). “We also offer residential supported living services and we’re about to launch our Ephraims ‘Caring Companions’, having acquired Cadmore Lodge in Worcestershire a 40 plus acre estate with a 9 hole golf course, we have introduced further retirement living accommodation and nursing care.We are planning the introduction of specialist wheel chair holiday accommodation.” A retired CEO and his wife from Coventry, who wished to remain anonymous had this to say about Masion Temoin, Résidences la Différence their recent respite break at Cadmore RETIREMENT

today

In sunny Charente Maritimes Résidences la Différence combines the atmosphere of a ‘country club’ with the services you’d expect from a luxury hotel. The retirement bungalows each have their own gardens, the properties can be found on the existing complex of Domain les Granges, which has a wide range of facilities and lies within walking distance of a typical French market town. The type of facilities include a heated swimming pool, spa, restaurant and gym. In addition on-site staff take care of all of your needs which includes the maintenance of your house, leaving you free to socialise and indulge in leisure activities or explore the nearby town. Entertainment, car hire and at-home catering deliveries are also included. Richard added, “There are many British and foreign nationals living in France who would like to remain living there even after they have retired and downsized their property. Quite often, these individuals still struggle with the language barrier and would much prefer living in a community with likeminded individuals and with those who speak the same language. “We are offering retirees the opportunity to downsize their property and their annual bills but without downsizing their social life. We have specifically chosen to build this complex in the Charente Maritime so that all residents can benefit from living in the second sunniest area in France but without the scorching French Mediterranean heat.” With all this on offer it makes retirement seem like one long holiday

For further information: www.inspiredvillages.co.uk/warwick www.ephraimscaregroup.co.uk www.cadmorelodge.co.uk. www.residences-ladifference.com

UPDATE

SILVER DIVORCE RATES ON THE INCREASE Brits who end their marriage in later life report feeling ‘relieved’, ‘excited’ and ‘more confident’ following the split, new research has shown. The study asked to 1,153 divorcees aged 45 and over, revealed an upbeat attitude among those who went their separate ways, often delaying their parting until their adult children had flown the nest. Over a third claimed to have remained firm friends with their expartner, with 65 per cent who said they consider any bad feeling surrounding the split to be ‘in the past’. The results are revealed following a previous ONS report which found divorce rates in the UK are dropping in every age group but the over 50s. Michael Vale, Family Law expert at QualitySolicitors, which commissioned the study, said, ‘’So-called silver divorces have become a widely documented phenomenon – and the process can often be less volatile than in the younger age sectors. ‘’With empty nest syndrome - a common reason for divorce in later years – often comes a mutual realisation that neither partner is happy. ‘’These days, embracing change in the search of personal happiness is more widely encouraged than ‘settling’, so people no longer feel obliged to stay together. ‘’They want to make the most out of life and not be held back in the pursuit of their life goals.’’

Pensioners power boom in gym start ups

The over 65s are helping to power a boom in the UK’s health and fitness industry, while the overall number of new businesses in the sector has risen by 37% since 2012, according to new data from Barclays Business. The research, which looks at the number of Barclays’ business customers in the health & fitness industry, reveals a surge in the number of power-lifting pensioners setting up their own health & fitness clubs, rising by a quarter (25%) in the last three years. This accounts for 5% of total health & fitness clubs on average. The findings also show that the sector has benefitted from strong levels of health-conscious consumer spending, with a growth in total turnover of 41% since 2012. In addition to the rise in new enterprises, 1 in 5 (20%) have been running for ten years or more. This correlates with figures from the Leisure Database Company which show that the sector is in good health, with more members and a greater market value than ever before.

The new state pension is born, but confusion reigns over the changes The latest edition of Aviva’s Real Retirement Report shows that Britons cherish the state pension – but it also reveals a worrying number of over-55s are unaware or confused about changes that may affect their entitlement from 6 April 2016. Key findings from the report – State pension – cherished but confused – include: • Almost three in five would struggle to pay for daily essentials without the state pension • Confusion over the new state pension means almost 2 million people aged 55-64 are unaware it is coming, while many over-75s expect to receive it – despite being too old • Fewer women than men realise the qualifying age is increasing to align both genders • Barely half of 55-64s realise the state pension is rising to reach at least 69 by the 2040s • Over-55s underestimate the value of the state pension by nearly £60,000.

