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Winnie’s still a winner!

Winnie-The-Pooh is more popular than Harry Potter… it’s official! We rediscover the ‘bear of very little brain’ and other classics we loved to read

By Katharine Wootton

S

weet dreams are surely made of a good bedtime story – especially the oldies we were lulled to sleep with as children.

And it turns out the nation happens to agree, as a survey from The Reading Agency found Winnie-thePooh topped the list of Brits’ favourite childhood book characters, even beating the modern obsession with Harry Potter.

n What’s your favourite children’s book? Let us know by writing to the address on page 3

“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside” Winnie the Pooh

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stories we loved

OUR BEAR OF VERY LITTLE BRAIN He may be celebrating reaching the grand old age of 90, but our love of Winnie-the-Pooh is still as fresh as the day we first heard about his charming jaunts with Christopher Robin, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo. Author AA Milne named his famous little bear after Winnie, his son Christopher Robin Milne’s favourite cuddly toy, in turn named after a Canadian black bear he’d taken a fancy to at London Zoo. In the Ashdown Forest of Sussex, Milne’s Pooh got up to all sorts of fun, mainly helping himself the contents of a ‘hunny’ pot, enjoying a game of Poohsticks or rescuing his beloved friends from all sorts of sticky situations.

He might have been the slow-witted ‘bear of little brain’, but we will always have a soft spot for what he taught us and the next generation about kindness, love and what it means to be a friend. It’s no wonder even The Queen, who shares her 90th birthday year with Pooh, is a big fan!

AA Milne with son Christopher Robin and the bear who began it all!

THE WHIZPOPPINGLY WONDERFUL MR DAHL A boy who finds a wild, magical world inside a gigantic peach, a precocious little bookworm with special powers and a boy with a golden ticket who finds oompa loompas and chewing gum that turns you into a blueberry inside a chocolate factory! All this could have only come out of the head of Roald Dahl, who would have been 100 this September. One of the most inventive writers of the 20th century, he’s given our children the wackiest imagination fodder possible, as well as lots of made-up words such as swatchscollop (meaning disgusting food) and frothbuggling (silly).

DID YOU KNOW Roald Dahl also wrote the screenplays for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and You Only Live Twice

LASHINGS OF FUN… AND GINGER BEER It’s thought Enid Blyton never sat down and planned a book – she just let her mind run wild – but she certainly knew how to tell a good story.

In fact, in the Fifties she was publishing up to 50 new children’s books a year.

Typing out her stories with two fingers while sitting in the garden, typewriter perched on her knee, Enid transported us to wonderful, often adult-free places of sheer fun. In 1940 there was The Naughtiest Girl in School, followed by Mary Mouse, then her most famous gang of them all, Julian, Dick, George, Anne and not forgetting Timmy the dog, who together became the Famous Five.

But our favourite of her creations was probably the little man in the red and yellow car, Noddy.

DID YOU KNOW Enid was apparently able to write 10,000 words of publishable story a day!

PETER RABBIT, PUDDLEDUCKS AND THE PERFECT MISS POTTER It’s one thing to be a creative illustrator or a storyteller, but Beatrix Potter, born 150 years ago this July, was both.

Beatrix, who never went to school, adored making delicate sketches of animals and plants, which soon came to life on the page. Mischievous Peter Rabbit was the first to bounce out, published by Beatrix after a series of rejection letters from publishers.

Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck became some of the best-loved books for more than a century. For more on Beatrix Potter visit www.yours.co.uk/beatrixpotter

HERE COMES MR TICKLE We all know a Mr Bump, a Little Miss Chatterbox or a Mr Grumble. The inspiration for the series of Mr Men books came to author Roger Hargreaves in 1971 when his son asked him what a tickle looked like. Roger responded by drawing a round orange figure with long bendy arms. And so Mr Tickle was born! Roger created 49 Mr Men books followed by 42 Little Miss books from 1981. Son Adam carried on the tradition, illustrating and writing new stories.

DID YOU KNOW A number of the Mr Men books were brought to life on TV in 1974, narrated by Dad’s Army actor, Arthur Lowe

“I do so hate finishing books. I would like to go on with them for years” Beatrix Potter

PICS: GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY

Nostalgic favourites from the likes of Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter and CS Lewis also ranked high up the list, proving that when it comes to a great children’s story, the old ones are still the best.

