Horizon Magazine - July Issue

HORIZONFREE HEALTH & WELL-BEING FOR THE MATURE MAN

HORIZON.co.uk

July 2011

‘Television today is poor - it’s a real shame’

PARKY

Pushing Boundaries Aside

‘I SURVIVED’One man’s fight against prostate

cancer

WII POWERA 21st Century way of dealing with Parkinson’s

ALL ABROADWhy Marrakesh

attracts 10 million tourists every yearTough climb for

the birthday boy

HIMALAYAN HIKE

INSIDE TV Legend Bob Wilson on his bike for charity

Issue 1

CONTENTS

3JULY 2011HORIZON.co.uk

JULY 2011

HORIZON

20

6

34

THE REGULARS5 Editorial letter11 Survivor story - Jimmy Lazenby’s fight against prostate cancer40 All abroad - The magic of Marrakesh42 Food of the world - Morocco’s finest cuisine44 Always wanted to play bridge? A beginner’s guide to the game48 Moment in time - A look back at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation51 Technology: A guide to Twitter52 Next Month - A peek at August’s edition60 Puzzles 62 ‘The Last Word’ - with Duncan Bannatyne

11

16 21st Century solutions - Way of the Wii18 Dealing with Dementia20 Gum Disease - the importance of getting your check-up31 Which is best - Cycling or Swimming?32 Chair Aerobics - leg exercises from the comfort of your chair53 Guest Columnist - Carla McKnight on why staying healthy leads to happiness

6 Bob Wilson on his latest charity effort34 How do you celebrate your birthday? Climb the Himalayas46 John Craven and his Countryfile days54 Paying too much for travel insurance58 Where exactly did the barcode come from?

FEATURES

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

COVER STAR23 The ‘King of Chat’ sits down with Horizon

2323


HORIZON WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Horizon, the UK’s first free health and lifestyle magazine for those who

want to push boundaries aside.It’s a magazine aimed at all your

needs and includes everything you want to read. How can we be so sure? Well, we took to the streets and asked for your input to find out exactly what it is you want.

One concern that men high-lighted was a worry about pros-tate cancer and what preventative measures they could take to avoid it. We went out and interviewed a survivor, who spent years battling against cancer and is now clear to go on living his life normally.

One of our writers, Chris McKay, found out that birthday celebra-tions come in very different shapes and sizes.

He spoke to Dr Graham White who recently celebrated his 75th birthday by climbing the Himalayas.

Graham decided he fancied a challenge (there aren’t too many bigger than that) and raised money

for a great hospital in Sheffield at the same time.

Whilst we’re on the subject of giving things a go, Tom Leese found out how one man who suf-fers with Parkinson’s Disease stays in shape and still enjoys himself.

He even uses a game’s console to help keep the illness in check. After all that, Tom had to check himself into Wii-Hab.

Bob Wilson, the ex-Arsenal goal-keeper sat down with feature writer Jon Day to chat to him all about his Willow Foundation. The 69-year-old told us all about his sponsored bike ride, from the Emirates Sta-dium in London to St James’ Park in Newcastle, all in aid of his own fantastic charity.

With summer fast approaching, travel agents are swamped with people looking for the best places to go. To help you out during this hectic time we sent Andrew Wheel-don out to Marrakesh to see for himself just why so many people choose to go there.

It’s fair to say it was an eye-opening experience, especially as he went just two weeks after a terrorist

bombing in the city. The cover of our launch issue

features Sir Michael Parkinson, the ‘King of Primetime’ himself. Chris Conway caught up with him about how he stays in shape as he gets older and what he makes of televi-sion, on the whole. today.

He also talks to us about every-thing from starting out as a report-er in Barnsley to interviewing Ali.

And yes, he mentions THAT interview with Meg Ryan as well.

But it’s not all media related. We even got to find out the magic

number we all want to know, his golf handicap.

We’ve taken care to find stories and write features that’ll interest, excite and possibly even amaze you. Every one is a cracking read.

Enjoy the issue.