ADVISERS ANTICIPATE BOOM IN EQUITY RELEASE ENQUIRIES Retirement specialist advisers anticipate that the demand for the better use of property wealth to fund retirement is set to boom in the next 24 months, new independent research for market-leading referral service Key Partnerships shows. The study found that 65% of advisers anticipate an increase in client enquiries relating to equity release to fund at least part of their retirement over the next two years. A further 44% agree that pension freedoms will provide considerable opportunities for clients looking to access equity in their home as part of their retirement planning.

Key Partnerships believes all advisers should be discussing ways to release property wealth with clients as it plays an increasingly important role in long-term planning. However, advisers need specialist support in place to ensure they can maximise retirement outcomes for clients. An overwhelming 77% of advisers believe that the Government should consult with the financial services industry in order to ensure that equity release can become more integral to long-term financial planning. RETIREMENT

today

Update

One major growth area will be the tax advantages from using property wealth ahead of pension savings – more than half of advisers (56%) point to the considerable tax advantages of using property wealth.

Sloping walls in a room in the eaves at Dorset Square Hotel have been lined with paisley denim, teamed with a dark-blue headboard with light border, allowing the shadows through the shutters to dance around the room.

Every Room Tells a Story

Be Bold

Every Room Tells a Story

W 30

henever I’ve revealed what I wanted to do with an interior, there was always someone to say I wasn’t allowed or couldn’t possibly do it. Although frustrating, I persevered and often had to achieve things by sheer stealth. Naturally, the minute I’d fully completed my schemes for a room and it was declared a great success, the naysayers immediately wanted to be a part of it and take ownership. What I’m trying to say is always be bold and stick by your guns. Believe in yourself and be true to what you feel.Very often this is the key to success, and if not, well, it’s easier to live with your own mistakes than the ones others have made for you. I like to break the rules – I have been designing and decorating for a very long time and it makes my job so much more interesting and fun. I am more frightened of RETIREMENT

today

beige than of any other colour in the spectrum – I prefer to travel a more adventurous route, but being bold with colour is only one tiny part of the story. It’s also about playing with scale – an enormous picture in a very small space can sometimes make it look very large, or paintings with a depth that lead back to infinity are a clever way to deceive the eye by the view. Where usually a console table below a large painting should be wider and longer than the artwork, if the wallcovering and painting are bold enough, you don’t notice. Being bold in difficult spaces can bring them suddenly alive. In the lobby at Ham Yard Hotel I have a 24ft long Anatolian rug on one wall, Rick Rack wallpaper on the staircase with four Sandra Blow paintings in strong colours hung alongside a contemporary chandelier in white. The back wall is painted a glossy white to further reflect the riot of colour going on around it. I was asked to create an entrance space for Decorex, the prestigious London design trade show, where the theme was The Silk Route. I decided to be bold by creating a study and dressing room for a merchant returning from his adventures. Against a Tom Stogdon sculpture in slate, a capacious

copper bath was placed centre stage, and the sound of rainfall pitterpatted in the background. Brightly coloured blinds of silk wound their way down the windows. It’s unlikely I’ll ever have the chance to design an outdoor bathroom such as this – but the essence of being bold is also about being brave enough to sometimes throw caution to the wind and live out the very best ideas in your imagination.

Every Room Tells A Story by Kit Kemp and Fiona McCarthy. Photography by Simon Brown. Published by Hardie Grant Books.

Details from Wool House:Willow in black and white was used for the curtains, highbacked His and Her chairs were covered in Book End, and an Egg & Dart rug sits by the fireplace. Mirror from Talisman and candlestick holder by Lynn Chadwick. In Apartment 8 at Ham Yard Hotel, two treatments of the same colour scheme work together in a small space to create a bedroom and a more understated, elegant drawing room.

The scheme at Knightsbridge Hotel is about having fun with colour and fabrics. A painting by John Illsley hangs above the stone mantelpiece.There are interesting bolts of colour from bright yellow leather used on the fire fender and the tops of chairs, red ProvenĂ§al-style fabric from Borderline on the cushions, sofas upholstered in William Yeowardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Acri in denim, and Carolina Irving fabric on the armchairs. In the far left corner is a seriesof framed horsemen.The curtains are made from Samarkand by Peter Dunham.

RETIREMENT

today

Every Room Tells a Story

In the Terrace Suite at The Soho Hotel, autumnal hues that work throughout the year play out with a Carey Mortimer painting. An embellished headboard of cut-out felt and fabric leaves against a background of denim. Leather-topped chairs stitched with the initials SH. Above the doorway to the bathroom is an artwork of a lounging woman made from a Monopoly board by Mimi.