So to celebrate the enduring popularity of our childhood reads and the milestone anniversaries of many of the biggest names in children’s fiction this year, we leafed through some of the books we adored and have enjoyed reading to our own children over the years.

‘You have to keep going’ Kirstie Allsopp may be a force of nature as a TV presenter and the Queen of handmade, but away from the camera, she reveals she’s struggled with real family heartache

By Katharine Wootton

T

o say Kirstie Allsopp loves nothing more than getting out her craft box and upcycling some old antique find into something new, it’s a wonder she finds a spare moment to even think about sitting down with a needle and thread.

One of the busiest presenters around, this year alone she’s filmed a new series of Love It Or List It, 16 episodes of Location, Location, Location, two Christmas shows, and a secret project that’s still under wraps, as well as organising The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace (September 16-18). n OFFER: Yours It’s a dizzying schedule, but readers can get 15 per cent this work ethic is something off tickets to The Handmade Fair.

Kirstie prides herself on and Visit www.thehandmadefair.com is one of the most important and use the code ‘YOURS15’ by lessons instilled in her by her September 15. Booking fees apply. beloved late mother, who Offer applies to Full Experience, passed away two years ago Entry Only and Entry + after losing her 26-year fight Super Theatre with breast cancer. tickets.

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Kirstie was just 17 when her mum, Lady Fiona Hindlip, was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, only to develop the disease a second time in the glandular tissues under her arm.

Her mum’s illness was something of an awful mainstay throughout Kirstie’s early adulthood, and, unsurprisingly, it was utterly devastating when she passed away aged just 66 in January 2014. She was then buried, as per her wishes, in a wicker basket in her garden, next to Benji, the family pony.

“Losing a parent is so much worse than anybody tells you it is,” says Kirstie. ”Obviously everyone’s journey is different, but I’ve now come to the conclusion that there’s a dark side and a light side and that people who still have both parents are on one side of the track, and those who have lost a parent are on the other.

“It’s not something you can fully understand until you’ve been through it. And I think it’s quite difficult to overestimate the impact it has on you.”

In her mum’s final years, Kirstie also faced the agonising dilemma of whether or not to have a mastectomy after she discovered she had a onein-three chance of developing the disease herself.

‘One of the best things Mum taught me, and which I carried on after her death, was that you have to get on with things’ While Kirstie’s sister, Sofie, elected to have the surgery in 2010, Kirstie chose not to. “I’d already had two children whom I’d breastfed, I was older than Mum was when she was diagnosed and there were lots of factors that meant my situation was different from my sister’s. And she’d always worried about it, whereas I hadn’t, and I think if you have a fear, whatever you have to do to overcome it, you should do that.”

Following Mum’s death, Kirstie held on to her wise words. “One of the best

With Kirstie, from top, her late mum, Lady Fiona Hindlip, her husband Ben Andersen, and her parents and younger sisters in 1990

things Mum taught me, and which carried on after her death, was that you have to get on with things. And that doesn’t mean you don’t grieve or that you shouldn’t seek counselling if you need to. But you do need to distract yourself.

“She also taught me that if you say you’re going to do something, you get on with it and do it come hell or high water. That’s why I can count the number of sick days I’ve had in my 25year career on the fingers of one hand.”

And this sticking power and determination to do her best seems to be the secret behind the success of what she reveals is her biggest personal achievement of them all: developing a strong, loving relationship as stepmum to Hal and Orion (her property developer partner Ben Andersen’s sons from a previous relationship) as well as Mum to her own two sons, Bay and Oscar.

This happy family of six would no doubt be a great surprise to the 20-something girl from Hampstead whom Kirstie says panicked about if she’d ever have children or get married, the latter of which she’s never actually done.

Her TV success has also been something of an unexpected turn of events. “Besides desperately wanting to be on Jim’ll Fix It or Swap Shop when I was young, I never had any ambitions to be on TV,” says Kirstie.

In fact, she was only meant to present Location, Location, Location with her partner in crime, Phil Spencer, for the pilot episode while they found ‘proper presenters’, as Kirstie puts it.

