Retirement Today Spring 2019 by Amra Media Solutions

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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 98 Spring 2019 2.90

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CONTENTS

4 Personal Relationships

Personal relationships within the family can make life much easier and more enjoyable but they can also make life more difficult if they become fractured.

WELCOME TO RETIREMENT TODAY MAGAZINE

8 Update

Benslow Music; Lilac Cottage Studio; Discover the freedom of rentingGirlings; Socialising again after losing a partner-Oddfellows

10 Natural, Nutritious and Nourishing Veggie Recipes

Delicious wholefood recipes to nourish the body and soul

12 Collectors Corner

With many extra free hours to while away now you are retired how are you going to fill them? Mike Francis takes a look at the pleasures of collecting as a hobby.

14 Literary Places – Florence

Read how the Italian renaissance city of Florence was the inspiration for A Room with a View by E.M. Forster (1908).

Family Fun at Leighton House Museum & 18 Stafford Terrace; Luxury Boutique Hotels, Pembrokeshire, Wales; Holiday in the UK’s most beautiful forests; Good Move Glasgow Health Walks.

18 Out and About

Amy Grimes

Cultural Revolution; SOLD! The Great British Antiques Story; Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light; Royal Women; London Cats International Cat Show

22 Animal Charities need your help

Read how a legacy is one of the ways of making sure your love of animals makes a difference beyond your lifetime.

Top left: Image from Inspired Traveller’s Guide:Literary Places © Amy Grimes Top right: Image from Dogs of the National Trust © National Trust Middle right: Image from Fresh Veggie Kitchen © Haarala Hamilton

17 Out and About

24 Pink House Living

Haarala Hamilton

Don’t make the mistake of thinking pink is just for girls! Not any more it isn’t. It turns out that pink is incredibly popular, on every level and in every way when decorating inside and out.

30 National Trust Dogs

• Tel: 01296 632700 • Email: info@amramedia.co.uk

35 Legacies are lifelines for charities

• www.retirement-today.co.uk

How leaving a legacy in your Will can make such a difference to the lives of so many people in the future.

• Designed by: Tom Evans Design

36 Subscription

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.

Pet e

People looking after, or closely involved with, individuals with dementia are likely to downplay the reality of their situation at times and although this can be an understandable reaction it can make the situation worse.

33 Dementia

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Many incredible dogs have lived at National Trust places - and still do. Here are some of their stores.

Susie Lowe © Ryla

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38 Charity News

Think differently about retirement-Action for Elders; New research reveals powerful long-term impact of DNA tests on dog diseases-AHT; Caught between a rock and a hard place-Tiggywinkles.

41 Charity News

And the beat goes on-HFT;Volunteer and make a difference-BHF; Leave a legacy and give the gift of life-Children in Distress

If you would like to receive free digital copies of Retirement Today magazine, please email info@amramedia.co.uk with code ‘Free RT’ RETIREMENT

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Personal Relationships

You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. –

Personal Relationships

Epicurus

ersonal relationships and health go hand in hand. But do good relationships promote good health or is it the other way round? Logic says that if you get your personal relationships right, much positivity will flow from them, which should improve your overall health. Personal relationships within the family can make life much easier and more enjoyable but they can also make life more difficult if they become fractured. Having good personal relationships also provides you with a group around you for emotional support, advice, different viewpoints that challenge you, shoulders to cry on and folk with whom to share daft jokes, social occasions and transport. Don’t forget the importance of having people around you who will take you down a peg or two if you sometimes tend to get beyond yourself. More fundamentally it will be a rare person who is happy every day, as there will always be difficult times and challenging situations so it is just as much about how you survive them – as Epicurus said 2,300 years ago. His basic philosophy was about living a selfsufficient life surrounded by friends and, without getting too heavy about it, he made a good point when he said ‘You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationship every day.You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity’. If your personal relationships are maintained and improved you will be happier: • Personal relationships; retirement brings big changes to the dynamics of your personal relationships. If your life was your work and your friends were at work, the changes will be bigger than you could have realised. • Adjust to this new life balance with your partner and try not to get under each other’s feet. RETIREMENT

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• We offer reminders about those other people who matter most to you – children, grandchildren, parents, other close relatives and good friends. • We offer pointers to the new friends who will emerge from your new social groups in retirement – and remember good friends tend to stick around during the highs and lows of life. Reaching retirement age is something many people look forward to, but it is a major lifestyle change. According to Relate, 91 per cent of people aged over 50 in the UK said that a close personal relationship is an important as good health and financial security. This emphasizes the fact that as we grow older, we find that strong and healthy personal relationships count for even more. This covers the spectrum from former work colleagues to your partner,your children,your parents and other friendship groups. It may come as a big surprise but your retirement brings a change in these dynamics and this means that some may change, some may be lost and some new ones will be found. With some warning and preparation there should not be too many bumps along the way, but adjusting will take a little time.

Work

The chances are that most people will have spent a great deal of their time in a working environment where they will

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Personal Relationships

have established a whole series of relationships. Those will include working colleagues, fellow professionals, customers and suppliers; some of those colleagues may well have become close friends. Once you retire, those contacts and relationships will become much less significant in your life. While individual circumstances can vary, the general advice on retirement is that you should not seek to return to your old working environment. You may initially be tempted to drop in to see how things are going and to have a quick chat with old friends, but generally is it not a great idea to do so. Things can change very quickly, as can personnel, and life moves on. Whatever your previous role may have been and however important it was you will now be seen as an outsider. People in work will want to get on with the job in hand and will have little time for chit-chat – just think how you may have reacted when you were actually working. So unless you have agreed some very specific role with your old organisation it is probably best to stay away right from the start. That is not to say that you should not stay in contact with people with whom you were particularly friendly. But do so on the basis of a network outside the actual working environment.

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Partner

The other major change will be with those nearest and dearest to you and you may have seen some relationships fracture after the age of 60. If you are a couple you will now spend much more time together, and indeed this is something that you both may have been looking forward to. But you may need a little time to adjust to this new life balance and you need to be careful not to get under each other’s feet. You may just need to give each other a bit of personal space. Also, if only one partner has retired you may need to sit down and work out how responsibility for undertaking all those everyday but necessary tasks might have to be readjusted. These very personal relationships will be a key factor in how happy your retirement years are likely to be. So grab some time out and a cup of tea and sit down as a couple, talk through how best to work through what will be a new relationship, and be prepared to accept that it may take a little time to adjust to your new situation. But generally you should find that things eventually do fall fairly neatly into place. Should the need arise, the following organisation can offer help and advice: Marriage Care www.marriagecare.org.uk The Spark (Scotland) www.thespark.org.uk Relate: www.relate.org.uk and in Northern Ireland www.relateni.org

Children

You may also find that you have more time to devote to those wider family relationships. Your children may have moved on to start developing their own families, but it is likely they will continue to value whatever support you can give them. This may involve the occasional – or in some cases regular – babysitting duties. This can be a great bonus to both parties: you establish a closer bond with your grandchildren and your own children get a bit more freedom at an important stage of their own life. Also, if they are finding it difficult to get a foot on the property market, and you now find yourself with some available capital, you may want to discuss the possibility of giving or loaning them a helping hand to get started. But a word of warning: you should not impose yourself, your ideas of how things should be done or how to spend a gift – ‘give and let go’ could be a useful phrase here. As in all things, a sensitive balance is needed and don’t forget that you need to retain your own freedoms to do as you wish, within reason. After all, you have worked hard for what you have now got and are entitled to enjoy it.

Parents

At the other end of the age spectrum your own or your partner’s parents may now be getting to the stage where they may need some support or even just a little more of your time. Again, you need to tread carefully to avoid imposing your solutions on their problems and to ensure that they don’t become overly dependent on you.

Sandwich generation

Those in their fifties and sixties are the ‘sandwich generation’ where dual pressures may influence the relationships. This could be caused by ‘boomerang’ kids who return home after university/ college whereas, in previous generations, they tended to find their own independence at an earlier age. House prices and rent prices (especially in London and the south-east of England and other property ‘hot spots’) make the opportunity of living a few more years with parents an attractive one.The same may apply if you have vulnerable or elderly parents who have needs and potentially need care.

Friends

You will probably already have a wide circle of social friendships and that is unlikely to change on retirement. Indeed, it is important to retain and even develop those links now that you have more time to do so. You should also take every opportunity to develop new acquaintanceships as you start to get involved with all of those activities you never had time to pursue during your working life. With more time there will be more opportunities to join new groups – and remember, if there is not a group around then take the lead and form one. So the general message is that every person and relationship is individual and will differ slightly from another. Usually things boil down to compromise and learning to work things out. An active social life, combined with building on the personal and family relationships, is a sure-fire way to enhance your retirement years and live better. Fractured relationships, on the other hand, usually have the opposite effect. Some people may stay as friends and some may come and go but the true friends tend to stick around through the highs and lows of life; sharing these events and getting through them is all part and parcel of your personal relationship ‘network’ – and as a species we can be a resilient bunch!

Useful help

Personal Relationships

The book Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray styles itself as the ‘definitive guide to relationships’. Some parts of it are fairly obvious but it does help underline the point that we are all different and some compromise is needed for a better overall outcome n

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I didn’t want to go at first But I enjoyed myself in the end.

For your free information pack

After losing a partner, it’s natural that you might not feel like stepping out socially again for weeks, months or maybe even longer. We understand it can be tough.

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When the time is right, your local Oddfellows Branch is there to offer you a warm welcome at any of our social events, and to make it a little easier for you to take that first step.

9am-5pm Mon to Thurs, 9am-4pm Fri

oddfellows.co.uk/firststeps

We’re ready when you are. The Odd Fellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of OddFellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, incorporated and registered in England and Wales No 223F. Registered Office Oddfellows House, 184 – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB.

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11/03/2019 14:32 RETIREMENT today

UPDATE Socialising again after losing a partner Benslow Music They love it when people find motivation through their courses and discover or rediscover their love of music. At Benslow Music they offer a huge variety of informal residential and day courses to musicians of all abilities on a wide range of instruments and voices at their beautiful campus in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

With over two centuries of experience, the Oddfellows is no stranger to supporting people through difficult times. Explained Oddfellows spokesperson Dawn Walters: “When you’ve lost someone it can be hard to find the courage to join in and meet new people again. We understand how daunting it can be to step out alone. “There are so many groups to get involved in locally. We run frequent events across the country for people to enjoy, and we see supportive friendships form between widows and widowers - they know what each other is going through.”

Their tranquil four-acre gardens are an integral part of the Benslow Music experience and provide an inviting space in which to relax and re-gather energies between sessions.

If you feel ready to start socialising again, here are some tips from the Oddfellows:

Whether your musical taste is for classical, jazz, popular or folk, they have a music course to suit you. They run over 250 residential music courses annually and their tutors are the best in the business! From their Baroque Opera project, Late Starter String Orchestra, wind quintet courses to their Big Band Summer School, there is something for you!

• Ring ahead so you know what to expect. The organisers may meet you on the door, or introduce you to someone understanding. Bring a friend or family member along with you for support.

www.BenslowMusic.org

Lilac Cottage Studio run by Ecclestone Art

• See what events are on locally. Informal events such as coffee mornings or talks are perfect.

• Just give it a try. If it’s not for you, then don’t go again. You’ve nothing to lose. For information on the Oddfellows and advice on socialising after losing a partner visit www.oddfellows.co.uk/firststeps or call 0800 028 1810.

Discover the freedom in renting Stepping off the property ladder to rent in retirement can bring many financial and social benefits. People can sell their home and downsize - freeing up capital to invest, gift or spend and move somewhere they’ve always dreamed of living. Girlings Retirement Rentals offers age exclusive retirement apartments to rent in purpose-built developments in popular coastal locations, market towns and cities.

Lilac Cottage Studio is a peaceful haven in the vibrant village of Rickinghall in the rural idyll of Suffolk

Their assured (lifetime) tenancies give reassurance that people can stay in their homes for as long as they wish. All maintenance costs and service charges are included in the rent and there’s a ready-made community of people to socialise with.

They offer a range of art classes for all abilities in a purpose-equipped building located in the garden of their lovely country cottage. All their tutors are professional artists with plenty of experience of teaching and each has their own special skills and genre to share with the course participants.