The Horizon Editorial Team

News, features, lifestyle and well-being all up-to-date and available online at www.horizon.co.uk

EDITORIAL

LETTER

JULY 2011 HORIZON.co.uk6

As he lay in bed one night, there was something playing on the mind of Arsenal

hero Bob Wilson.The 69-year-old was struggling to

come up with an ingenious idea to raise money for his cancer charity.

“We have to raise more than £3m every single year to fund the charity. How do we continue to do this in a difficult economic climate, where there are tragedies all over the world, and money is tight?”

The magic idea continued to elude him. Panic was setting in. “My god, how are we going to meet the target this year?”

He wanted to build something around his birthday. “I am going to be 70 this year, so it will be my 71st year.”

Just the mere thought of those numbers triggered off something in his mind.

“I immediately thought 1970/71, the greatest year of my footballing career.”

He was the pivotal member of the historic Arsenal side that lifted the league and cup double that season.

“With that in mind, I then thought what can I do? Apart from hitting a golf ball badly, the only other thing I could think of was – I can ride a bike.”

Bob had always wanted to do some-thing that would honour football, and give something back to the game that brought him so much.

“Why don’t I ride the Premier League?” That is exactly what he did. He cycled 550 miles, passing through all 20 Premier League grounds, from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in north

London to St James’ Park, Newcastle, before continuing on to Glasgow’s Hampden Park.

He may be turning 70 later this year, but Bob shows no signs of wanting to slow down just yet.

“If anything, I have finally proved to everybody who knows that I was a daft goalkeeper that dived headlong at people’s feet that I am truly a mad!”

The 13-day journey was in aid of the Willow Foundation charity, set up in honour of his late daughter Anna, who died of a rare form of cancer, aged just 31 in 1999.

The story of the charity’s roots and its purpose is truly inspiring.

Anna was diagnosed with a malignant schwannoma, a cancer of the nerve sheath. It is one of the rarest forms of the disease.

‘I am truly mad!’

SOCCER CYCLE

Ex-goalkeeper rides the length of the land to raise thousands for his charity

BOB WILSON

Why don’t I ride the Premier League?

7JULY 2011

FEATURE

“She was so unlucky because 99% of schwannomas are benign, and she was in a tiny percentage where it was malignant,” said Bob.

“From day one, Anna just took it head on. I don’t think she ever realised it was going to be a five-year journey, but she knew right from the very beginning that there was a possibility that things would end the way it did.

“She endured the chemotherapy, radiotherapy and dozens of life saving operations, just to buy her more time and more life.”

As Anna’s condition deteriorated, Bob recalls his daughter’s resolute determination to retain an element of normality in her life, despite her illness.

Wheels in motion: Bob riding with his entourage on his 550-mile journey

HORIZON.co.uk

BOB’s ROUTE

“She always insisted that she had something really great to look forward to in her diary.

In Anna’s case she loved seeing Take That and would go to every concert they did on their UK tour.

“Anna loved her football, so when Arsenal were still winning trophies she was at the cup finals.

“No matter how bad she was with her illness, she appeared on those days to be normal.

“She would just have what we called an ‘adrenaline rush’ and she would be smiling, and if Anna was smiling then we were smiling.”

This was how Bob’s daugther coped with the five-year cancer battle that she sadly succumbed to just six days before her 32nd birthday.

“In her final weeks she lectured us again and again, telling us to use what we have learned.”

It was this message that inspired Bob, and his wife Megs, to set up the Willow Foundation. They provide empowering and memorable special days for 16 to 40-year-olds who have serious and life threatening illnesses.

The charity, now nationwide, offers much needed time out for them and their families. They can choose to do anything they want. Popular choices include tickets to West End shows,

Inspiration: Bob with Anna in 1998

city breaks, and trips to major sporting events. It gives them a chance to feel normal, enjoy themselves and create fond memories that their families and friends can cherish forever.

“Up to 20,000 people aged between 16 and 40 are diagnosed with serious illness every single year - a scary figure.