As for her success as the Queen of crafting, Kirstie’s always enjoyed making things and even today says she often disappears into antique shops in the middle of filming and has to be dragged out by the soundman. This is why she so relishes the opportunity to get the nation upcycling, recycling and making at the Handmade Fair. “There’s lots to say how good crafting is for your health and even fighting off things such as Alzheimer’s. So to see people walking round the fair clutching all the things they’ve made, it’s a great feeling.”

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PICs: GETTY IMAGEs, DEsMOND O’NEILL FEATUREs LTD, CAMERA PREss

star chat

Whether you’re tired, stressed, have a headache or are feeling grumpy, help is at hand.

Health writer Karen Evennett discovers the foodie fixes that can solve your everyday woes…

I’VE GOT A HEADACHE Try watermelon Headaches are often a sign you’re dehydrated, so as well as drinking more water, eat water-rich foods. Watermelon is brilliant as it is 90 per cent water. For migraines, research suggests that foods high in Vitamin B2 can be of help; find it in mackerel, salmon and eggs.

Meet the expert Rob Hobson is a registered nutritionist, consultant to nutrition company Healthspan and author of The Detox Kitchen Bible

FOOD TO THE

PICS: ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES, MASTERFILE

e u c res Feeling tired?

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DINE ON STEAK… Feeling drained could be a sign you need an iron boost. 23 per cent of British women are low in iron and red meat is the best way to boost it

eat for health ‘I SLEPT BADLY AND FEEL EXHAUSTED’

My joints ache – what can I eat?

Try Chia seeds

Treat with turmeric “They don’t look that appealing, but they’re a top energising food with a combination of protein, fibre, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids,” says nutritionist Rob Hobson.

To incorporate them easily into your diet, sprinkle onto your salad or yogurt, or try adding them to muffins and easy-bake cakes. For example, if you buy a supermarket cake mix, replace half the recommended oil with chia gel made from one cup of cold water and 1¾ tbsp of chia seeds.

‘My skin is dry and dull’ Salmon is a saviour It's a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help skin cells to retain water and stay plump, healthy and wrinkle free. Fresh is best – avoid frozen, as the freezing process causes the healthy fats to degrade. You would get only 0.9g omega-3 per 100g in frozen fish compared to 2.1g in fresh, 2g in tinned and 1.9g in smoked salmon.

Wild salmon is better for you – it has more omega-3 than farmed.

‘I feel like I’m coming down with a cold’ Perk up with pineapple The magic ingredient is the enzyme bromelain, and there’s some research suggesting this can help to reduce mucus and speed up recovery from colds, ’flu and chest infections.

“In fact the bromelain is only in the core of the fruit, which you don’t normally eat,” says Rob. “So peel then pulp the fruit and core in a juicer. The Vitamin C will also help your cold.”

‘I’m bloated and look like I’ve gained a dress size’ Go live with yogurt “There are so many reasons for bloating, but I'd always recommend starting by improving your digestion – live yogurt will do that. It’s a powerful source of probiotics, the healthy bacteria your gut loves,” Rob says.

“If you add prebiotic foods to your diet, such as asparagus, leeks or artichokes, they will boost the bacteria growth and help even more.”

“Research shows this Indian spice is good for reducing joint inflammation and one study even found it comparable to taking a Nurofen for knee pain,” says Rob. “Ideally you should use fresh turmeric, which you can buy from Indian stores – simply grate into spicy dishes.

Otherwise, a supplement should give you a healthy dose.”

TRY Healthspan Turmeric (£14.95/60 tablets, www. healthspan.co.uk)

‘WHAT CAN I EAT TO CALM DOWN?’ Cashew nuts are king!

They’re one of the richest sources of magnesium, one of nature’s tranquillisers.

Research shows that having low magnesium levels can make you feel more anxious. Eat cashews by the handful or soak and grind them in water to make your own cashew milk.

Make sure you’re also avoiding caffeine and sugar, which speed up adrenalin and make you feel more stressed out.

‘I FEEL GRUMPY AND IRRI TATED’ TATED’ Soothe nerves with quinoa “Feeling grumpy and irritated is a classic sign of low blood sugar,” Rob says. “Quinoa has the perfect ratio of both fibre and protein to keep your blood sugar stable and even out mood swings. Cook 200g (7oz) for four people – mix with avocado, roasted sunflower seeds, spinach and a homemade lemon dressing.”

time of my life

MY VITAL

diagnosis

When Peggy Savage was a doctor on a Fifties children’s ward, polio was a word that struck fear into every heart...