Dorothy Franklin moved into a Girlings’ apartment in Hedingham Place in Sible Hedingham five years ago and has made many friends including, Phil Adams, another resident.

The studio is a comfortable environment with modern facilities, refreshments available all day and lunch is provided with all courses. You may even get the chance to eat in their lovely garden – Suffolk is one of the sunniest places in the U.K.

Update

Advice from the Oddfellows, one of the UK’s oldest and biggest friendly societies, is to take it one step at a time and only when it feels right for you.

They boast 10 designated rehearsal rooms, including 2 recital halls, good quality accommodation and in-house catering for up to 50 guests at any one time.

Benslow Music has a unique, warm, friendly and stimulating atmosphere: they employ inspirational tutors, offer tranquilly in their beautiful gardens, and excellent music facilities and catering. Many people simply fall in love with the Benslow Music experience, and visit them time after time for (in some cases) several decades.

Retreating socially is natural when grieving the loss of a partner. The time it takes to feel ready to go and meet new people again is a personal thing.

Courses available in 2019 include Oil Painting for Beginners and Intermediates, Impressionism, Old Master Techniques, Sight-Size Still Life, Painting en Plein Air, Still Life and Caravaggio and In the Light of Turner (Watercolour Painting). For more information and bookings visit www.lilaccottage.com Or contact them on info@lilaccottagestudio.com 07824637174 RETIREMENT

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Dorothy met Phil in the communal sitting room, and they’ve have become firm friends. Dorothy says, “Since moving into my Girlings apartment I’ve been lucky enough to discover this wonderful friendship I never thought I’d find again. Phil and I have led similar lives and like the same things. We cook for each other and another friend of ours. We look after each other here.” For further information visit www.girlings.co.uk

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Natural, Nutritious and Nourishing Veggie Recipes Bianchina, 8 years old, Palermo LNDC kennel

Delicious wholefood recipes to nourish the body and soul Recipes from Fresh Veggie Kitchen by David & Charlotte Bailey, published by Pavilion Books. Images credited to Haarala Hamilton.

She cannot find the Words WE CAN For over 60 years AISPA has been the voice of those who do not have a voice. Thanks to your support we can help animal welfare projects in Italy to rescue, lovingly look after and find a new home for thousands of animals. Please help our projects to do more and to do it better. Please check out our website www.aispa.org.uk Email us at info@aispa.org.uk or fill out the form below and return it to us by post. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - YES, I WANT TO SUPPORT AISPA I enclose a donation of £ ............................... (Cheque/PO/CAF made payable to: AISPA) Please Gift Aid my donation. AISPA will send you Gift Aid information Name ............................................................................................................................................................ Address ........................................................................................................................................................ .................................................................................... Post Code ................................................................

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Natural, Nutritious and Nourishing Veggie Recipes

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93 rescue cases 141 horses rehomed 419 on site at bransby horses By leaving a legacy to Bransby Horses in your Will we can keep giving horses, like mare and foal Passchendaele and Evelina, a wonderful new life.

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SWEET POTATO AND COCONUT SOUP WITH TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS The soothing creamy sweetness of sweet potato and coconut combined with cinnamon makes this a truly warming soup for a cold evening. Grab some bread, get yourself comfy on the sofa and you’ll feel better in no time. SERVES 4 Vegan / Wheat-free / Gluten-free 4 tsp coconut oil 1 onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 20g/¾oz fresh root ginger, chopped ½ tsp ground cinnamon 700g/1lb 9oz sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped 2 carrots, roughly chopped salt and black pepper 500ml/18fl oz/2 cups vegetable stock 500ml/18fl oz/2 cups water 400ml (1 can) coconut milk 50g/1¾oz/6 tbsp pumpkin seeds, Toasted 1. Melt the coconut oil in a Dutch oven or large pan, add the onion and sauté for a couple of minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in the cinnamon, then add the sweet potatoes and carrots and a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for a minute or so, stirring regularly. Pour in the stock and water, cover with a lid and bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to medium and simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are soft. 2. Stir in the coconut milk and bring to the boil before removing from the heat. Using a stick blender – or carefully transferring the soup to a blender (we usually do it in two batches to be safer) – blend until smooth. 3. Serve in bowls, with toasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top.

We fell completely in love with Sri Lanka on a recent visit and were determined to recreate some of the fabulous food we had enjoyed as soon as we got home. This curry is based on one we were shown by one of our hosts; it’s just a shame we can’t go and pick fresh curry leaves straight from the jungle as he did, nor pop to the garden for a coconut. It’s a great dish on its own, but the sambols traditionally served alongside were also to die for and if you’ve got time to make up our simple recipe for pol sambol, it really elevates this dish. SERVES 4 Vegan / Wheat-free / Gluten-free 400ml (1 can) coconut milk 1 tsp coriander seeds 20 curry leaves 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 sweet potato, cut into chunks ½ tsp fennel seeds 250ml/9fl oz/1 cup water ½ tsp turmeric 1 small cauliflower, cut into ½ tsp chilli powder bite-sized florets 2 tsp mustard seeds 125g/4½oz okra, trimmed 1 tbsp coconut oil 1½ tbsp tamari 1 large onion, roughly chopped handful coriander (cilantro), roughly 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped chopped juice of 1 lime 1½ tsp rapadura sugar or other unrefined brown sugar TO SERVE wholegrain basmati rice, cooked 100g/3½oz/¾ cup cashews, roasted 1 batch pol sambol (optional,) In a hot dry pan, lightly toast the coriander, cumin and fennel seeds until they’re fragrant. Transfer to a pestle and mortar, add the turmeric and chilli powder, and grind to a powder. In the dry pan, over a medium heat, lightly toast the mustard seeds until they release their aroma. Add the coconut oil and once it’s melted add the onion and sauté for a couple of minutes or so until translucent. Add the garlic, sugar and the powdered spices. Turn the heat down to low and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly. Add the coconut milk and curry leaves and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes. Add the sweet potato and the water, cover with a lid and turn the heat up to high until it comes to the boil, and then down to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes. Add the cauliflower, okra and tamari and cook for a further 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add the chopped coriander and lime juice and serve over basmati rice with a few cashews and a little pol sambol, if using. POL SAMBOL This coconut sambol is served as a side to pretty much everything in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankans’ relationship to it is not unlike ours to ketchup, but its flavours, while simple, are certainly a little more palate-tingling: spicy, sour, sweet and salty, all at once. It’s very straightforward to make and is best eaten fresh. It’s great with our Sri Lankan curry . SERVES 2–4 AS A SIDE Vegan / Wheat-free / Gluten-free juice of ½ lime ½ small red onion, finely chopped 60g/2oz/2⁄3 cup desiccated coconut pinch of salt pinch of pepper ½ tsp red chilli flakes Put all the ingredients together in a bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands.

Heirloom carrots are a beauty to behold, especially if you can get them in different colours. But ordinary carrots are also delicious in this recipe. Labneh is a favourite ingredient of ours, a strained yogurt widely used in eastern Mediterranean cuisine. Super thick and with a bold tang, it’s well worth hunting down, but if you struggle to find it, natural yogurt also works well. SERVES 2 500g/1lb 2oz heirloom carrots, cut in half lengthways (if using regular carrots cut into finger-length batons) 2 tbsp olive oil 2 sprigs thyme, leaves plucked salt and black pepper 4 tsp runny honey

2 tbsp chopped parsley 2 tbsp chopped mint 2 tsp lemon juice 3 tbsp labneh 50g/1¾oz/6 tbsp walnuts, toasted seeds from ½ pomegranate 125g/4½oz/¾ cup bulgur wheat, Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. cooked and cooled Line a roasting tray with greaseproof (waxed) paper. Put the carrots in a mixing bowl, add 4 teaspoons of the olive oil, the thyme leaves and a pinch of salt and pepper and mix well. Transfer to the lined roasting tray and roast for about 40 minutes, turning them around occasionally until they’ve started to take on some colour. Drizzle over the honey and roast for a further 10 minutes or so. Meanwhile, place the cooked bulgur in a mixing bowl and combine with the parsley and mint, the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil, the lemon juice and a touch of salt and pepper. Place the bulgur mix in a serving bowl and top with the carrots, labneh, walnuts and pomegranate seeds. Vegan option Use agave in place of honey and a plant-based yogurt in place of labneh. LABNEH This Middle Eastern cheese is a fantastic and versatile ingredient but it can be a little hard to track down. But don’t let that put you off! It’s actually super easy to make at yourself at home. It just needs to be left for 24 hours, so does need a little forward planning, but it’s well worth it and is delicious served with salads, as part of a mezze platter or enjoyed on its own with a basket of warm pitas. MAKES 500G/ 1LB 2OZ Wheat-free / GF muslin cloth pinch of salt 500g/1lb 2oz natural yogurt string or elastic band Line a bowl with a piece of muslin cloth. Stir the salt into the yogurt before spooning it into the muslin-lined bowl. Bring the edges of the muslin together and tie into a tight bundle using string or an elastic band. Hang the bundle over the bowl or hang it from the kitchen tap and leave it to drain for about 24 hours. By this time, most of the liquid will be lost and the resulting labneh will be beautifully thick and creamy. Transfer from the muslin into a suitable container and store in the fridge, as you would yogurt, until ready to use. RETIREMENT

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Natural, Nutritious and Nourishing Veggie Recipes

SRI LANKAN CURRY BOWL

HONEY ROASTED CARROT SALAD WITH BULGUR WHEAT, WALNUTS, POMEGRANATE SEEDS AND LABNEH

COLLECTORS CORNER by Mike Francis

ith many extra free hours to while away now you are retired how are you going to fill them? Have you ever thought about collecting as a hobby? Make a list of what interests you, what would be good for a rainy day, and you’ll be surprised at the activities you can get involved in without leaving your front room.

JERSEY POST

Collectors Corner

In 1844 Victorian Londoners could rely on having 7 postal deliveries through the letter box and 7 collections

from the post box every day. In our computerised age dependence on the post is less marked than in the past but our interest in collecting stamps remains unabated especially in the area of first day covers. I was first attracted to stamp collecting when I came across an old battered stamp album that had been compiled by my grandmother. Geographically it showed how the world had changed and I was anxious to add to it with the current stamps of my youth. With extra time on your hands in retirement you may like to consider collecting stamps as one of your interests.You may even be able to track down an old family stamp album which you can add to like I did. Jersey was the first place in the British Isles to have a roadside post box and in 1969 gained postal independence from Britain. Since then they have built up an international reputation for quality, exciting design and new printing techniques. Working closely with a team of specially commissioned artists, designers and photographers they create fascinating stamps inspired by the island’s heritage, anniversaries and traditions. Apart from their intrinsic interest stamps can also be a good investment. According to stamp specialist James Dann ‘recent stamps sell quite a bit higher than their face value once they are off sale including

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Jersey Post

first day covers.’ Among the stamp topics featured this year are the 100th anniversary of the birth of ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn, the former governor of Jersey Sir Walter Raleigh, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Ist wedding anniversary, and Europa – National Birds Symposium. One particularly successful innovation from last year was the Frankenstein miniature sheet printed in 3D with the eyes following you. Set up a subscription with Jersey Post and they will send you either a Mint Set, Presentation Pack or First Day Cover of each new issue.

ANTIQUES

Popular television programmes like the Antique Road Show and Flog It indicate the public appetite for antiques is showing no sign of flagging. Perhaps you have considered looking through some long-forgotten hoard of family memorabilia in the hope of finding something really valuable to sell. Sometimes you can make amazing discoveries in the most unlikely places. I was leafing through a dusty old book in the loft one day when I discovered between two pages a 1941 copy of the Daily Express recalling the moment when world war two started to turn in our favour. Buying antiques can often lead you up some interesting alleys. At the top end of the market you could find yourself attending an auction at Sotheby’s or Christies with the nailbiting tension of a competitive sale. Or perhaps visiting local antique and bric- a -brac shops in the hunt for

Jersey Post

a real bargain. I once paid £6 for a wooden 1940s drinks trolley with folding shelves and when I got home I opened the bottom drawer and found 11 frosted glass gold rimmed cocktail glasses.