Keeping Active is Fitness Friendly Exercise and fitness Q. What do they look like? A. A bit sweaty. A bit puffy and Absolutely Fabulous!

For 200 years , The National Benevolent Charity has been a lifeline to people who have fallen into poverty and distress and who have nowhere else to turn. People like nurse Leah, 58, and her artist husband David, 63. They wanted a happy retirement together but Leah became crippled with arthritis and cannot walk. David is dedicated to his wife

Keeping Active is Fitness Friendly

and cares for her full time. But,

the loss of earned income has been devastating, and they are poverty-stricken. Despite state benefits, sickness, disability and old age can still mean a life of awful hardship. For Leah and David and hundreds of people like them, The National Benevolent Charity can help. The National Benevolent Charity Peter Hervé House, Eccles Court, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8EH For more info visit www.thenbc.org.uk or telephone 01666 505500 Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales Registered Charity Number 212450 RETIREMENT

today

You are in your 60s and can set fitness free. You don’t need money, or lycra or fancy trainers.You just need to know that you can do it, whoever you are, whatever you are and whatever has happened in your life so far.

Exercise In 2015, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges were so bowled over by the weight of evidence for the benefit of just 30 minutes of sweaty, puffy exercise five times a week, that they published a report about it. They called in ‘Exercise – the Miracle Cure’, and here are some of its findings:

Regular exercise at the recommended level …. • Reduces the risk of • Reduces the risk of • Reduces the risk of as 30 per cent • Reduces the risk of • Reduces the risk of OVER 40 per cent

breast cancer by as much as 25 per cent bowel cancer by as much as 45 per cent ever developing dementia by as much ever having a stroke by 30 per cent ever developing heart disease by

Considering how common these conditions are in people aged 65 and above (in 2015, there were over 2 million people with coronary artery disease, over 700,000 with dementia and over 100,000 with stroke), the staggering benefits of exercise become clear. So you can see why the Academy of Medical Colleges was going on about it. It is not unreasonable to think that getting active will make you biologically younger. The evidence suggests that is exactly what happens. So when my friend Marion said that she would like to slice a year off her age when her birthday came round, she was not far off the possible.You cannot stop ageing, but you can slow it down.

Why getting more active really is fitness friendly:

What activities help?

• It boosts your well-being straight away • It improves your fitness measurably over a few weeks • It dramatically reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia and some cancers, and helps prevent type 2 diabetes and depression • It helps you keep healthy even with medical conditions

The short answer is ‘almost anything you can think of ’ – every little bit of activity counts. What works best is what you enjoy doing so you keep doing it. And something that stretches you just a bit further than your comfort will maximise the energy you spend and the resilience you build.

• Yoga? • Running round the block once – then twice, then three times …? • Walking briskly, with a friend? • Zumba, or a stretch and fitness class at your local gym or community centre? • Swimming – a great way to keep active and limbered up.

What does fitness look like? Being fitter can make you feel better, and it shows, not just in your face but in everything you do. You will have a combination of energy, strength and ease of movement. Your posture will be stable and upright whether you’re sitting, standing or moving.Your body will be more resilient and your mind motivated and alert for what you want to do. An extract from SOD 60! The Guide to Living Well by Claire Parker & Muir Gray, published by Bloomsbury.

RETIREMENT

today

Keeping Active is Fitness Friendly

And as we shall see, getting fitter is about getting back in control of your health as your fitness gap begins to close. We can prevent many things that are harmful to our health, but we need to accept that we can’t prevent everything, and hope for a bit of luck to avoid what we can’t prevent. But we know that improving our physical wellbeing helps our mental resilience too, so we are in a better position to manage unwelcome events if they come.

Activities to get you going You choose. Have you tried ….

Property part exchange could make your move quick, smooth and hassle-free

f you’ve fallen in love with the idea of moving to a park home, but thoughts of the stress and hassle of selling your existing property are putting you off, Quick Move Properties’ part exchange service could offer the perfect solution. As the UK’s largest and most established independent property part exchange company, Quick Move Properties could help you move to your new home without the stress of having to try to sell your existing property on the open market. Because the company buys your existing home from you directly there are no viewings to organise, no estate agent negotiations to handle and no pressure. Quick Move Properties will even tie the sale of your existing property in with when your new home is ready. Since the company was established in 1998 Quick Move Properties has helped over 5,000 people move to their new home. One couple who have benefitted from Quick Move Properties’ part exchange service are Verna and Richard Culpeper. Having spent lots of time in