I

was a senior house doctor on a paediatric ward in the late Fifties.

At that time, polio had not been totally eradicated in Britain and sporadic cases still occurred.

Thanks to the vaccine, we have almost forgotten the horrors of polio now – disabled children, unable to walk, or whose legs were encased in metal or leather supports. Children and adults who couldn’t breathe without support spent months, or years in a respirator – the Iron Lung.

In 1947, two years after the war ended when I was 14 years old, there was a serious outbreak in England.

I remember it well; the twin girls who lived a few doors away from me had an infection. The doctor came and word flew round that it might be polio. Mothers snatched their children in from the street, we were kept away from school and everyone waited and worried. I wouldn’t have

been surprised if my mother had painted a cross on the front door and sprinkled it with holy water.

We were almost as helpless as the people of the Middle Ages facing the plague. It was, thank goodness, a false alarm. The twins just had flu – but everyone had been very frightened.

On the ward where I worked, I was told that a child was coming in with a diagnosis of polio. Little Peter was 16 months old and the family doctor’s letter said that both his legs were paralysed.

Peter arrived and my system with new admissions was to see the child at once, in case any urgent treatment was necessary, then take a medical history from the child’s mother.

Peter was lying on his side, little legs drawn up unmoving with his skin looking strangely shiny.

Mothers were not allowed to stay in hospital with their children in the Fifties

He was obviously very unhappy, but he was breathing normally and was alert. He moaned a little in pain each time I tried to move him.

‘He’ll only drink milk,’ she said, taking in my surprise, ‘It’s the best Jersey milk, though’ He was a beautiful child with golden curls and looked like a Botticelli angel.

I almost cried. It just didn’t seem right or fair that a little child like this should be so struck down.

I went to speak to his mother and take his history. There was nothing significant in the past, he just seemed to have been off-colour and lacking

energy. Then, after a cold, he couldn’t walk. Then I asked the question that I always asked, though in this case it hardly seemed relevant: “What does he eat?”

His mother looked a bit uncomfortable.

“He won’t eat anything,” she said. I looked at her for a moment.

Peter seemed to be reasonably well nourished. “He just stopped eating anything, quite a while ago,” she said.

“He’ll only drink milk.”

She paused, taking in my surprise, “It’s the best Jersey milk, though.”

“You mean nothing else at all?” I asked. “Isn’t there anything that he likes?”

“No,” she said. “He only likes milk.”

I went back to Peter.

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‘By the time the consultant arrived to see him, I was able to tell him what I thought was the diagnosis, and he agreed with me’ children and she had a younger child at home.

I went back to my room and consulted my Textbook of Paediatrics to refresh my memory and found the page I was seeking. The child in the picture looked just like Peter, the legs drawn up, the child looking very unhappy.

Full of hope and excitement, I examined him again. I could feel little nodules on his ribs. I looked in his mouth and his gums were red and swollen. I ordered an x-ray and the little nodules were there.

By the time the consultant arrived to see him, I was able to tell him what I thought was the diagnosis and he agreed with me. All further tests were normal.

We now knew what was wrong with Peter. I sat beside his cot and looked at his cherubic face and golden hair and waited for his first dose of medicine to arrive.

I was so glad that this little boy would get well again.

Peter didn’t have polio,

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he had scurvy – an acute deficiency of Vitamin C – a condition almost unknown in Britain. At that time, free orange juice was given to small children.

Scurvy was well known in the British Navy in times long past, when ships put to sea for a year or more at a time. Many sailors died from it. Then some clever person (I think it was Captain Cook) realised that it was caused by the absence of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The British Navy then began to carry fresh limes for the sailors and that’s why the British sailors were called Limeys.

Peter steadily got better.

He began to look happy again, to move his little legs without pain and eventually to walk. I sat him on my knee at bedtime and read a story to him and he enjoyed that. He began to eat and drink his orange juice and play with the other children.

I had long talks with his mother. We never quite understood why he stopped eating. I suspected it had been a reaction to the arrival of a new baby – one that only drank milk! He stayed well and eventually went home to his delighted parents.

I don’t think this could happen in Britain today. We are so much better informed about health. It was such a simple question – “What does he eat?” – but so very important. I have never seen another case of scurvy, before or since.

My last memory of Peter is of him running down the ward pushing a trolley full of bricks, laughing and shouting.