OLD FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS

Many families have hoards of old black and white photos that have been stashed hurriedly away in illfitting battered photo envelopes. They may be bent, more often than not without place names or dates, and could even fall out and get lost over time or get hidden away in some dark drawer somewhere.

holiday specially to places which have their own unique brand of special liqueur that you can’t buy anywhere else. As well as being a memento of your visit it adds an extra sparkle to your collection. They don’t just come in baby bottles either. I have some in venetian glass, salt and pepper pots, simulated tree bark, vases, Spanish pourers, with intriguing contents like gentian flowers and tree sap. Many of mine are 50 years old with their contents still intact. Lit from behind the colour of the liquid and bottles can create a literally dazzling display.

A NEAR MISS

When my grandfather was fighting in the first world war, he was feet away from being hit by part of a propeller that had broken off from a German plane. He picked it up and took it home with him. Many years later my grandmother kept it on the hall stairs and used to religiously polish the burnished teak and brass propeller every week. Whatever you decide to collect do cherish it. It’s part of history n ©

Jersey Post

MINIATURE LIQUEURS

Liqueurs are essentially for quaffing but in miniature size the attractive glass packaging makes them eminently collectable. The obvious time to buy is when you go on

Collect Jersey stamps

Sir Walter Raleigh Governor of Jersey

Discover a much loved pastime Known around the world for their quality and the innovativeness of their deisgns, Jersey stamps make wonderful collectables.

Dame Margot Fonteyn 100th Birth Anniversary

Lunar new Year Year of the Pig Queen Victoria 200th Birth Anniversary

Miniature pieces of art in their own right, they feature beautiful photographs, striking illustrations, exquisite paintings and contemporary graphics, all inspired by the Island’s rich heritage and diverse culture, as well as celebrated figures and world events.

Popular Culture The 1970s

Jersey Architecture - Hamptonne

Europa 2019 - National Birds Birds & Symbolism

Start your own miniature art collection today! Jersey stamps are available in specially designed Presentation Packs or affixed to First Day Cover Envelopes.

TRH The Duke & Duchess of Sussex 1st Wedding Anniversary

Collectors Corner

These are precious links to your family past and need cherishing. How much better to put them in proper albums, dated if possible, chronologically with place names, and itemised by volume. I visited a friend recently who had compiled a 33-volume album set of his family photos some of them reaching right back to the 1850’s. It was fascinating to look at such personal history. I have a set of Victorian photos celebrating Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1897 with my grandmother aged 6 outside the house she lived in next door to Reginald Foort who became BBC radio’s first organist in the 1930’s. Another photo has my grandfather leaning on the propeller of a plane in 1917 when he was in the Royal Flying Corps, forerunner of the RAF.

Contact us to receive a free Jersey Stamps brochure. Set up a subscription with us and we’ll post each new stamp issue direct to your door.

View the full range and order online www.jerseystamps.com Email: stamps@jerseypost.com or call us on +44 (0) 1534 616717

www.facebook.com/jerseystamps

@JerseyStamps

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Lilac Cottage Studio Lilac Cottage Studio is a peaceful haven in the vibrant village of Rickinghall in the rural idyll of Suffolk

LITERARY PLACES Exploring the landscapes and places that inspired great novels, here we look at the location of Florence.

We offer a range of art classes for all abilities in a purpose equipped building located in the garden of our lovely country cottage. All our tutors are professional artists with plenty of experience of teaching and each has their own special skills and genre to share with the course participants. The studio is a comfortable environment with modern facilities, refreshments available all day and lunch is provided with all courses. You may even get the chance to eat in our lovely garden – Suffolk is one of the sunniest places in the U.K. Courses available in 2019 include Oil Painting for Beginners and Intermediates, Impressionism, Old Master Techniques, Sight-Size Still Life, Painting en Plein Air, Still Life and Caravaggio and In the Light of Turner (Watercolour Painting).

For more information and bookings go to our website lilaccottagestudio.com/courses.html Or contact us on info@lilaccottagestudio.com Or Sue on 07824637174 Lilac Cottage Studio is run by Ecclestone Art Agency www.ecclestoneartagency.com

FLORENCE Which? A Room with a View by E.M. Forster (1908) What? Resplendent Italian Renaissance city where stifled passions break free

Literary places: Florence

Residential Courses Summer Schools Workshops Concerts

Classical Early Folk/Gospel Jazz/Light

www.benslowmusic.org +44 (0)1462 459446 • info@benslowmusic.org Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9RB A Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No 408404. Reg Charity No 313663

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ling wide the casement windows and the essence of the city floods in. Fresh morning air carries church bells and wingbeats, barrows clattering on cobbles, the river murmuring below. Sunlight hits the room’s redtiled floor, dazzles the linen, nurtures the geraniums on the sill. Leaning out, the view unfurls: a Renaissance masterpiece of golden palazzi and terracotta rooftops, speared by towers and a huge, impossible dome. Behind that, green hills braid and fade into the distance. The romance is palpable. This is a ‘magic city’, the sort where one might do the most extraordinary things ... Florence is irresistible. In its 15th-century golden age, when it birthed the Italian Renaissance, the Tuscan city was artistically unmatched. Briefly, from 1865 to 1871, it was even capital of a newly unified Italy. As leisure travel became increasingly possible, well-heeled tourists flocked to appreciate its sights. Tourists just like Lucy Honeychurch, heroine of A Room with a View. E.M. Forster wrote this sun-drenched romantic comedy in early 20th-century England, a place of stifling conventions for the uppermiddle classes. The novel pokes a critical finger at the sterility and rigidity of Edwardian England. But it offers an antidote: Florence. The Italian city is all that England is not. Instead of structure, it is spontaneity; rather than pallor, it is passion; rather than niceness, it is life. Today’s Florence remains all of those things. The retreating Nazis destroyed the old bridges (except the famed Ponte Vecchio); the calamitous flood of 1966 ruined many buildings; the tourist throngs have become even more maddening. But this city – Unesco World Heritage-listed in its entirety – still has the power to enchant. Naïve ingénue Lucy and her chaperone leave quiet Surrey for RETIREMENT today

An extract from Inspired Traveller’s Guide: Literary Places by Sarah Baxter, White Lion Publishing £14.99. Illustrations ©Amy Grimes Text ©Sarah Baxter RETIREMENT

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Literary places: Florence

a very proper Italian trip, ticking off what the Baedeker guide prescribes. At the Pension Bertolini they are distraught at having rooms looking into a courtyard rather than over the Arno. Two Englishmen, who have river views, suggest a swap. And there begins Lucy’s coming of age, a struggle between her old-fashioned upbringing and a fiery new independence. After only days she’s witnessed a murder and had her first kiss. If England is vanilla, Florence is tutti frutti – all colours, all flavours. You can’t stay at the fictional Pension Bertolini, nor the hotel that inspired it. In 1901 Forster stayed at Pension Simi, on the Arno’s north embankment, looking over the river to the cypresses of San Miniato and the Apennines’ foothills. Pension Simi no longer exists. And anyway, the outlook immortalised in the 1985 film of A Room with a View is from the Arno’s south bank, looking over the rooftops of the historic centre. However, no matter where you stay, you can walk, as Lucy did.The frame of central Florence has changed little since the Renaissance. It’s the same compact jigsaw of narrow alleys lined with elegant palazzi, grand churches and medieval chapels. There are world-class art museums – the Uffizi, the Bargello – hung to the rafters with Titians, Botticcellis, Donatellos, Raphaels. Sculptures worthy of galleries can also be found scattered willy-nilly, lodging in loggia or guarding piazzas. Just as Lucy does, you can turn right along the riverside Lungarno delle Grazie, past the Ponte alle Grazie bridge (the 1227 original now replaced by a post-war reconstruction) to take ‘a dear dirty back way’ to the church of Santa Croce. Lucy gets lost, drifting down streets, finding herself in the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, admiring the cherub reliefs that decorate the Foundling Hospital: ‘she had never seen anything more beautiful’. Finally she arrives before Santa Croce, with its ‘black-and-white facade of surpassing ugliness’. A matter of taste, perhaps.This striking neo-Gothic frontage is a 19th-century addition; the basilica was founded in the 13th century, and its vast, austere interior houses matchless frescoes by Giotto and other masters, as well as the tombs of Michelangelo and Machiavelli.There’s much to admire, and much satisfaction to be gained from appreciating the artworks deemed the finest – a bourgeois trait that Forster lampoons. But maybe, like Lucy, Santa Croce will leave you cold. Because arguably Florence is best not when studied but when felt. Later, Lucy finds herself in the Piazza della Signoria, the city’s main square and long the centre of political life. Dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio, it’s a veritable outdoor museum; a replica of Michelangelo’s David stands where the original did, before it was moved to the nearby Galleria dell’Accademia. It’s in this piazza that Lucy witnesses a murder, faints onto George Emerson and sets her life on a new trajectory. Hopefully you won’t witness bloodshed, though Cellini’s statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa ensures a hint of the macabre. You can also follow Forster’s English folk – by bus rather than horse and carriage – to Fiesole, a tiny hill town just northeast of the centre of Florence. This is where Florentines come to seek green space, where the views of the Arno Valley are spectacular and where, given a chance, you should do as George and Lucy did and sneak a kiss in a field of violets. Florence is culturally magnificent, from the priceless art at street level to the tip of the Duomo’s cupola. But there’s also the Florence of the senses, the city that comes alive when you feel its hot sun on your skin. When you loiter over lunch, take a slow passeggiata in the cooling afternoon, watch a pink-orange sunset, sip a glassof good Chianti. When you stop questing for information but think of ‘nothing but the blue sky and the men and the women who live under it’ n

Retirement Magazine Spring issue 2019_HP.pdf 1 3/6/2019 2:22:11 PM

Leighton House Museum

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12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ 10AM - 5:30PM; CLOSED TUESDAYS www.leightonhouse.co.uk

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Out&About... Family Fun at Leighton House Museum & 18 Stafford Terrace

Take a trip down memory lane and bring your grandchildren to experience two of the most charismatic Victorian artists’ houses in the heart of Kensington. Leighton House Museum is the studio-house of Frederic, Lord Leighton, eminent painter and sculptor and President of the Royal Academy. His ‘private palace of art’ houses one of the greatest displays of Islamic Tiles, historic rooms with silk wallpapers and stuffed peacocks and a beautiful art collection by Leighton himself and his contemporaries. Their monthly Family Fun programme presents an array of activities for children aged 4 upwards, ranging from storytelling, concerts to arts & crafts workshops and special events during Christmas and Summer. Don’t miss their recently launched Scavenger Hunt Trail, the first of a series of fun and interactive trails helping you discover Leighton, his house and garden. Ask for a pack in reception! 18 Stafford Terrace is the ‘House Beautiful’ of Victorian illustrator Linley Sambourne and his family. His eclectic interiors remain practically intact and there is the chance to explore and learn more about this extravagant household by joining their Family Costumed Tours during half-term, led by Mrs Sambourne herself or her maid, Ms Reffle. www.leightonhouse.co.uk

Holiday in the UK’s most beautiful forests

Located on the spectacular peninsula of Pembrokeshire, Twr y Fein Hotel, Roch Castle and Penrhiw Priory are three of Wales’ leading luxury boutique hotels. Originally a windmill built in 1806, Twr y Felin, located in Britain’s smallest city, St Davids, the hotel is home to 21 bedrooms including two unique suites and over 100 pieces of specially commissioned art, inspired by the landscape; and two Rosette Blas Restaurant, which offers a menu influenced by the season. Spectacular and dramatic, 12th century Roch Castle sits high above the Pembrokeshire landscape offering panoramic views over St Brides Bay and the Preseli Hills. Six characteristic ensuite bedrooms hide away within the protective walls, while the jewel of the castle; the Sun Room has floor to ceiling glass walls and an alfresco viewing platform. The definition of tranquillity, Penrhiw Priory, nestles in acres of private gardens, enveloped by woodland paths, river and meadow. Restored with the utmost care, original features subtly contrast the contemporary interiors, whilst the generous sofas and art inspired by nature, evoke a warmth throughout which extends into the seven ensuite bedrooms and spacious ground floor suite. Complimentary evening transfers are available for guests staying at Roch Castle and Penrhiw Penrhiw Priory. www.retreatsgroup.com

Good Move Glasgow Health Walks Walking is a great form of exercise and doing it with others can turn it into an enjoyable social event. Good Move Glasgow are running Health Walks right across the city which are suitable for all ages and abilities! An ideal way to meet new people, enjoy the fresh air and see the sights of Glasgow’s parks and gardens. Over 50 walks taking place each week, which are easy and fun. Most walks last about an hour and walk leaders are on hand to encourage you to go at your own pace, making sure you get the most out of your walk. All abilities are welcome but please bring someone to accompany you if in need one to one support. There are also themed walks if you are interested in the city’s culture, art, architecture, wildlife and history. The walks are free but spaces are limited so booking is essential. For further information tel. 0300 343 0400 or visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk/communities/good-move/walking RETIREMENT

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Out & About

Luxury Boutique Hotels, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Experience relaxation in nature without having to roam far. With ten locations across Great Britain, a break at Forest Holidays isn’t far away. Working closely in partnership with the Forestry Commission, Forest Holidays works hard to connect people with nature, with an emphasis on sustainability and protecting the forest wildlife. While you’re there, look out for different rare species across the locations like pine marten, golden eagles, various bat breeds and even mountain goats…amongst much more. Their wildlife credentials have led them to be repeatedly recognised with a number of wildlife friendly tourism awards, and your domestic animals are welcome too, with over half of the cabins being pet-friendly, so there’s no need to leave any of the family behind. Whether you want to appreciate the natural environment on walks along lochs, up mountains or through the forest – or just sit back in your private hot tub staring up at the stars, the choice really is yours. Upgrade to a Golden Oak cabin and you’ll also find a log burner and gas barbecue ready for use in all seasons. Forest Holidays are giving you a special offer of 5% off all bookings, use code RETIRE5 when you book at forestholidays.co.uk.