“We aim to provide up to 1,500 special days each year to help those suffering from severe illness, and their families, to have a bit of normality in their lives when they are really being challenged emotionally.”

Bob has been incredibly moved by the development of the Willow Foun-dation over the years.

Through his Soccer Cycle, he was aiming to raise more than £250,000. After completing his ride in Glasgow, almost £300,000 has been raised, a remarkable achievement.

“It has been incredibly humbling,” said Bob. “I had to ring a few of the great names in football and say - look this is what I am doing, is there any chance you’ll be at the ground when I get there?”

Bob was inundated with a host of responses, all wanting to show support for his cause.

“I had calls from Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, Pat Jennings, >

If Anna was smiling, then we were too

HORIZON.co.uk 9JULY 2011

FEATURE

Presenter: The popular face of sport on the BBC, and later ITV, for 28 years

Player: Made 234 appearances for Arsenal between 1963 and 1974

Pride: ‘Willow’ was awarded an OBE for his services to charity in 2007

Ossie Ardeles, Steve Harper and Rafael van der Vaart.

“It was just so moving, and it shows that those associated with the game, past and present, can come together and assist one of their own in a cause like this.”

Bob was extremely thankful to all of his friends in the world of football for their incredible support and fantastic, kind gestures.

The build-up to his big journey was dominated by a gruelling schedule of intense training, which began months in advance.

Thanks to using Twitter, the social networking internet phenomenon, he informed his 13,000 followers of his progress during training.

“I had never tweeted before, so it was all new to me. But I saw it as a great way to maximise publicity for the ride and the charity.

“I would leave messages like ‘did a quick 20 miles to Poole this morning and back’.

“I am just so grateful and very hum-bled by the reaction of everybody, and Twitter has been a great help in getting all generations of people interested in the charity.”

The journey has proven to Bob that age is no barrier in wanting to carry out your goals.

“I feel physically as good now as I have done since I started to lose my professional footballing career fitness after my retirement.

“I am amazed that it has come back, obviously not to the degree that I once had, but I like to think I am faring pretty well at my age.”

Bob and his team have undergone severe tests of endurance, despite the fact that he has two artificial hips, and will undergo a knee replacement operation in the next few months.

He asked David Tweddell, a former professional rider, and Steve Cliffen, a ex-school headteacher who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for his charity - the Cicely Foundation, for their help.

Both men accompanied Bob on his 550-mile journey.

“David is 78. He can do 55-miles without thinking! Steve is so driven and has done many projects like this, so they were the perfect companions.

“These guys have seen me go from puffing and panting to feeling totally comfortable on the bike.

“I did 25 miles on several occasions in the build-up to the ride, and I didn’t break sweat.

“I was really guided. David and Steve said to me, ‘look Willow don’t try and push it too quickly’. They told me all I needed to know about the different gears, and when I should change up and down during the ride.

“That now to me - after five-and-a-half-months - is completely natural.

“I now know what Lewis Hamilton means when he says that he feels like an integral part of the machine.

SPOTLIGHT

Mentally I feel so sharp and agile

“I actually feel like that now. I am part of the bike, and when I am on it I feel totally comfortable and at ease.

“I balked up as a result of the intensive training, and I have actually lost weight. Mentally I feel so sharp and agile.”

For someone who has managed to sustain a healthy lifestyle following his retirement, Bob has always been aware of the significance of the habits he learnt from his playing days in keeping active in his later years.

“It is so important to keep active at my age. Just one brisk walk a day or anything that gets your heart pumping will really help keep you active.”

Bob completed his immense and very tough journey at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on April 29th.

A galaxy of famous faces from the world of sport showed their support for Bob. The likes of Lee Dixon, Les Ferdinand, David Seaman, Jim Rosenthal, and Steve Cram all paid their tributes along the way.

He has been particularly touched by the tributes and donations he has received from all walks of life.

“We have had some huge donations from some incredible people.

“But to me it is just as important when I see messages such as ‘I am a Liverpool supporter, I can only afford a fiver Bob, but good luck mate’.