It was a long time ago, but some memories never fade.

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Quick

QUIZ 1. In September 1963 Sindy, Britain’s answer to Barbie, was launched. What was the name of her little sister?

2. Which British royal died on March 24, 1953?

3. Lesley Hornby was born on eptember 19, September 1949. By what name is she better known?

4. What was the name of the budget tlantic Transatlantic air service that Freddie Laker launched in September 1977?

Do you remember these stops on memory lane?

5. Which sporting star told us to ‘splash it all over’ in the Seventies?

And what was he talking about?

6. Which popular animal puppet, who had his own TV series in the late Fifties and early Sixties, was voiced by Terry Hall?

7. Name Ed S Sullivan’s little mouse puppet friend from 1962?

8. For which long-running Ford car was the Sierra launched as a replacement in October 1982?

Answers below

PICS: GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK

Something in the way he was lying reminded me of something I had read, or a photograph in one of my textbooks.

I told his mother that we would do some tests and that she could come in to see him in the afternoon. In those days, mothers couldn’t stay in hospital with their

Answers 1 Patch 2 Queen Mary, the consort of Geroge V 3 Twiggy 4 Skytrain 5 Henry Cooper/ Brut aftershave 6 Lenny the Lion 7 Topo Gigio 8 Cortina

time of my life

take a trip

Something for everyone in

Melbourne From watching wild penguins to driving the Great Ocean Road and touring with chocoholics, adventures abound in this vibrant Australian city

By Lizzy Dening

Travelling solo Melbourne is famed for its nostalgic trams, which rattle around the city bringing old world charm. Get your bearings with a free City Circle Tram on route 35 – complete with an audio commentary to help you learn the lie of the land. You’ll pass the City Museum, Parliament House, Federation Square, Melbourne Aquarium and the Princess Theatre, you’re sure to be inspired for future excursions. n Find route details at https://ptv.vic.gov.au/route

Learn more about local history on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Explore the history of the Koolin nation and learn which plants are traditionally used for food, tools and medicine, as well as taking part in a traditional smoking ceremony and enjoying a cup of lemon myrtle tea. n Tours take place daily (apart from Saturday) from 11am12.30pm. Booking is required. Tickets $31 adult, $12 child.

To book call 03 9251 2429 or visit www.rbg.vic.gov.au

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With friends Fancy a drink? The elaborate and ever-changing cocktails at Goldilocks Bar, Swanston Street, are worth a try. It has a loose fairytale theme, and you’ll certainly feel like you’re in wonderland once you have a drink in hand. Its pretty rooftop setting means you can enjoy the sunshine at the same time. n Visit www.goldilocksbar.com.au

Calling all chocolate fans! You’ll be in excellent cocoa-loving company with Chocoholic Tours – and there are numerous different packages to

Your holiday essentials sorted!

With a partner Feeling adventurous? Rent a car and drive one of Australia’s most famous routes – the picturesque Great Ocean Road, which starts down the coast in Torquay (an hour’s drive away). It’s 151 miles long and the world’s largest war memorial. It was built by returning soldiers from 1919-32 and is dedicated to the lives lost in the First World War. You’ll meander past cliffs, rainforests and beaches; keep your eyes peeled for koalas, kangaroos and even whales. At the end of the route you’ll find the 12 Apostles – dramatic rock stacks that look stunning at sunset.

Melbourne is a hodgepodge of cultures, good news if you’re in the mood for food. Pizza fans should head for the Italian district of Carlton, where you’ll find a host of old-fashioned and charming restaurants – be sure to have a post-dinner coffee too, the neighbourhood is famed for it.

Get your last-minute travel needs sorted at your local Post Office. Whether it’s ordering travel money online* and collecting it from your local branch, checking the latest currency rates via the smartphone app or sorting out travel insurance, the Post Office is there to help.

Don’t forget the convenient Passport Check & Send service either – making sure that your passport application is right first time, and that there are no delays to getting the holiday started. n for more information, visit postoffice.co.uk *£400-£2500 order value only online

choose from. Whether you want to keep things simple with the Chocolate Lovers Tour (including eight chocolate tastings, a wine tasting, a personal guide and an afternoon tea) or fancy something seasonal like the Winter Warmer (available in the cooler months of June-August, and involving five very special hot chocolates, plus lots of other goodies) there’s something for everyone.