Out&About...

Royal Women

Fashion Museum, Bath Until 28 April

EVENING DRESS, tartan silk by Madame Elise about 1870 Red, green and cream tartan silk satin evening dress possibly worn to a function at the Palace of Holyroodhouse Worn by Queen Alexandra Credit: Fashion Museum Bath

None of the Royal women featured in this exhibition was monarch; yet each played a key role in the British monarchy. Exhibition highlights include Alexandra, Princess of Wales’ wedding dress, dating from 1863 on loan from the Royal Collection, lent by Her Majesty the Queen, an ensemble of gold and pale green velvet, worn by Queen Mary to the wedding of her granddaughter Princess Elizabeth as well as items of dress belonging to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother including a dove grey silk satin ball gown from 1954. As well as some fantastic dresses, also on display are a selection of royal accessories which complement the fashions, both of which give an insight as to how these ladies chose to present themselves as royal women. www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

SOROLLA: Spanish Master of Light

London Cats International Cat Show

Tobacco Dock – London 4 and 5 May

London Cats is clawing traditional cat fancy into the 21st century. Featuring over 50 cat breeds, 7 international judges, food and drink from London’s best food trucks and Instagram’s cat celebrities, this is a cat show like you have never seen before! So shake off the preconceptions of old ladies, white coats and clipboards before visiting the biggest cat expo in all of Europe and the first event of its kind in the UK. There is also a cat agility where you can watch cats jump through hoops and doing tricks or meet a real cat celebrity guest like James Bowen and a Street Cat named Bob. For those who want to give something back to their beloved four-legged friends there will be plenty of ways to spoil them with treats and gifts from a multitude of vendors. www.londoncats.org.uk

National Gallery, London Until 7 July

The first major exhibition in the UK for over a century of the artist know as Spain’s impressionist, Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923). On display are sixty works spanning the artist’s career including portraits, and genre scenes of Spanish life, as well as the landscapes, garden view and beach scenes for which he is most renowned. www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Joaquín Sorolla, Sewing the Sail, 1896 Oil on canvas, 222 × 300 cm Galleria Internazionale d'Arte Moderna di Ca' Pesaro, Venice 2018 ©Photo Archive - Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia

Cultural Revolution The William Morris Gallery,Walthamstow, London Until 27 May

An exhibition exploring art made during China’s Cultural Revolution displaying a variety of works produced during this time. Items on display include propaganda posters, revolutionary landscapes, images of the leader, intricate papercuts and household objects all of which were collected in China during the 1970s. www.wmgallery.org.uk

JiashengDing; Shanghai Theatre Academy(est.1945)Characters from the revolutionary operas1974Shanghai People’s Publishing House (est. 1951),(publisher)Lithograph ©Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

SOLD! The Great British Antiques Story

Out & About

The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham Until 5 May

This is the first time the history of antique dealing has been the subject of an exhibition in a public museum, with an in depth look at antique dealers, their taste and eye for objects, their shops and practices. The display takes visitors on a journey through 200 years of antique dealing through an innovative ‘shopping for antiques’ theme. Working in partnership with dealers in Barnard Castle, the Bowes Museum are creating an ‘Old Curiosity Shop’ from the 1850’s giving visitors a visual feast of the kind of objects that would have been on sale in the era of Dickens. Many high end and visually stunning objects will be on display, including an exquisite 9 cms high Fabergé miniature table and a gilded warrior. www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk RETIREMENT

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E S C O R t E D g R O u p tO u R S We have arranged European and Worldwide escorted group tours for 30 years, focusing on unique experiences to some of the world’s most fascinating destinations.

WHY pREStIgE? • Meticulously designed itineraries • Expert insights and culinary delights Prestige Holidays 1 Fridays Court, High Street • Smaller groups for an intimate experience Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 1JA • Exceptional value and 100% financial security Reservations: 01425 480 400 Fax: 01425 470 139 Email: enquiries@prestigeholidays.co.uk Ticketing/Admin: 01425 470 448

Canada Portfolio: 01502 567 222 Email: canada@prestigeholidays.co.uk Specialist Sales: 01425 480 600

DISCOVER MORE 01425 480 600 | tours@prestigeholidays.co.uk | www.toursprestigeholidays.co.uk RETIREMENT

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Escorted group touring

Valley of the Temples, Sicily

Baalbek

Escorted group touring

Puglia

o the majority, thoughts centred on escorted group touring conjure up the image of a group of fifty being shepherded around tourist spots, adhering to a military schedule of guided tours and photo stops.What, I hear you ask, could be appealing about spending vast amounts of time on a coach with people you have never met before? It’s time to reconsider your preconceptions. In 2019, the appetite for comfort-level escorted group tours is bigger than ever. Think higher-grade hotels, often with character rather than chosen for their number of swimming pools, better standard coaches with plenty of legroom, air-conditioning, and water on-board, and more inclusions. And with some groups now as small as ten people, it is difficult to reconcile the idea with the reality. In some circles, group touring may still have a bad reputation, but it is a rapidly growing market—pop into any travel agency and you will be confronted with racks full of touring brochures. At first glance, these may be overwhelming, even identical, and all with a very different price tag. It pays to look closer. What is the maximum group size? You might be lost in a large group of 50 or part of a smaller, more intimate group of 20. Are flights included? What about meals and drinks? If they are, are they simply taken at the hotel each night, or do you have the opportunity to dine in local eateries? Is there enough free time—or even too much? Does the tour depart at the right time of year to consider the weather and the crowds? If you are a solo traveller, are you given a smaller, single room or do you have use of a more comfortable double to yourself? Finally, are there any ‘hidden costs’, such as supplements for additional excursions, tips, and even city taxes? Really, when pondering which tour operator RETIREMENT

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to use, the question should be: What makes this tour operator different? Prestige prizes itself on its customer service. A small team, our itineraries are carefully and lovingly created by experts on the regions. Not only do we design and coordinate the itineraries ourselves, but those same people take reservations, meaning we are on-hand to help with any questions and preparation—and we even often accompany guests as their tour manager. Our groups have just 20 guests on average, and they are usually capped at 26 with some specialist interest groups capped at 16. We want to provide an intimate and personal experience; after all, travel is as much about the people you meet as the places you see, and that point is all too significant when considering the reasons escorted touring is expanding so rapidly. We also prioritise food on our itineraries; we don’t just add halfboard to your hotel, and most meals are accompanied by a glass of local wine or beer. Many of our tours boast the inclusion of a special guest or an academic guide lecturer who will bring the destination to life and share their knowledge. In 2019, there is such a variety of touring styles, companies, itineraries, and themes that the choice available to travellers can be vast at times, but it also means that there will be a tour operator out there who matches your values and interests. Escorted

tours are perfect for travellers to destinations often considered ‘off the beaten track’, ‘difficult to get around’, or simply countries you may not feel comfortable visiting by yourself. Indeed, some of our most popular tours are to destinations such as Georgia and Armenia, Romania, and Jordan, which are so comprehensive, they allow you to truly soak up their cultures and meet their people.There’s also no need to panic about how to transfer from the airport to your hotel; all transfers, transport, accommodation and entrance fees are taken care of. Above all, the beauty of joining an escorted tour is that you are connecting with like-minded people and forging long-lasting friendships… and, while your tour operator and tour manager are planning and handling all the hard work, you can relax, sightsee, and indulge in the best cuisine and wine on offer n

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J J COOPER & SONS

EXCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL & HOLIDAY PARK HOME ESTATES

HERE QUALITY & W LIFESTYLE COME FIRST Please contact our Head Ofﬁce on 0118 942 8782 to discuss your residential park home or holiday lodge requirements. We can supply park homes and leisure lodge homes from any manufacturer. We have an inventory of stock homes from any of the leading manufacturers available immediately, alternatively you can place a forward order for a home of your choice with a lead time of 12 weeks delivery. Our parks are located in Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Essex with our address details listed below. We have in excess of 1200 residents living on our estates and have more than 40 years experience in the industry, with our ﬁrst park ownership in 1976.

We look forward to welcoming you to one of our parks.

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 • Oxford Park Homes, Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford OX4 4YT • Bungalow Park, Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7PJ • Robann Park, Fareham, Hamsphire • Lincoln Farm Park, Standlake, Witney OX29 7RH

T: 0118 942 8782

E: garstonspark@outlook.com

FH RETIRE19 185mm x 135mm_Layout 1 04/03/2019 16:14 Page 1 JJ Cooper.indd 1

R E V O C DIS forest the

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Escape to a tranquil self catering cabin at one of 10 idyllic locations through the UK. Deep in the woods, on the edge of the loch, or in a bright forest meadow, many with private hot tubs. Forest Holidays are perfect getaways for families, couples, groups of friends and even your dogs in our speciﬁc pet friendly cabins! Enjoy 5% oﬀ your cabin accommodation yearround using promocode RETIRE19 at www.forestholidays.co.uk or call 03330 110495 and quote this code when you book. Terms and conditions: Discount applies to cabin price only and not any extras. Book by 31st December 2019 and holiday by 31st January 2020 at any of Forest Holidays’ 10 locations. May not be used in conjunction with any other offer and cannot be applied retrospectively. Forest Holidays reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

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Animal cha

Will you remember the horses at Redwings Horse Sanctuary? Remember Redwings in your Will and save the lives of hundreds of horses in desperate need for years to come. Bianchina, 8 years old, Call 01508 481030 or email legacies@redwings.co.uk Palermo LNDC kennel to find out how to leave a legacy today.

Thank you

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She cannot find the Words WE CAN ---------

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For over 60 years AISPA has been the voice of those who do not have a voice. -------------------------------------------------------------Thanks to your support we can help animal welfare projects in Italy to rescue, lovingly look after and find a new home for thousands If you of animals. Please help our projects to do more and to do better. loveithorses, Please check out our website www.aispa.org.uk remember them! Email us at info@aispa.org.uk or fill out the form below and return it to us by post. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - YES, I WANT TO SUPPORT AISPA I enclose a donation of £ ............................... (Cheque/PO/CAF made payable to: AISPA) Please Gift Aid my donation. AISPA will send you Gift Aid information -------------------------------------------------------------Name ............................................................................................................................................................ Address ........................................................................................................................................................ .................................................................................... Post Code ................................................................

AISPA, Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals 30-34 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6BJ page ad.pdf UK registered Legacy charity no. quarter 208530

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Animal charities need your help! CMY

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Pondbefore before Pond

Please help me get better 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. RETIREMENT RETIREMENTtoday today

Pond Pondafter after

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COME AND MEET MORE THAN 400 RESCUED HORSES AND DONKEYS!