RETIREMENT

today

Pembrokeshire, the couple were familiar with the area and had friends and family nearby so liked the idea of being able to spend their retirement there. They initially began looking at bungalows but found that they were either too expensive or required a great deal of work. Moving to a brand new park home seemed like the idea solution. They found a location they fell in love with and immediately put down a deposit and put their house on the market, but unfortunately, after two potential sales fell through, Verna and Richard were left wondering whether their move would ever be possible. Seeing the stress that the couple were under, the park home operator suggested that they might like to think about using Quick Move Properties to part exchange their house so they could move forward with their new park home. After getting in touch with Quick Move Properties, Verna and Richard realised that the part exchange offer would enable them to move into their new park home immediately and still leave them with

a lump sum to be able to enjoy their retirement. Verna explains: “I was happy to take the part exchange offer, knowing the stress that had been getting worse every day would be over and Quick Move Properties would take care of everything. We were so distressed when the estate agent rang saying our second buyer had pulled out and it was such a relief not to have to worry about it anymore.” If you’d like to discover how Quick Move Properties could help you move to your dream home, contact their friendly team today on: 01793 840917 or visit

www.quickmoveproperties.co.uk

PARK HOMES

re you approaching retirement or perhaps contemplating semi-retirement and wondering what options are available, then the Park Home lifestyle is something well worth considering. A park home is not a static caravan, it is more like a luxury bungalow style property. With a range of layouts and designs to choose from you can give your home that “designer look”. All are built to British Standard 3632 and are well insulated with double or triple glazing and central heating making them very energy efficient and eco-friendly with low maintenance costs including falling into the lowest council tax band. If you buy a park home you will be buying into a change of lifestyle with many benefits, hassle free maintenance and not having the responsibility of looking after a larger property to name a couple. Most residential parks have a minimum age requirement meaning that the majority of residents are either retired or semi-retired so you will find yourself among likeminded people of similar age who are looking for peace and quiet but are still active. JJ Cooper Topaz Park Home

Many of the parks have a choice of leisure facilities, in addition many have secure gated entry and CCTV to give you that extra feeling of security. Park homes fall into two categories, residential park homes on parks with an all year round licence which allow you to reside there full time, and leisure homes which are intended to be used as holiday homes and can be rented out when you are not using it, giving you a source of revenue. It’s important to make sure that the park of your choice has the type of licence to cover the use of your home as you require, you can always ask for written confirmation from the park owner outlining the terms on which you’ll be occupying your home. There are a numerous companies specializing in park living many of whom own the residential parks.

One company is JJ Cooper Group Park Estates. Although a family operated business, they employ a large staff to ensure the smooth running of their parks and to look after the welfare of their residents, they have over 30 years’ experience owning and running residential parks. Their parks are for those aged 45 and over so the majority of residents are either retired or semiretired. They own eight parks, all located in beautiful areas in the south of England, three within easy reach of London. The majority of the parks have gated entry, some have CCTV, not because it is necessary but, as James Cooper one of the partners pointed out, “The residents requested it to make them feel more secure.” All their parks have local amenities within walking distance. One of the many benefits of owning a park home James said was that the home can be gifted to a relative on the death of the owner. James also stated, “If you bought one of these homes in the nineties the trend then was that it would depreciate in value, whereas today because of rising popularity and demand that trend has reversed and the value of park homes is now appreciating.” As previously mentioned the parks owned by this group have many RETIREMENT

today

Park Homes

By Alastair Wallbanks

Park Homes

The Elms

leisure facilities, for example at California Country Park located adjacent to California Lakes in Finchampstead, Berkshire, fishing, walks and golf are just a few. James concluded, “Park Home living has become an extremely fashionable and well respected way of living.” Another company is the John Kinch Group who own The Elms, an award winning luxury residential retirement village for the over 50’s, situated in Torksey in the heart of rural Lincolnshire. John Kinch, came to Lincolnshire from Herefordshire in the late 1970’s, embarking on an ambitious project to transform an area of land within the beautiful village of Torksey. John started his life as a farmer, progressing into many other trades and the experience he gained was a great help in the process of developing The Elms. Over many years, the vision of a peaceful and tranquil high quality Retirement Park took shape. Taking on a second job working as a coal miner to help fund his family, his drive and determination turned The Elms into the award winning Park Home Park it has become.Today, headed by RETIREMENT

today

Stuart Kinch, The John Kinch Group remains a truly family run business. The Elms is an idyllic setting with over 10 acres of parkland, 3 lakes and beautiful landscaping. The park holds a prestigious Silver David Bellamy Conservation Award for their outstanding efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment. With an abundance of flora and fauna, woodland and walks alongside the canal there is no better and a more beautiful place to spend your retirement years. The Kinch family have invested into the local community, providing a new medical centre in Torksey village, creating a seven acre village green with fishing lake and helping over the years to fund various refurbishment projects.