There’s even a savoury alternative – the Yarra Valley Food and Wine Day Tour, which involves nine hours of indulgence. n Most tours last two-and-a-half hours, from $99 adults, $49 children. Call 03 9650 0795 or visit www.chocoholictours.com au

Little ones will have a really wild time at Phillip Island Nature Park (90 minutes from Melbourne) watching the nightly ‘penguin parade’. Sitting quietly on the special seaside benches you can witness hundreds of wild little penguins returning from the water and waddling to their beach burrows. It’s a very special experience and it’s a not-for-profit event so the ticket price is spent helping wildlife. For an additional cost you can also take an hour-long boat tour to visit Australia’s largest fur seal colony. n Various types of ticket available, starting from $25.10 adults, $12.50 children for general viewing. Call 03 5951 2800 or visit www. penguins.org.au

Take tiny thrill-seekers to Luna Park for a day of rides and fun.

They’ll love the carousel, dodgems and the Silly Serpent rollercoaster, while older children might be brave enough for some of the faster rides. If you’re looking for amazing views (along with speedy twists and turns) ride the Great Scenic Railway, the world’s oldest continually operating rollercoaster, having opened in 1912. n Unlimited ride tickets $47.50 adults, $37.50 children. Book in advance at http:// lunapark.com.au

We’ve included local phone numbers to use once in Melbourne, but if you want to call from the Uk just add 0061 to the start of each number and remove the first 0. obviously international rates will be higher. at the time of writing, 1 australian dollar (1$) was worth 58p

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PIC: alaMy, IstoCkPhoto, getty IMages, MoMent rf, lonely Planet IMages

With the grandchildren

star chat

life

n I’m lucky to be here

n Born Free changed my life...

My parents divorced when I was young and I spent the war with my mother in South Africa. We sailed from Liverpool in a convoy of six ships. We were the last, held back by an air raid warning.

The five ships in front were destroyed by torpedoes with all lives lost. It was pure luck of the draw that we were spared. We think we’re in charge of our own destiny but it’s just not true.

… and also the life of my late husband, Bill Travers. When we got home after 10 months in Kenya, he said the only thing he wanted to do now was to make a documentary about what happened to the lions we used in the film.

Our work with animals led to our setting up Zoo Check and then the Born Free Foundation.

n You learn survival skills I was an only child until my mother remarried and had my step-brother and step-sister. I was also sent away to boarding school in Pretoria and then in Horsham when we returned to the UK. All of this made me pretty resilient and independent. You learn coping mechanisms, survival skills.

n I planned to be a journalist There were no formal theatrics in the family, although my father’s cousin was the actress Fay Compton.

I wanted to go to university to read English with a view to being a journalist but my parents had seen me in

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n Zoos should be closed

From top: Virginia today; with Una Stubbs, Bernard Hill and Simon Callow in Golden Years; with husband Bill Travers in the early years of the Born Free Foundation

school productions and felt I might make a go of it as an actress. Normally, parents try to dissuade their children from entering so precarious a profession.

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If I could wave a magic wand, I’d get rid of all zoos. However much care they might receive, the animals

can never behave as they would in the wild because the environment is completely alien. Everything they do naturally is denied. Animals still live on concrete behind bars in zoos the world over.

n Comedy can deal with serious issues I still keep my hand in as an actress and recently costarred in Golden Years, a film about a band of OAPs who take to robbing banks as they see their life’s savings being eroded. Sometimes serious issues strike home more strongly if they’re lightly touched on. It’s got a wonderful cast; Bernard Hill plays my husband. Then there’s Simon Callow, Sue Johnston, Alun Armstrong and the lovely Una Stubbs: we got on like a house on fire.

n The DVD of Golden Years has just been released, rrp £9.99. n Virginia was talking to Richard Barber.

And finally…

n Who made you who you are today?

George Adamson opened the door into the understanding of wild animals in the way he taught us how to behave with them when Bill and I were making Born Free. Having returned the real Elsa to the wild and having known her cubs, the depth of his knowledge was profound. He seemed to understand all animals.

PICS: ALAMY, FARROWS CREATIVE, BORN FREE FOUNDATIOIN

MY LESSONS FROM

Actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna chats about early days, why she hates zoos and her role in the new comedy film, Golden Years