“Those are the individuals who have been affected by emotional strain and the personal turmoil that goes through when you have a loved one who is seriously ill. It’s just very humbling.

“My two sons thought I was mad for attempting this. My grandchildren couldn’t get their heads around poppa wearing lycra and riding a bike in the pouring rain on a Monday morning.

“But the whole family have been so supportive, just like I’m sure Anna would have been.

“She was just that sort of person. Her story has inspired us and so many other people too.

“I hope I have made her very proud.” H

HEALTH

11JUNE 2011HORIZON.co.uk

‘I’M PROOF YOU CAN BEAT IT’Prostate cancer

often goesundetected amongst

men aged 60 and over, but as Jim Lazenby

discovered, it can be beaten. He tells Chris

Conway his story of remaining upbeat against the odds

>>


immy Lazenby sits at his kitchen table, staring blankly at the crossword in front of him.

“Apprehension of some future evil,” Jimmy says to himself as he flips through the worn pages of his small, tattered dictionary.

Four letters, four letters. I just can’t think. Four letters?” Jimmy repeats over and over, tapping his little blue biro against his left temple.

“What about fear, Jim?” says his wife Jean from the other side of their generously sized kitchen. “F.E.A.R” he says spelling it out, emphasising each letter as he does so. He fills in the blank boxes on his crossword and adjusts his glasses and shuffles in his seat. He looks uncomfortable, as if writing the word down has brought back horrible memories.

“Aye, it fits,” he mumbles quietly. Jimmy was diagnosed with Prostate

Cancer in 2002. He and his wife Jean have been married for 50 years. In that time, they’ve had two children, gained a son and a daughter-in-law, en-joyed countless holidays and watched their four grandchildren grow up.

A plumber all his life, fear is not a word thats ever had a prolonged spell in the vocabulary of everyday life for Jimmy or his wife.

Until that day almost ten years ago. Fear then very much became a part

of the family, almost like an adopted third child to him and Jean.

“I was scared then. It’s the unknown really, not knowing what’s going to happen, or how it’ll work out. I sup-pose it’s the same for anyone really, you know, but I was fearful,” says Jimmy as he pulls on his boots. He sighs heavily.

Recounting past memories, painful ones at that, is difficult for him. He ties his laces before slurping down the last of his now lukewarm tea.

“I’ll finish the crossword when I get back,” he says as he leans over and kisses Jean goodbye.

As Jimmy, 72, stands up and pulls on his jacket, his Springer Spaniel appears beside the backdoor. He puts his col-lar on him and the pair head out to the nearby beach.

Later, as he trudges through the unu-sually golden sand and the sun beats down on his back, Jimmy recounts his own personal battle with cancer.

“I’d had some routine tests done before we went away on holiday. Some blood tests and a PSA test.

“We went off on holiday to America, and when I came back there was a let-ter waiting for me saying I had best go and see my doctor. I then had to go to a local hospital and have some investi-gations done,” he says as he puffs and pants his way through the mounds of sand around him.

“I gave various samples to the doc-tors there and then a few weeks later I was called to go back in. I then had to go to another hospital and have a Colonoscopy. They did a biopsy too.

“Then they gave me the news. They said ‘it’s ninety percent certain that you’ve got prostate cancer.’ I couldn’t

believe it,” he says as he bends down to pick up a rock.

He looks out at the tide washing up and down the beach, recalling memo-ries from when he was a child, and the times he and his friend used to jump off the dunes. They still did it, even though they knew it was dangerous.

“It was shocking to be told ‘you’ve got cancer’. When I walk here down the beach, I often think back to my childhood and even now I think back then that not many people seemed to have cancer,” he says.

“You never really heard about it at all. Nobody knew what cancer was. You just didn’t hear it. Compared to now, where literally every other day I find myself reading ‘this ones got can-

Looking ahead: Jimmy is determined to put his cancer behind him and enjoy the rest of his family life

‘It was shocking when they said to me I had cancer’

Wor Jimmyand

J


cer or that ones got cancer.’ It really is very shocking.”