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

Aquaplancton

any of you will be animal lovers and supporters of charities that care for them. However, have you thought about how you can continue to provide for unwanted pets and their medical care after you are gone? A legacy is one of the ways of making sure your love of animals makes a difference beyond your lifetime. A legacy left in your will, however small, can make a significant contribution, ensuring your love and affection for animals can be continued by another generation. Of course, we all have other priorities, family and loved ones, but leaving a small gift to charity is a wonderful way to continue your support. You may wish to contribute towards funding for animal rescue centres helping those unwanted and abandoned animals find their forever home. More and more animals are being abandoned or Café taken to p animal sanctuaries and just another day is a Pla ytoPasurvive Picn ic Area Gif t Sho rk constant struggle, with many charities working for animal welfare still fighting for every penny they can lay their hands on. There FREEoften ADMISuncertainty PL EA SE CH ECrent SION is for charities that the next month’s K on OU R W EBThe property, accommodation, or stables can be paid. SI TE FOweekly R AC TI VIcan food billENalone beD counted TI ES AN EV EN TS SEV DA YS Afor resident animals at a sanctuary N OPE in thousands4PM every week. Add, on top of that, TH ROthe UG HOcost UT TH E of YE ARstaff, WE EK, 10A M-fees, surgery, hospitalisation and medicines, veterinary the list is endless. So Bransby just howHorses, do these animalLincoln, charitiesLN1 that do such sterling Bransby, 2PH work all over the country survive? Most will tell you they rely www.bransbyhorses.co.uk | 01427 788464 heavily on work done and income raised or donated by a loyal Registered Charity No: 1075601 | Registered Company No: 3711676 group of ‘friends’ and ‘supporters’.

rities need your help!

Play your part, help the good work live on!

Redwings Horse Sanctuary Legacy Case Study Remembering Redwings Horse Sanctuary in your Will is a wonderful way to support the charity’s work and leave a lasting legacy that will help them to help horses, ponies, donkeys and mules for generations to come. Everything Redwings does is 100% funded by donations from the public, so gifts in Wills provide invaluable support – either through supporting the ongoing daily care of the charity’s 1,500 rescued residents or allowing the purchase of essential veterinary equipment and care facilities. In 2018, Redwings undertook a major development of new facilities at its Caldecott visitor centre in Norfolk, including a new rehoming centre, stables and woodchip paddocks. Thanks to a £5,000 gift left in a Will, Redwings was also able to add the construction of a brand-new field shelter to the project, which provides welcome shade in hot weather and a cosy place to enjoy a lie-down for a whole herd of rescued horses in the winter months. While it’s just one herd today, the field shelter will be in place for many, many years and will end up boosting the wellbeing of hundreds of rescued horses at the Sanctuary over time. To remember Redwings in your Will, call 01508 481030 or email legacies@redwings.co.uk

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Animal charities need your help!

As well as domestic animals, wildlife rescue centres in the UK are dedicated to helping save and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wild animals. Many of these animals or birds, for various reasons, are unable to be released back to the wild and are looked after at sanctuaries for the rest of their lives and they can only continue to do this with the help of donations from the public. Funds are also needed to help animal organisations in their research work, to improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injury in animals, enabling them to live happier, healthier lives. Being an animal lover, you may at some time have had to have a muchloved pet operated on and will appreciate the importance of ensuring animal hospitals remain at the forefront of veterinary medicine and vital up-to-date equipment is at hand to provide care to thousands of sick and injured animals every year, as well as the training of veterinary personnel. Caring for the animals is the number one priority but without that vital ingredient ‘money’, the loving care that all charities give to every resident animal, or the continuation of research develop or the conservation of wildlife, would be impossible. Charitable organisations work silently and constantly purely for the benefit of others and although donations are welcomed by most charities, it is legacies that really can make a difference. Leaving even a little money to charity, can make a vast difference. Of course, family and loved ones should always come first, but donations to charity in wills can sometimes mean your family avoids paying inheritance tax on your estate, as a legacy to charity is a tax-free gift, which means the charity receives the full value of the gift. By contributing in this way everyone benefits – the charity by receiving the gift and the donor because legacies are not subject to Inheritance Tax n

Pink House Living The Exterior

he Pink House blog wasn’t just inspired by my passion for pink. It was also named after my actual house in Edinburgh, which I painted pink (specifically, Farrow & Ball’s dusky Cinder Rose) on he outside. When we moved into the multicoloured street of listed Arts and Crafts terraced houses, however, ours was the only property painted white. The other houses sported pretty shades of periwinkle blue, burnt ochre and moss green...but no pink. In my desire to swiftly remedy the white house situation, I chose the colour I knew the husband would be most likely to agree to: green. And agree he did. It was only then that I realized I didn’t want a green house. I wanted a pretty house. I wanted a PINK house. ‘Not a chance,’ was Pink House Husband’s response. ‘Anyway, the neighbours wouldn’t be up for it.’ This gave me an idea. I wrote a short letter to each of our 14 new neighbours explaining that we were planning to paint our house either green or pink, and did they have a preference? The response: two-thirds green, one-third pink (innovation is never easy). I reported the results faithfully to my life partner: ‘Twothirds of our neighbours say they’d prefer us to paint it pink. We shouldn’t upset them when we’ve only just arrived.’ Incredibly, Pink House Husband bought it (I think he was having a busy week at work), and I wasted no time in buying the paint. Another aspect that helped me push through the pink house concept was the front door colour: charcoal grey (Farrow & Ball’s Railings). This would, I explained, prevent the pink from looking too

I painted my London front door in Farrow & Ball’s Nancy’s Blushes, which goes beautifully with the brass letterbox and knocker and bespoke brass plaque.

Pink House Living The Exterior An extract from Pink House Living by Emma Murray published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography Susie Lowe Text and images ©Ryland Peters & Small

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Reader Offer

RETIREMENT TODAY readers can buy a copy of Pink House Living for the special price of £14.00 (RRP £19.99). Free UK P&P. To order go to rylandpeters.com and use code RTPINKHOUSE at the checkout. Offer valid until 1st June 2019.

Metaxas Exterior

pretty-pretty and ensure everything remained ‘grounded’ (a good, solid, masculine word). Plus, it looks lush with the brass door furniture. Dark grey and pale pink was, and remains, one of my favourite colour combinations. Once the pink paint was applied and the very serious door given its final touches, the ever-cheery Pink House Husband admitted: ‘It’s not TOO awful.’ Which means he loved it.

The Exterior

Edinburgh Exterior

Pink House Living The Exterior

Moving to our red-brick Edwardian South London home meant saying goodbye to a pink exterior — or did it? I researched rendering, with a view to rose-tinting the render, but Pink House Husband made it abundantly clear that this was not an option. And you’ve got to pick your battles, right? After all, I had a whole house to renovate — I didn’t want to use up all my pink credits before I’d even crossed the threshold. At least I still had the front door. And grudging permission to paint it. But what shade would work against the brick? I’ve always found red and pink to be a challenging combination. In fact, I don’t knowingly have any red decor in my home. But that’s not to say pink and red is a mistake — far from it. For me, the orangey red of my brickwork was best accompanied by a more muted pink with slightly peachy notes (Nancy’s Blushes from Farrow & Ball). But a word of warning when it comes to exterior paints: make sure you properly test how the colour will read outside, as the brighter light means it will seem like a different shade compared to indoors — paler and less intense. Now that the front door is pink, I’m keen to paint windows and woodwork/trim to match. And perhaps grow some pink roses around the door. Maybe I’ll add a few window boxes too — cyclamen, petunias, fuchsia, busy lizzies and geraniums all work well in window boxes and, crucially, come in umpteen shades of pink. Who says you need render to get the pink house started n

Metaxas Exterior RETIREMENT

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Secured by Design

Blue Cedar Homes Management Company

armborough is a sought after village about eight miles south west of Bath and is where Andrew and Elizabeth Tyrrell have finally decided to settle. Finding themselves spending more and more time travelling abroad they sold the family house and bought a lock-up and leave apartment. Whilst no longer having to worry about cutting the grass or window cleaning they wanted something more. Lock up and leave was still very much on the agenda and Holly Gardens in Farmborough fitted the bill exactly with its gardens and like minded neighbours their lifestyle has continued with the bonus of a return to a friendly community.

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Holly Gardens is a Blue Cedar estate with ten detached freehold properties set around a garden square. Guy Mossop, Director, says such estates are ideal for the over 55’s with their managed gardens set in beautiful locations and within a mile or two of local facilities. BCHMC has a portfolio of estates in some of the finest towns and villages in the West Country from Truro in Cornwall through to Abergavenny in Monmouthshire and Southmoor in Oxfordshire. Guy Mossop also says it’s no surprise that there’s a trend in the property market for the retired to look for lock up and leave type properties that allow them to globetrot without worrying about domestic issues at

home. Security is always a worry and properties within small communities with friendly neighbours are one of the best deterrents to unwelcome visitors. Secured by Design Homes 2016 is the official Police Security Initiative and properties that come with a management service set around squares rather than in straight lines mean neighbours are easily alerted to unexpected activity. Knowing that your property will be looked after in your absence adds another level of reassurance. A company who manages the shared elements such as the exterior and the gardens is a big benefit but even better is an estate manager who will proactively ensure that all is well inside and out while you are away.

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Holly Gardens

Knoll Gardens

For further information please telephone 01491 821189

Mylor Gardens

atastrophes Cat Rescue CATASTROPHES CAT RESCUE

home environment with the freedom of the country es Cat Rescue was set up through our Over the years we in have increasing number of garden that surrounds thecats sanctuary. nt in animal welfare campaigning the helped an and kittens in distress, by taking them into our care and finding s we became established and our “no-kill” Ourtake work cats involves spaying and neutering ame known ourgood workhomes increased for dramatically. them. The cats we inwith haveferal often been rquay Torquay colonies and giving any necessary veterinary e cats have been abandoned or are treated, simply somecomplete abandoned or badly are simply strays who have treatment. Feral cats are returned to their site of capture a new home because of a change in people’s had They the chance of a ifproper caring home. long-term food and shelter can be provided. If not, ces. Some have been never ill treated. are Our aim is to help any cat that is in need and we believe they are relocated to a suitable farm or country home of love and care. or haveof a home life with us with complete freedom that every cat deserves the chance a goodforhome. once they have settled in. s always been to help any cat regardless of rament or behaviour be in they wild animals to sleep unnecessarily We doproblems, not believe putting We believe every cat deserves a chance to have a safe, onsequently we tend to get desperate calls for and we actively encourage sterilisation as apeaceful vital partplace of pet caring and to live and enjoy the rest of derly, feral and ‘difficult’ to re-home cats. In ownership. Please remember us in your will. Your donation their lives. Its surprising how often the most seemingly eet these needs we have had to become a unfriendly called ‘spiteful’ cat that arrives hissing, or legacy help our work for the animalsand andsosave lives. s well as a cat rescue andwill re-homing spitting and lashing out, or has the most difficult and n. The cats in our care are given a high Contact Liz Varney anti-social habits and behaviour, can change with love, veterinary care and we strongly believe care and lots of patience. Catastrophes believe that and neutering as a responsible part of pet every life saved is worth the effort it takes and with your The cats that are difficult to re-home are Great oice choice • Great facilities • Great facilities support more cats in need will have a bright future. hance to live out their days in a peaceful

el hotel smallwith hotelawith big heart a big and heart and ew... big view... in the in heart the of heart Torquay of Torquay Catastrophes Cat Rescue

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mes...guaranteed eat times...guaranteed For further Varney Tel: 01435 information: 830212 Fax:Contact 01825 Liz 768012 Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9JS Email: lizzie@internationalanimalrescue.org 00500 803 400500 Tel. 01435 830212, Fax 01825 768012, Email: lizzie@catastrophescats.org

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Legacy Yearbook#TLHhotels 2018 page 22#TLHhotels

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T H E E X P E RT S I N R E N TA L R E T I R E M E N T. E ST. 1994. T H E B E S P O K E R E N TA L R E T I R E M E N T O F F E R I N G Proactive Well-being Programme • Exercise classes • Activities Fine Dining • Hair Salon • Free Café • Library • Gardening Club Enjoy a worry-free and active lifestyle with all the chores done for you. The all-inclusive rental model covers your weekly housekeeping, property and garden upkeep, all fine dining and refreshments daily, plus all your heating and hot water. It even includes your Council Tax, internet access and daily activities, all with only 30 days’ notice. Hospitality’s assured, and there’s always a warm welcome and new friends to make.