At The Elms everything you will need is within easy reach, with a doctors’, post office and pub within walking distance. Selected local traders visit the park weekly such as a greengrocer, fishmonger, butcher and mobile library. Plus you can benefit from a local milk and paper delivery service and an onsite minibus. The Elms has good bus links to both Gainsborough and Lincoln and even a free weekly bus service to the local supermarket. For the retirees that wish to pursue hobbies, there are a variety of local interest groups to get involved in from local history to art. Plus The Elms has private fishing alongside the Canal, superb floating pontoon moorings for boaters and caravan and motorhome storage for those who like to get away from it all.What more could you want! One resident couple, Carole and Derek Butler said,“Our quality of life at the Elms is fantastic - we do more now than we have ever done. Our home is fantastic, our neighbours’ lovely, the park is stunning and everyone is so friendly and helpful. We would never want to live anywhere else!”

For further information: www.elmsretirementpark.co.uk www.jjcoopergroup.com

JJC JJ

C C J JC

J JC J JC

JJ COOPER & SONS Exclusive Park Home Estates

HERE QUALITY IS A FAMILY TRADITION

New development of 30 bungalow style park homes, nearly all sold at Garstons Park, last few remaining. Prices from £145.000. All prices on all our parks include Landscaped Garden & Driveway. Private Residential Estates for the over 45s. New Stateley Albion Topaz 45x20 available at California Country Park Homes for July 2015. Price £295,000 New Stately Albion Badminton 32x22 available at Upton Cross Park for May 2015. Price £190,000 One of our parks receive a new park home each month of the year! We have a pre-booked build slot in place with various manufacturers to guarantee you minimal wait time for your new park home.

New Stately Albion 45 x 20

New Stately Albion Badminton 32 x 22

Exclusive Park Home Estates at: Garstons Park Home Village, Tilehurst, Berkshire, RG31 4TS (Head Office). California Country Park, Finchampstead, Berkshire, RG40 4HT | Kingsleigh Park, Thundersley, Essex, SS7 3QJ Cambridge Lodge Park, Horley, Surrey, RH6 8PR | Upton Cross Park, Poole, Dorset, BH16 5PN | Oxford Park Homes, Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford, OX4 4YT | Bungalow Park, Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7PJ | Robann Park, Fareham, Hampshire.

Call us today 0118 942 8782

info@jjcoopergroup.com | www.jjcoopergroup.com

RETIREMENT

today

Legacy quarter page ad.pdf

20/04/2012

15:22

Last year we helped over 80,000 wild birds and animals like Rudolph

Together, we can help everyone make the most of later life.

Please help me get better

CMY

Not only do we treat more hedgehogs than any other wildlife hospital, but our caring teams save lives every day. Our aim is simple, to treat injured British wildlife, then return them to the wild. Like Rudolph, who arrived badly injured at just five days old. Our specialist care saved this little deer and he is now facing a brighter future. But it is only with your support we can help casualties like Rudolph; please remember Tiggywinkles in your Will.

Our late friend Dame Thora Hird actively encouraged others to help us secure funding for our lifesaving work. In her words "All the little wild creatures and I thank you so very much". For more information please contact: Jenny Babb, Tiggywinkles, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8AF

01844 292 292 mail@sttiggywinkles.org.uk www.tiggywinkles.com Registered Charity No. 286447

Come and have a look around our Visitor Centre. Opening times can be found on our website www.tiggywinkles.com.

is the busiest wildlife hospital in the world.

Leave a future free from hunger D

ey /2 01

ld -o ar

4/ Za mb ia

-y e ree Th

ila

lds

sw e

et p

ota toes g

rown b

y her mother with help fr

er onc om C

n. P

t o: ho

th re Ga

l nt Be

For over 40 years, Concern Worldwide has helped communities develop their own lasting solutions to hunger, save lives during emergencies and campaign to change the bigger picture. By leaving a gift in your Will, you can help the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poorest communities build a future free from hunger. Whatever the size, your gift will make a lasting difference for generations.

Almost half of the work Age Scotland does to help older people in Scotland is only possible because of people remembering Age Scotland with gifts in their wills. After you have taken care of your loved ones, please consider leaving a gift in your will to Age Scotland. Even a small gift can make a massive difference towards helping everyone make the most of later life in Scotland. Find out more about us at: www.agescotland.org.uk Age Scotland Causewayside House 160 Causewayside Edinburgh EH9 1PR Charity No: SC010100

For information on leaving a gift to Concern please contact Carla Dormer:

020 7801 1881

carla.dormer@concern.net www.concern.net/legacies

Concern Worldwide (UK) is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales under company no.4323646 and a registered charity in England and Wales (no.1092236) and Scotland (no.SC038107).

RETIREMENT

today

Legacy Giving RT2015 Concern Worldwide, 13-14 Calico House, Clove Hitch Quay, London SW11 3TN

Age Scotland, part of the Age Network, is an independent charity dedicated to improving the later lives of everyone on the ageing journey, within a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland. Registration Number: 153343 Charity Number: SC010100 Registered Office: Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PR.

WHY MAKING A WILL MATTERS by Mike Francis

DANGERS OF NOT MAKING A WILL If a person dies without making a will countrywide searches have to be made for all the surviving relatives which can take months, even in this computerised age. Trawls through the offices of local banks, solicitors, and through the belongings of the deceased need to be made to check that the will is not lurking in some dark corner somewhere. The lack of a will can also trigger financial disputes within the family often preceded by the words ‘it’s not the money that I’m bothered about. It’s the principle of the matter’. Heir hunters who can legally trawl through public records, censuses and registries and delve into people’s lives, family trees and possible wealth will be alerted if there is no will and often claim a high percentage fee of any discovered relative’s share of the estate.

GET ADVICE FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE Disputes over wills generally fall into these categories, is it valid? Is it fair? Is it forged? Or they involve an executor or administrator acting negligently or improperly. A will is a potential minefield for making mistakes. If it hasn’t been signed or one of the two required witnesses to the signature is a beneficiary or wasn’t present when the will was signed, it will be invalid. An undated will is a major problem and even properly dated and witnessed, is it the last will anyway? A will needs to be properly drawn up and written clearly and precisely to ensure that the named beneficiaries, the loved ones, the charities, receive exactly what the will maker intends. You therefore need to choose your advisor with care. The obvious choice is to get a solicitor. You may have one already but if you haven’t get in touch with The Law Society for England and Wales or The Law Society of Scotland. who will give you a list of approved solicitors in your area. An alternative source is the Institute of Professional Willwriters based in the Midlands. There are considerable differences in law, practice and procedure between the Scots law of wills and succession and the law that applies in England and Wales. The Scottish Law Society can give you details.

LEGACIES CAN MAKE A VITAL DIFFERENCE Charities are under great pressure in the present austere economic climate to continue getting funding for their deserving work. Yet legacies can make a vital difference to what can be achieved. Take the Animal Health Trust for example. They had to deal with an emergency case over the Easter weekend when Tortilla the cat lost the use of back legs and tail and was paralysed from the waist down. The owners drove the cat to the Animal Health Trust where a full neurological examination revealed a problem with the spinal cord. A subsequent MRI scan showed that a blood clot on the spinal cord was causing the paralysis. Medication was started to reduce the blood clot swelling together with physiotherapy. After two days there was great improvement. After five days Tortilla was able to go home. After a further two weeks of cage rest and physiotherapy her owner was able to say ‘’she is doing absolutely wonderfully and runs up and down the stairs with no trouble at all now’.

USEFUL CONTACTS THE LAW SOCIETY (England and Wales) 113 Chancery Lane,London WC2A 1PL Tel : 0207 242 1222 www.lawsociety.org.uk THE LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND 26 Drumsheugh Gardens Edinburgh EH3 7YR Tel: 0131 226 7411 www.lawsot.org.uk INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL WILLWRITERS Trinity Point.New Road,Halesowen West Midlands B63 3HY Tel: 0345 257 2570 www.ipw.org.uk RETIREMENT

today

Why making a will matters

ven though we know we need to make a will at some point in our lives less than half of us have already done so, preferring instead to delay putting pen to willpaper until a later more suitable time. The danger is that continual postponement might mean we never get around to making a will and die intestate like Abraham Lincoln, Pablo Picasso, Karl Marx and Rocky Marciano, who all died without making a valid will. Members of the family left behind will be handed a great deal of unnecessary time consuming work that could easily have been avoided. In exceptional cases, in 1,000 estates where no relatives are found, the sole beneficiary will be the taxman who stands to inherit £18 million each year.