Call 0800 114 3504

Search ‘Hawthorns Retire’ online or on

Braintree, Essex | Clevedon, Somerset | Eastbourne, Sussex | Northampton, Northamptonshire RETIREMENT

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Rental Retirement Is On The Up!

any retirement living operators are now alert to the fact that a rental option is what many retirees in the market are looking for rather than a leasehold purchase. The good news is that you can speak to the undisputed experts in rental retirement who have been successfully delivering this for 25 years in the UK! Opening our first UK community in 1994 on the north Somerset coast, The Hawthorns has led the way in rental retirement options in the UK, and continues to deliver an all-inclusive solution that no other provider can match, for value or content. It’s a compelling lifestyle solution that is proven and established, and moreover you can come and see it now and not just read about it.

All Inclusive The Hawthorns Group operates four premium retirement villages and communities and have honed this into a fantastic offering with many years of experience delivering what the customer wants – a single monthly charge that covers everything, easy to budget for and with no unpleasant surprises. All restaurant quality dining three times a day with table service and wine, free hot and cold drinks and refreshments throughout the day RETIREMENT

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in the café, free exercise classes, a proactive well-being programme, weekly housekeeping for larger laundry items, entertainment within the complex and trips out in the private minibus. It’s all included and it’s all there, so that you can focus on getting the most out of your retirement rather than being weighed down with daily chores and the maintenance and upkeep of a property and garden. We have landscaped and well-maintained gardens at all of our locations, but residents who still have green fingers can get involved as much as they want; some even grow fresh herbs used by the chefs in the kitchens! Flexibility What our residents no longer desire, and therefore don’t get, are: property and garden maintenance fees, monthly service charges, or ground rents; utility bills no matter how much heating and hot water they use and even internet charges. They don’t want to be tied in to or to be held to a long-term contract, but have the ability to leave with just 30 days’ notice, and with no stamp duty or legal fees to buy a leasehold and importantly no punitive exit fees. They want to be able to quickly and easily change apartment within the community should their circumstances change, without the costs associated with sale and purchase. It’s a unique offering for your retirement, and if it’s not for you after one of our one-month trial stays then you can return home.You can’t do that with a property

purchase. Some of our residents even choose to rent out their existing home whilst they move in straight away, to either create revenue to offset their monthly charges or to retain the option of moving back. We have several residents who came to try it for a few months and several years later are still enjoying The Hawthorns lifestyle! Peace of mind All of our services are manned 24 hours a day and all of the apartments have a first responder call system, so that in an emergency someone will be on hand straight away; our buildings are safe and secure, giving you and your family peace of mind. A full management team and staff are present during the day and can provide you with support and help as you need it. Make Your Retirement Easy With recent concern in the press about the ongoing costs and negative returns for some retirement property purchases, the financial comparison is compelling.You also won’t be guaranteed the hotel quality services and the lifestyle that comes as standard with The Hawthorns rental model in the leasehold purchase of a retirement apartment. Look for clarity, choice, lifestyle and the easy ability to change your mind at any time. Don’t be tied down in your retirement – be free to enjoy it! For more information search ‘Hawthorns Retire’ on-line or see life at our communities on Facebook.

Classic Wings Advert 90mm w x 137mm h 2-18.qxp_Layout 1 14/02/2018 15:15 Page 1

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1940s WEEKEND SATURDAY1st & SUNDAY 2nd JUNE 2019

Join us for a fabulous weekend at The Railway set in the 1940s! Our first one for several years, we’ve got a great weekend planned! Home Guard Re-enactments

1940s entertainment

Vintage Vehicles

Plus, steam train rides

Live singing

Ride the Miniature Railway

1940s outfits encouraged!

Visit the Railway Museum

Flying at IWM Duxford since 1990

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Book online at www.classic-wings.co.uk Contact 01223 837453

email marketing@bucksrailcentre.org call 01296 655720

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RETIREMENT PROPERTIES FOR SALE Wraymead Place, Wray Park Road, Reigate One and two bedroom flats from £249,000 39 flats in two distinct buildings The development is set in attractive walled gardens and grounds. Most first and second floor flats have balconies. Ground floor properties have private patios and each flat has a video entry system.

Barnside Court, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City One and two bedroom flats from £198,000

The Maltings, Henty Gardens, Chichester One and two bedroom flats from £157,000 71 flats and cottages in landscaped grounds with a footpath leading directly from the estate to the town centre about 400 yards away. Facilities include resident manager, lounge with library, two attractive guest suites and a communal laundry.

Allingham Court, Farncombe, Godalming One bedroom flat £180,000

59 flats and bungalows completed in 1986. The properties are mostly set around a garden square in the grounds of the old manor house. Facilities include a visiting scheme manager and emergency alarm service, residents’ lounge, communal laundry, guest room, parking and attractive gardens and grounds.

49 one and two-bedroom flats and bungalows close to local shops and about a mile and a half from Godalming. The properties are set back from the road and within walking distance of Farncombe Station. Facilities include a resident manager and emergency alarm service, communal lounge, laundry and guest room.

Fifty5Plus has one of the largest selections of retirement properties for sale in the country

www.fifty5plus.com ● 01488 668655 RETIREMENT

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Dogs of the National Trust Many incredible dogs have lived at National Trust places – and still do. Here are some of their stories. ©

Mark Kauffman/Time & Life Pictures)

Biscuit outside Argory

The Tiniest Volunteer

Rugus and Churchill

Ightham Mote's Victorian dog kennel

The Argory, County Armagh

The Statesman’s Poodle

The Helpful Guide

The Argory’s second owner, Captain Ralph Shelton (1832–1916), kept a rather unusual log of his guests: a book listing the weight of each one to the nearest ounce. This wasn’t limited to humans. Inked into the pages are records for four dogs belonging to his great nephew, Mr Bond – Bill, Boxer, Jess and Pat – and even for Captain Shelton’s own Jack Russell Terrier,Vic.Vic’s grave can be seen in The Argory’s grounds. Although The Argory no longer continues this practice, one current volunteer could undoubtedly challenge for the title of lightest-ever visitor. Biscuit the Jug (a Jack Russell/Pug cross) was just 1lb (450g) when he first started here as a part-time Staff Morale Officer. Then just eight weeks old, he has since grown, but will always be one of the Trust’s smallest volunteers. Biscuit may be little, but he quickly became a big part of The Argory. So much so that his role was created especially for him after his owner, House Steward Matthew Morrison, started to bring him on visits and the team realised how happy the little Jug made everyone. Biscuit’s morale-boosting talents aren’t limited to The Argory; he went viral after a photograph of him proudly wearing his staff badge was shared over 150,000 times online (and counting).

RUFUS AND CHURCHILL

FRANK AND THE DOG HOUSE

Chartwell, Kent

Ightham Mote, Kent

Sir Winston Churchill’s 79th birthday cake was an elaborate affair. Circling the base were the spines of each of his published works. On the top was a sugarcraft Poodle: Churchill’s beloved dog, Rufus II, trying ‘to clamber up the candle to reach a tiny cat at the top’. This was, literally and figuratively, the icing on the cake of Churchill’s lifelong love of animals. His menagerie at Chartwell included Middle White pigs, bantams that pecked at fallen crumbs on the dining-room floor, goats who ate their way through the flower borders, and black swans. But it was dogs and cats who reigned.Their presence is still felt at Chartwell today: in honour of Sir Winston’s beloved ginger cat, Jock, his family asked that there always be a marmalade cat with four white paws and a white bib in residence, a request the Trust has honoured. As his name suggests, Rufus II had a predecessor. Rufus was also a brown Poodle and rode everywhere with Churchill during the Second World War. He and Churchill’s cats would roam 10 Downing Street, and Rufus once tried (unsuccessfully) to attend a wartime Cabinet Room meeting. His death in 1947 devastated Churchill, and he consoled himself by obtaining a second brown Poodle a few months later, Rufus II (‘but the II is silent’).

Of all the Grade I listed buildings in England and Wales, Ightham Mote is surely home to one of the most unusual: an outdoor dog kennel. It was created for Sir Thomas Colyer-Fergusson (1865–1951), who moved to Ightham Mote in 1889 and set about modernising the building, adding central heating and a bathroom. But it is the 2m (6½ft) long stone-built dog house in the courtyard that is his most intriguing addition. Its vast dimensions are down to the size of its first occupant, Dido the St Bernard. The next occupants were somewhat less in need of the space, though – two Pekingese dogs named Mr Ping and Mr Pong. Although dogs no longer visit the Mote’s courtyard, some do still live and work here. Frank, a Golden Labrador, first started out as a guide dog for a volunteer tour guide. He quickly made himself comfortable; once when the tour guide was in a meeting, Frank was taken for a walk by some fellow volunteers and leapt into the moat. Frank has since retired as a guide dog, but he loved Ightham Mote so much – a feeling reciprocated by the staff – that he went on to live with the Retail Manager. He is now an important member of the shop team and can be found greeting and entertaining visitors most days.

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Dogs of the National Trust

BISCUIT

Your legacy is our future

Medical condition experts We compare insurers Specialist cruise cover

The Animal Health Trust is the leading veterinary and scientific research charity dedicated to the health and welfare of your animal. Thanks to previous legacy gifts, the AHT is constantly finding new ways to prevent and reduce the suffering of present and future generations. For further information please call: 01638 555648

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or email us: legacies@aht.org.uk or visit us online: www.aht.org.uk

Send today for your FREE Legacy Guide Title

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Heart of Scotland

With point-to-point transfers on ScotRail service trains and by private road coach to add to the convenience, this is a holiday showcasing all the uniqueness of the inspiring Scottish landscape, from unspoilt beaches to ragged coastlines, lonely inland lochs to towering mountain ranges, definitely one not to be missed!

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Please return to: Fundraising, AHT, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7UU RT19

Wednesday 10th July to Tuesday 16th July 2019

Scotland is a rugged country full of scenic and cultural surprises, as you’ll discover for yourself on this highlight packed holiday tour to its wild, spectacular heart.

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EST. 1997

UK Scottish Tours 2019 • Argyll, Mull and Iona – 1st to 10th May • The Shetlander – 10th to 17th May or 20th to 27th September • The Cock O’the North – 30th May to 4th June or 29th August to 3rd September • The Far North & Orkney – 15th to 23rd August • The Summer Highlander – 22nd to 27th July • The Western Isles – 29th July to 6th August or 9th to 17th September

The Railway Touring Company 14a Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN The Railway The Railway Tour UK Steam Rail Touring Company Worldwide Steam ing Company Day Trips and Rail Tours Tours

For more information and to order your free brochures please visit railwaytouring.net or call 01553 661 500. The Railway Touring Company’s standard conditions of booking and travel apply. See website or brochures for details.

2019

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Dogs of the National Trust

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Dogs of the National Trust

Kite the sheepdog

The Star Employee

The Stick Seekers

KITE THE SHEEPDOG

BIGGLES AND BRAMBLE

Orford Ness, Suffolk

Slindon Estate, West Sussex

Kite the Collie has a rather enviable start to his working day: a gentle boat ride across the River Ore to Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, where he and Shepherd Andrew Capell look after a flock of 140 sheep. Kite started working for the National Trust in 2012, when he was one year old. Back then he could work with sheep, goats and geese but, as is typical, it took three more years of training before his sheepdog skills were completely up to scratch – ‘a year for each leg’, as Andrew puts it. Kite is now very privileged to be the only dog (aside from assistance dogs) allowed on the Ness, because of its many fragile habitats. In fact his work is vital in Bramble helping the Trust look after the flat, open marshes here; the grazing sheep keep the grass at the varied heights required by breeding and nesting birds, and it’s Kite who makes sure that the sheep go to the right place at the right time. After a long day at work, Kite enjoys going for a dip. Pools of water can pop up all across the Ness’s marshes (another reason, aside from the wellgrazed grasses, that birds like it here) but you’re equally likely to find Kite splashing about in Biggles a water trough or ‘most likely, a dirty ditch’ says Andrew. Kite loves his job and is possibly the hardest working staff member at Orford Ness – he even dreams about running the sheep. Says Andrew, ‘He makes little sounds and his legs go crazy!’