Prostate Quarter Page LEGACY 2016:Prostate A4 ad 07/12/2015 09:33 Page

YOUR LEGACY WILL HELP TOWARDS A CURE FOR PROSTATE CANCER

Can you offer the “gift” of life? Mihai was a Christmas baby; he had a difficult birth, experiencing oxygen starvation during delivery, which has resulted in brain developmental and motor problems and neo-natal seizures. He struggles with a further range of congenital cardiac and renal issues, infantile malnutrition and hypochromic anaemia. Mihai has very special medical care requirements but his teenage parents are totally destitute and simply cannot offer him the intensive care he needs. In July, the specialist team at St Margaret’s offered Mihai a little respite and all

Our mission is to fund research to develop more effective therapy for advanced prostate cancer. Our vision is a cure for the disease. If you can help us please contact us at the address below. Your support is vital!

the tender loving care he needs in a new three bed intensive cardiac care unit within CID’s children’s hospice. There are challenges galore, the initial worry is registering Mihai’s birth, obtaining a birth certificate, completing his comprehensive assessment and delivering a personal care and therapy plan to help this tiny little boy maximise his potential. Please help Mihai and the other twenty incurably and terminally ill children in the St Margaret’s family, hold tight to life. Just a little gift from you will mean a lot.

Please visit www.childrenindisteress.org to donate at Just Giving online, or call 0141 559 5690 to discuss your donation, or forward a donation to: Children in Distress, Ladywell Business Centre, 94 Duke Street, Glasgow G4 0UW.

Prostate Cancer Research Centre • Britannia House • 7 Trinity Street • London SE1 1DB Tel: 020 7848 7546 • Email: info@prostate-cancer-research.org.uk • www.prostate-cancer-research.org.uk

Registered Charity Number: 1001327. Scottish Registered Charity Number: SCO 39383

Meet Heather. Since her Gran died, she’s determined that no-one copes alone with chest, heart or stroke illness.

Make the end a new beginning A gift in your Will can mean life to those suffering from chest, heart and stroke illness in Scotland. The funding that gifts in Wills provide is crucial to our work.

We are Scotland’s Health Charity Research • Advice • Support • Action 0300 1212 555 | gifts@chss.org.uk | www.chss.org.uk Registered with and regulated by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (no SC018761), Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is a wholly Scottish charity. It also operates as CHSS and is registered in Scotland as a company limited by guarantee, no SC129114.

RETIREMENT

today

Charity N E W S

Give families like Veronica’s a future free from hunger For Veronica Nsuma, who lives in rural Zambia, the daily struggle to keep her family from going hungry left her with little hope for the future. As a smallholder farmer, poor harvests meant Veronica’s family would go hungry for months at a time. With the help of gifts left in Wills, Concern Worldwide has supported some of Zambia’s poorest rural households, like Veronica’s, by providing improved seeds and tools as well as vital training in sustainable farming techniques. With increased land fertility and food production, Veronica’s family can now eat three meals a day. She grows peanuts, maize, soya beans and aubergine and will often sell the excess aubergine to raise income for household essentials. Monica now feels her family have a brighter future, and is also passing on the skills she has learnt to others in her community. Concern Worldwide has worked for over 40 years combining their expertise and local knowledge to help communities develop their own lasting solutions to hunger. To find out more information about how a gift in your Will could make a huge difference to a family like Veronica’s, visit www.concern.net/legacies, call Carla Dormer on 0207801 1881 or email legacies@concern.net

Abseil 165ft down the iconic Forth Rail Bridge for Age Scotland! Looking for the ultimate challenge in 2016? How about a 165ft abseil from the Forth Rail Bridge, one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks. Organised by the Rotary club of South Queensferry under license from Network Rail, this unique opportunity is a real adrenaline rush for the daring and the ultimate challenge for the rest of us. Age Scotland is delighted to be one of the main charities at this annual event which means alongside having the time of your life, you can raise vital funds to support older people across Scotland. No previous experience is necessary and the abseil is suitable for everyone over the age of sixteen. Highly skilled instructors from the Glasgow Climbing Centre ensure that you are equipped with everything you need to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Veronica Nsuma sits with her daughters. Veronica has received training and improved seeds and tools from Concern, and now produces enough food for her family to eat and sell for an income. Photo: Gareth Bentley/2014/Zambia

Entry is £30 with an agreement to raise a minimum of £160 in sponsorship. Age Scotland’s fundraisers are on hand every step of the way to help you with your fundraising efforts and all money raised allows us to inspire, engage and support older people across Scotland to ensure they love later life. Sound like the ideal challenge for you? Register at http://bit.ly/rcqabseil or contact our fundraising team on fundraising@ agescotland.org.uk or 0333 323 2400

Heart Matters

Heart Matters is a FREE programme of information, inspiration and support from the British Heart Foundation for anyone who wants a heart-healthy lifestyle, whether you or someone close to you has a heart condition, or you’re looking to improve your health. When you become a member you can:

Charity News

Receive: your free welcome pack including: the latest issue of Heart Matters magazine, an introduction to the BHF, a tape measure (to check if you’re a healthy shape) and a recipe folder. Be inspired: Heart Matters magazine contains real-life stories, tips for keeping healthy and tasty seasonal recipes. Stay up to date: with fortnightly e-newsletters. Get online: take advantage of our healthy eating tools and online community. So, why not change your life today. Join Heart Matters at bhf.org.uk/heartmatters RETIREMENT

today

Charity N E W S

Fergus the dog walks his owners nearly 200 miles coast-to-coast for The Animal Health Trust Fergus, an eight-year-old Welsh Springer Spaniel, is resting his paws after participating in a 192 mile quest to raise money for the veterinary charity. Along with his dedicated owners, Debbie and Dave Yates, Fergus has successfully completed Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk last summer; from St Bees on the Cumbria Coast to Robin Hoods Bay on the North Yorkshire Coast. Totalling 18 days of solid walking through wind, rain and sun the team raised over £1,000. Five years ago, Fergus was struck down with Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI). Debbie and Dave were very close to losing their treasured friend. Luckily, Fergus received treatment in time and was saved. The cause of SCI is not known but it can strike over late summer and early autumn and make dogs incredibly sick and lethargic shortly after having been walked in woodland. With quick action, most dogs can pull through if they are seen by a vet in time. To thank the AHT for raising awareness of SCI, Fergus and his owners decided to take on this incredible challenge to raise funds for the AHT which fights disease and injury in animals through treatment and research. www.aht.org.uk

World-leading violinist joins dementia charity Julia Hwang, a brilliant young violinist who has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, has been unveiled as an Ambassador for Bristol-based dementia research charity BRACE. At just 20, Julia is already a recording artist of international renown and now studies at Cambridge University.

Charity News

Julia said she was delighted to be joining BRACE as an Ambassador. She said, “Dementia has affected my family and is one of the biggest health issues of our time; it’s vital that we keep the money flowing towards research. It is a great honour to have been asked to become an Ambassador for the charity and I look forward to helping them in any way I can over the coming years.”

Julia marked her new role by organising and performing in a concert at her college in Cambridge. BRACE Chief Executive Mark Poarch said Julia would be a real asset to the charity. He said, “To have someone of Julia’s talent and status join us as an Ambassador is fantastic. Hopefully she can help us raise our profile yet further and continue our mission to fund vital dementia research.” www.alzheimers-brace.org RETIREMENT

today

Sir Derek Jacobi opens new Research Centre Sir Derek Jacobi opened the new Prostate Cancer Research Centre (PCRC) research laboratories at Kings College London (KCL). The move coincides with the largest grant the charity has ever made of £1.5 million over 5 years to develop a new form of immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer. Most men present with early prostate cancer that can be cured by surgery or radiotherapy, but once the cancer has spread it is much more difficult to treat. The charity continues to support research aiming to develop therapy targeting the genetic changes that allow prostate cancer to spread. It is also funding research target prostate cancer stem cells, the small population of cancer cells that drive the growth of the disease. Another important research area is the development of animal models to test the new drugs and treatments before they go into patients. PCRC’s mission is to improve the survival of men with advanced prostate cancer, with a long term vision of curing the disease. The free 36 page booklet “Treating prostate cancer, questions and answers” can be obtaining by phoning PCRC on 0207-848-7546 or writing to PCRC, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB. www.prostate-cancer-research.org.uk

TODAY

Have Retirement Today posted direct to your door so you never miss an issue

Special Offer

£14.99 8 issu inc p&p)

Send you name and address together with a cheque for £14.99 to: Subscriptions Department, Amra Media Solutions, The Old Lavender Mill, 46a Brook Street, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5ES Or telephone 01296 632700

Name Address

Post code email

RETIREMENT

today

BE A FORCE FOR OUR FORCES. Every day, our team of 7,000 men and women volunteers are making a lasting difference in the lives of our veterans. Do something extraordinary and join them. Get in touch today to discuss a role that will make the most of your talents.

CALL 020 7403 8783 OR VISIT ssafa.org.uk

Registered charity No.210760 and SCO38056. Established 1885. S094.0116