Most of the time, National Trust dogs are important staff members, helping us look after our places. Then there are the times when, like Bramble of Slindon Estate, they get hungry and snack on the day’s first sighting of a Brimstone butterfly – right in front of the Trust’s butterfly guru, Matthew Oates. ‘We think she thought it was a crisp,’ sighs Katie Archer, Slindon’s Lead Ranger and Bramble’s so-called ‘boss’. Cheese-loving, lemon-and-white Bramble is one of two working Cocker Spaniels to help out in Slindon’s 3,460 acres (1,400ha) of woodland, downland, farmland and

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parkland. Her partner in crime is blackand-white Biggles, who gained experience at nearby East Head and Woolbeding countryside before he and his owner, Area Ranger Lisa Trownson, moved to Slindon. Visitors might spot him riding around in the tractor, though if he had his way he’d be sitting on the accelerator (‘After a quick discussion we came to the agreement that this isn’t the best idea,’ says Lisa). He’s also good at making sure meetings keep to time – the Rangers know when it has overrun because they’ll suddenly find him laphopping (generally in search of the person closest to the biscuit tin). Both Spaniels also work closely with volunteers, who might be coppicing, fencing and much more. And both also love sticks. Biggles’ favourite place at Slindon is the woods, as it’s home to the greatest selection, and he’ll often spend a day choosing the best one. Once he’s chosen, ‘ninja Spaniel mode gets switched on’ as he chooses a very secret hiding spot for his selected stick, explains Lisa. ‘If he catches you watching then he has to turn at least 90 degrees to choose a new direction or location.’ Bramble, on the other hand, is less cagey with her sticks and uses them to involve new volunteers:‘When they feel at a loss for what to do next, she brings them a stick,’ says Katie. We are unable to confirm whether these are the sticks Biggles has so carefully hidden n An extract from Dogs of the National Trust by Amy Feldman, published by National Trust Books.

Living with Dementia

eople looking after, or closely involved with, individuals with dementia are likely to downplay the reality of their situation at times. This way of coping with overwhelming information is known as denial. It is a natural and understandable reaction and one that we are usually not fully aware of because it is happening largely unconsciously. All of us use denial in our lives, to help cope with painful situations. By not acknowledging to ourselves how painful or frightening certain situations are, we give ourselves time to digest the information and avoid a feeling of being completely overwhelmed by it. By denying the reality of a very difficult situation we can still feel in control of our lives. But the problem is that if we continue ‘in denial’ for too long, we open the door to the difficult situation becoming even worse. In the case of dementia, it is not uncommon for the spouse or adult children of the person with dementia to close their eyes to the symptoms in the early days. They may tell themselves that their loved one has just become a bit forgetful, that it’s just one of those things you have to deal with when you get old, that he or she is just feeling a bit down in the dumps.

(Carol S. Pearson)

Denial as a way of avoiding difficult feelings

There may be a niggling part of us that suspects there is something more serious going on with the loved one’s behaviour, but the other part of us insists that everything is fine. The reason for this is that to acknowledge the possibility, or even probability, of dementia is to invite in a whole host of very painful feelings – grief, despair, anger, helplessness.

Susan

When my husband began to show the signs of dementia my initial reaction was denial. I told myself it wasn’t too serious, that we had the tools to handle it, we’d been given some pills and it would be OK. I didn’t want to acknowledge how this thing would completely take over both our lives. Former TV presenter Fiona Phillips writes of how she and her partner stopped staying at her parents’ home but instead stayed in a hotel when they visited, because the sheets were not being changed or were replaced with sheets full of holes and there was never much food in the house. Phillips interpreted these signs as indicators of her parents not getting on. But they were actually early signs of the dementia that would dominate both parents’ lives in the following years. The fact that Phillips chose to interpret these signs as just a marital tiff was probably in large part because the possibility of one or both parents

having dementia would turn her world upside down, living as she did in London while they were in Wales. Understandably, we tend to avoid facing very challenging news if we can find other explanations. The symptoms of dementia can also come and go in the early stages, which can make it easier to downplay their significance. There is also the fact that, in certain situations, people with dementia can be very good at hiding their symptoms. In a sense they themselves are also in denial.To a degree, they are able to show the behaviour that they want other people to see, especially those who don’t live with them. So, when the health visitor or the social worker visits, the person with dementia can suddenly seem to engage in conversation in a much more coherent way than usual. Having said that, it is often only when outside observers see what is going on that the denial falls away. And this can be particularly necessary when, as the caring partner, adult child or other relative, we have become too close to the situation to see the damage it is doing to us. Carers can become so used to the stresses of their role, so used to coping with whatever is thrown at them, that they become disconnected from their deeper feelings and just learn to ‘get on with it’ because there seems to be no alternative. But the danger of this RETIREMENT

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Living with Dementia

Denial

Denial is a much under-rated survival mechanism. We can face our pain only in proportion to our hope

At this stage, it is important that you talk to someone about what is going on, whether that be a trusted friend or relative, or social services – or both. It is often only when someone from outside sees what is going on that you also begin to see things more clearly. Martin Slevin, in his book The Little Girl in the Radiator, comments on how bad things became when he was looking after his mother and her condition gradually deteriorated. He says that things got so difficult he was in as bad a state as his mother but was unable to see it. Early on we’d had some support from social services, but the social worker had long since stopped visiting us and there was no-one else for us to talk to …. I seemed to spend every day and every night standing with my toes sticking out over a cliff edge. I wonder how much of a final push I would have needed to have gone over for good.

Product Review

Living with Dementia

Denial of ‘negative’ feelings

is that when things are genuinely becoming too much and the carer’s own physical and mental health are at serious risk, he or she may not be aware of what is going on. In other words, when things have got so bad that you are in almost as bad a position at the person with dementia, you need to come out of the denial and take action. Here are some signs that you may be in denial about the severity of the situation. • You find yourself losing your temper with the person with dementia more and more often. • You’re not sleeping adequately • You’re hiding from others how bad things really feel • You find yourself weeping or extremely distressed • You find yourself drinking more, comfort eating or indulging in other forms of self-soothing to cope with difficult feelings.

You may experience a kind of denial on the part of doctors, nurses and others in the medical profession when they come into contact with the person with dementia. In this form of denial, the medical practitioner is called out to investigate a problem and is minutely interested in every physical symptom but seems strangely to almost ignore the fact that the person has dementia. Margaret, whose mother has dementia, came up against this time and again in her contact with the local GP surgery.‘My mum would be given verbal instructions at an appointment, which she forgot quickly – something written would have been far more helpful. They’ve sometimes rung her about GP appointments, which makes no sense because she doesn’t know who they are’. This kind of denial by those in the health service may sometimes be due to ignorance but in some cases it could represent the fear and discomfort that characterizes society’s attitude to the disease. Because dementia is not curable and is mostly concentrated in the elderly, perhaps doctors and those they work with unconsciously devalue the person with dementia, frustrated at the challenges involved n

Quick and Easy Heat…Almost anywhere

pring is in the air and warmer weather is on its way. However, we can still get some chilly days and evenings but the new Handy Heater™ from JML, provides quick and easy heat almost anywhere. The cordless ceramic space heater is the ideal solution to cold spaces whether at home, work or on holiday. Simple to use – no cables, just plug it into any standard wall socket for personal, portable heat. It uses a lot less energy than conventional heaters, with a temperature range from 16°C to 32°C. Fully programmable, with a timer function so you can pre-set it with the amount of time you want it to heat for, and then it will automatically turn off. There is also a version available with fully functioning remote-control. Some parts of this heater can become very hot and particular attention needs to be given where children and vulnerable people are present.

Handy Heater 34

If we believe that to get through a difficult time we must focus on the positive, we may end up in a kind of denial of what we are actually feeling and experiencing. We may do this in response to messages from our culture around the importance of ‘thinking positive’ as well as messages we may have got from our parents in childhood that we should smile even if we were feeling sad or angry. The danger is that if we continually play down o suppress difficult feelings, such as anger or sadness, we can end up superficially ‘positive’ while actually, deep down, that anger or sadness can become corrosive. If we can’t find a way to handle the less comfortable feelings, they can come out in unexpected and sometimes destructive ways.

Denial by the medical profession

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An extract from Living with the Challenges of Dementia by Patrick McCurry, published by Sheldon Press.

LEGACIES ARE LIFELINES FOR CHARITIES By Mike Francis

WHAT CAN A LEGACY BE?

A legacy can be anything you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be money. It could be a rare antique, an opulent house, your prize collection of porcelain, a car, furniture, your piano, investments in shares. It’s up to you to choose what you would like to give and to whom. Once you have made a legacy you will have the pleasure of knowing that the charity of your choice will subsequently benefit from your kind thought.

GIFT AID

By arranging your donations to charity in a tax efficient way you can benefit the charity as well as yourself. Gift Aid is a scheme to encourage you to make donations to charity by giving you tax relief on the amount you donate

which means the charity will get a little bit extra money. Giving shares, unit trusts, land or property direct to charity rather than selling them and giving cash can be very tax efficient where you would stand to make a gain on the assets if they were sold. If supporting good causes is already part of your financial planning arranging your gifts efficiently can boost the amount your chosen charities receive and save you and your heirs from inheritance and capital gains tax.

supported during your lifetime. It’s very important to be specific and accurate with the details as some charities have similar names and you need to avoid mistaken identity. The name, address and charity number should be correct otherwise the donation could be invalid. As a safeguard just in case the charity you have earmarked is not in existence when the will is read have an alternative one mentioned in case you need a backup.

YOUR FAVOURITE CHARITY

WRITE A WILL

You may decide to give a legacy to a favourite charity that you have been concerned with or have

All of this presumes that you have made a will. The startling fact is that at any time 60 per cent of everyone old enough to make a will has yet RETIREMENT

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Legacies are lifelines for charities

ne of the more sobering statistics to emerge after a recent will writing survey was that although 70 per cent of the adult public are quite willing to donate to charities every month a mere 4 per cent actually choose to make a specific legacy to a charity in their will.This is disappointing news for charities who are considerably reliant on legacies for income. Hft, a national charity supporting adults with learning difficulties get 40 per cent of their income from legacies. Legacy Manager Katie Tennyson says ‘by leaving a gift in a will a person has the power to change someone’s life. Every gift no matter what size is welcome and will help make an amazing difference to the lives of people for years to come.’. Rethink Mental Illness is another deserving charity believing a better life is possible for millions of people affected by mental illness. For 40 years they have been bringing people together to support each other through their services, groups and campaigns.

to do so. No will means no legacy and no benefit to your favourite charity. If you haven’t got around yet to making a will putting it perpetually on the back burner do make it a priority. Ring a local solicitor approved by the Law Society and make an appointment. The prospect may seem daunting but in reality, it’s not. I had two short meetings with a local solicitor when I made a will and felt very relieved to have finally done the deed I had been intending to do for some time. And I left donations to two charities. Do you know what you are really worth? When you tot up all the property, shares, trusts, and possessions you may be amazed what inflation has done to your net worth. I know I was.You may then be able to spare a little extra on your favourite charity perhaps. And if you have already made a will and need to change something like a charity donation you can easily do this via a codicil.

THROW CHARITIES A LIFELINE IN YOUR WILL KEEP IT SAFE

There’s no point in going to the trouble of making a will then putting it in a place which you or others can’t find. Much more important to keep the will under lock and key at your solicitors which will normally be free of charge. Then you can keep another copy at home in a good place like a safe and make sure you know where the key is kept and what the combination is.

Legacies are lifelines for charities

Case Study

Action for Children – HOW LEGACIES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

or the last 150 years, Action for Children have worked tirelessly to break the patterns of disadvantage, neglect and emotional abuse. Gifts in wills play a vital role in helping the charity support over 300,000 children, young people and their

TODAY

families across the UK. Over 20% of fundraised income is generated by these incredible legacies, enabling Action for Children to reach those vulnerable children who need it the most.

All charities work earnestly for good causes. Helping people. Caring for people. Giving support where it’s most needed. Often working under extreme financial pressures. Some get no government grant, others depend on legacies to provide a big part of their income. So your gift could be very important in allowing them to continue their deserving work. Help them help other people by making a donation in your will.

Action for Children knows that today parents are more worried about their child’s emotional and mental wellbeing than ever before. The incredible legacies left to Action for Children have made projects like Build Sound Minds [buildsoundminds.org. uk] and others possible, meaning the 850,000 children and young people currently suffering with mental disorders in the UK can get the help they need. Build Sound Minds works to create healthy, happy minds by helping young people and their families deal with issues like stress, loneliness and anxiety together while raising the profile of the issue in Government to highlight the much-needed investment in supporting young people. Gifts in wills left to Action for Children have the power to transform lives of children and young people across the UK now and for generations to come. For more information about gifts in wills, visit actionforchildren.org.uk/ legacies.

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Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for the millions of people affected by mental Illness. For 40 years they have brought people together to support each other through their services, groups and campaign. Rethink Mental Illness Registered Office 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP United Kingdom email: info@rethink.org Registered in England Number 1227970. Registered Charity Number 271028

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Charity N E W S

Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place August 2018 and a couple return home from a well-earned holiday to a horrific sight in their back garden.

Wedged between two concrete posts was an almost lifeless fox. Like a scene from a horror film, this fox had huge and deep wounds on her neck and face, and she was covered in maggots. The couple promptly called the emergency line at Tiggywinkles to rescue this poor creature - dearly hoping it was not too late. On arrival at Tiggys, the team mobilised immediately. The maggot-infested wounds were so deep that the poor vixen had to be gently anaesthetised to enable treatment of the emaciated, dehydrated and wound covered patient. She was clinging on to life. It was touch and go for a while for this casualty, but Tiggys’ world-class veterinary team did what they do best and were able to save the life of this beautiful fox. Less than two months later, this gorgeous creature was returned to the wild. She may have a few battle scars, but excitedly leapt back into the undergrowth when the release team set her free. Often when an animal release cage is opened, there is a split second when the patient pauses and switches back into “wild” mode. Sometimes there is a furtive glance back towards the rescuer, and then, as if by magic, the creature turns and runs. www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk

Think Differently About Retirement It has been said that after retirement, you become invisible. But what if retirement is just the beginning?

At Action for Elders they believe anything is possible. You can improve your health, get fit and broaden your social circle with their innovative Balanced Lives® programme. They run events all over the UK and for Betty, a member of the group in Hereford, Balanced Lives became a lifesaver. Betty was feeling distraught, her health was failing and she struggled with a mobility scooter. After a few months on the Balanced Lives programme she didn’t need the scooter any more and her life turned around completely. They have helped 1000s of older people, including members of the York group (pictured) who were recently invited to London for their special event at the House of Commons, where they set out to challenge outdated attitudes to ageing. Speakers included MPs and author Celia Dodd, who spoke on how to thrive in retirement. Their programmes are designed for all stages of later life; they can empower older people to take back control of their physical, mental and social wellbeing. A donation from you or a legacy bequest will enable them to invest in the future of later life. They can help you and your loved ones make retirement years the best years. To find out more about the Balanced Lives® programmes or donate please visit www.actionforelders.org.uk or call 03033 030 132

New research reveals powerful long-term impact of DNA tests on dog diseases

The Animal Health Trust was one of the first laboratories in the world to offer DNA testing to dog owners. To date, thanks to donors and a ten year partnership with The Kennel Club, the AHT has not only created the UK’s largest canine genome bank but also developed 20 DNA tests for more than 50 different breeds. These have been used to test over 60,000 dogs, helping to breed more than 164,000 hereditarily clear puppies born free from debilitating or blinding inherited conditions. The results of a recent study show just how important DNA tests are when it comes to breeding healthier dogs. They looked at the DNA testing data for eight diseases in eight breeds of dog, and discovered that approximately ten years after each DNA test became available, the gene mutations that caused the diseases had decreased in each breed by a staggering 90 per cent or more. This study proves that DNA testing of dogs can have huge positive health implications for both puppies and potentially the health and welfare of the breed as a whole. The research that the AHT does to develop DNA tests couldn’t happen without charitable support. Despite their success, there remains a huge amount to do with over 300 known inherited diseases in purebred dogs alone.

Charity News

To find out more about the AHT’s canine genetics work, visit: www.aht.org.uk.

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“Helping puppies live free from pain and disease”. Photo credit: Michelle O’Neill.

Change a little life forever It’s incredible to think you have the potential to transform a child’s life. Leave a gift in your will to Action for Children and you’ll do just that. You’ll bring hope and happiness into the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK. Find out how a gift in your will can change a child’s life – now and for generations to come. actionforchildren.org.uk/RT legacies@actionforchildren.org.uk 0300 123 2112 Registered charity nos. 1097940/SCO38092. Company no. 4764232. ©Action for Children 2019. AfC 0919

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE ENDING. When Gordon’s wascan diagnosed Through a gift indad yourSandy will you make sure with heartliving failure, theasupport the whole family everyone with chest, heart or stroke received from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland condition in Scotland gets the help they need. was, in their words – priceless. After you have taken care of your loved ones, Through a Gift inleaving his Will, Gordon is making please consider a Gift in your Will to sure everyone living with our conditions Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. continues to get the help they need.

www.chss.org.uk

NO LIFE HALF LIVED RETIREMENT

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A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you. Do something amazing today Leave someone the gift of life.

for elders

adding life to later life

Think Differently About Retirement Our weekly Balanced Lives programme can make your later years the best years Gain strength, balance and mobility. Take

Physical Wellbeing back control of your own health.

Meet like-minded people and share your interests. Feel part of a strong community.

Social Wellbeing

Build confidence, resilience and feel good about yourself. It’s time to enjoy later life.

For more information, or to donate

www.actionforelders.org.uk 030 330 30132 info@actionforelders.org.uk

Children in Distress Ladywell Business Centre Suite 30 94 Duke Street GLASGOW G4 0UW Tel: 0141 559 5690

Reg. charity no. 1145996

Mental Wellbeing

Scottish Registered Charity Number SCO39383/ Registered Charity Number 1001327

Remember Hft in your Will and you can open up a different future for people like for people with learning disabilities. Your gift could give people a sense of belonging a sense of belonging - a chance to be appreciated for themselves, not defined by their learning disability.

Will you say yes? Find out what your life-changing gift can do. Visit www.hft.org.uk, call Katie Tennyson on 0117 9061699 or email giftsinwills@hft.org.uk

Opportunities to flourish… 40

Hft Legacy 135 x 185 mm.indd 1 RETIREMENT today

Registered address: 5/6 Brook Office Park, Folly Brook Road, Emersons Green, Bristol BS16 7FL Company registered in England No.734984 Registered Charity No. 313069 Patron HRH The Princess Royal.

06/03/2019 15:22

Charity N E W S Volunteer and make a difference When both his parents developed dementia in 2002, Graham, now 61, decided to give up his job as a carpet shop manager in Crewe to care for them – but when they passed away some years later, Graham struggled to stay positive and entered a very difficult phase of his life, suffering with mental health issues.

And the beat goes on… Demonstrating how Gifts in Wills are used at charities can be difficult, but at Hft, they introduced Funds for the Future (FftF); a grant scheme for their services supported entirely by legacies. As of today, Funds for the Future has funded 32 projects. For example, at their Bristol service, a music group was granted funding for instruments and music therapy sessions. The group has since developed relationships with Bristol UWE Music Therapy students who volunteer to help the people they support and develop their own skills.

However, things started to turn around for Graham when a friend offered to buy him a television from a British Heart Foundation store. It was there that Graham met Dev the assistant manager, who encouraged him to become a volunteer. ‘Since then I haven’t looked back,’ says Graham. ‘I’ve made new friends and get support of the manager Tracey. I am now enjoying life once more - joining a choir, going for walks, and a new church family.

Claire Smith, Hft Bristol’s Service Manager said: “We now have a stream of volunteers who want to help the people we support to express and communicate through music therapy, and following our initial FftF funding, we are able to ensure the project’s sustainability – and help students become better at supporting people with learning disabilities.” Katie Tennyson, Hft’s Legacy Manager, explains how Gifts in Wills are directly fulfilling the lives of the people we support.

If you are feeling lost, and are looking for a new direction in life then I cannot urge you strongly enough to join the British Heart Foundation as a volunteer. You may, like me, end up with a paid post with them. There is a future. Life may seem grim, but there is hope.’

“The decision to leave a legacy to a charity is very special and meaningful, so we wanted to make sure these gifts were used in the best possible way. FftF allows staff to explore exciting projects, enabling our donor’s family to see exactly how their gift makes a difference.

Get involved at www.bhf.org.uk/volunteer

Contact Katie.tennyson@hft.org.uk for more information.

Leave a legacy and give the gift of life? For the terminally and incurably ill infants and children offered tender loving care by the professional care teams of Children in Distress, your donation and/or legacy gift will mean the difference between life and death. Often abandoned as beyond hope by others, the children given refuge, respite or palliative care in CID’s hospices find help, hope, and the will to prosper and live their short life to the full. A donation from you, no matter how small will certainly change the life of each child, but a bequest or legacy makes possible

the essential facilities, the professional nursing teams, their round the clock care, specialised medical and mobility equipment, and as and when necessary, the emergency surgery or essential life support that can save a life.

In remembering CID in your will, you will remove the stark difference between life and death. Please share a little of your ‘joy of life’ and give a child, weeks, months or even years of quality time. Surely the greatest gift you will ever give. Please remember Children in Distress when considering your legacy giving and contact www.childrenindistress.org or 0141 559 5690. After an attempt to take his own life, Jon was referred to the Rethink Mental Illness crisis house in Sheffield, where he stayed for five days. There he was encouraged to open up about the depression he’d experienced for 20 years. Jon said talking to others was a huge relief. But like so many other people who stay at their crisis houses or similar services, Jon felt very anxious about returning home, as there wasn’t anyone who could provide him with the continuing support he needed. This can be extremely frustrating and upsetting and can quickly result in further crises. That’s where they helped. Their pioneering new post, the mental health care navigator, helps people to stay safe when they return home and move forward in their lives. They met with Jon six times over a few months, either at his home or the crisis house. Through these sessions, Jon became more confident about discussing his mental health problems and more aware of other support services that could help him. Jon says he wouldn’t be here now without this help. That’s why they must put in place more mental health care navigators as soon as possible, as well as fund other roles and services urgently needed. For more information please contact Daniel Walshe at daniel.walshe@rethink.org or visit www.rethink.org RETIREMENT

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Charity News

Will you help us be there for more people like Jon?

The Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University

ave you always dreamed of writing your own book or script? Join our MFA/MA Creative Writing programme at one of the UK’s largest and most successful literary centres, run under the creative direction of former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy DBE. More than 85 of our students and graduates have embarked upon publishing careers launching first books, with many more achieving publication in journals and magazines, winning writing awards and prizes, and setting up small presses and anthologies. • Study on campus in the city centre of Manchester, a designated UNESCO City of Literature, or from anywhere in the world via online distance learning (September or January entry). • Follow a specialist route in novel writing (including short

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fiction), poetry, writing for children & young adults, scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio), or creative non-fiction. • Complete your own full-length manuscript with editorial input from one of our world-leading writers. • MA English Studies, with routes inThe Gothic and Contemporary Literature, Film and Theory, and a range of short writing courses are also available.

£10k Poetry and Fiction Prizes

The Manchester Writing Competition offers the UK’s biggest literary awards for unpublished work. Each year there is a chance to win £10,000 for either poetry or fiction. The competition encourages and celebrates new writing from across the globe and is open internationally to new and established writers. Entries are now being accepted for the 2019 prizes. To find out more about Manchester Writing School, the courses that are on offer and the writers who teach on the courses, visit www.mmu.ac.uk/writingschool

MASTER YOUR CREATIVE WRITING CRAFT

The Manchester Writing School Join our MFA/MA Creative Writing programme and one of the UK’s largest and most successful literary centres. •

Study on campus or from anywhere in the world via online distance learning (September or January entry).

•

Follow a specialist route in Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-fiction.

•

Complete your own full-length manuscript with editorial input from one of our world-leading writers.

•

MA English Studies, short writing courses and two-day Summer School also available.

£10k Poetry and Fiction Prizes The Manchester Writing Competition is now accepting entries for the 2019 Poetry Prize and Fiction Prize. Both prizes are open internationally and offer the chance to win £10,000. Find out more:

manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk RETIREMENT

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