“I seem to talk to people now and the illness is always cancer.

“It seems as if it’s the scourge of modern society, but what I will say is that I’m living proof, prostate cancer can be beaten.”

He smiles as he throws the stone into the water. The dog chases after it, before disappearing under the frothy blue waves of the North Sea.

Jimmy sits down on an old concrete block left over from World War II and pauses. He rubs his hand loosely along the block’s jagged edge, wincing gingerly as he catches his finger on a sharp patch.

It seems that the pain in his finger

unlocks further memories. As the waves lap up over the sand

and then out again, leaving a salty residue in their trail, he recounts the treatment he endured in order to beat the cancer.

“I was scanned from head to toe to see if the cancer had spread, but luckily it hadn’t. That was a big relief, because there were times where I thought I might die,” he says, “I then had some tablets to take and as part of the treatment I was given a course of hormone injections, which they reck-oned could help beat my cancer.

“Radiotherapy came next and al-though you read things about it being awful and scary, it really wasn’t that bad at all.

“They marked my body with a pen, and then I took my clothes off and lay there while they scanned me.

That was the worst bit, having to drop your drawers in front of a load of nurses. Still, I suppose it’s noth-ing they won’t see again,” Jimmy says chuckling, before standing and putting a now soaking wet dog on the leash.

“The treatment made me feel very, very tired. I then had injections every six weeks and then after that I was go-ing every three months for a check-up, where they take a sample of blood to see how it’s standing.

“That’s something I’ll now do for the rest of my life, as a way of check-ing to see if the cancer has returned. It’s a bit of a chore, but if it keeps me clear of cancer, I don’t mind at all.”

As Jimmy puts the dog in the back of the car, he stops and pauses.

Throwing the leash over his shoul-der, he walks towards the driver’s door, ready to head for home.

“It wasn’t all doom and gloom,” he says, opening his car door, “there were times when, because I was staying positive, that I still managed to enjoy myself and my life.

“One thing that does still make me smile is that the nurse said I was to drink lots of water. The nurse that told me even said ‘that’s water mind, not beer’ so I did as I was told and drank plenty of water, you know.”

He smiles wryly. “She must’ve had me weighed up good and proper,” he says before shutting his car door.

Back at the house and the cross-word is back in front of Jimmy at the kitchen table again.

Another cup of tea too.“I would always advise anyone who

thinks they might have it, go and get it checked out,” Jimmy says, pushing the crossword to one side.

“It’s just a case of taking some blood off you and it goes to the lab and it’s checked out. It’s not a hard thing.

“What helped me cope was having a positive attitude, the support of my family and the nurses at the cancer clinic. Ten years on I’m still here and leading as full a life as I can. You’ve got to tell yourself, you’re not going to let it beat you.”

He looks down at his seven across. “Confident frame of mind?” Jimmy says rhetorically. He looks up.

“I’m now able to live a normal life thanks to the treatment, I’m getting older now and it has affected my life, but I’m just getting on with it, as I’d say to anyone with cancer has too. Be prepared to battle, but make sure you enjoy yourself as much as you can too,” he says.

Suddenly, as if someone’s flicked a switch, he pulls his crossword across in front of him and grabs his pen.

“Of course. It’s positivity. Positivity,” Jimmy says happily as he fills in the blank squares of his crossword.

Something Jimmy has in droves.

Looking ahead: Jimmy is determined to put his cancer behind him and enjoy the rest of his family life

HEALTH

the

Big C Word

‘10 years on I’m still here and leading a full life’

Tell-tale signs ofPROSTATE CANCER

Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine

Difficulty in passing urine

Passing urine more often than usual, especially at night

Pain on passing urine

Blood in the urine or semen

Pain in hip, back & pelvis bones

H


It’s difficult not to notice the lavish motors on either side of the road leading up to Bob Raeburn’s house. A Mini Cooper and a re-cently purchased Mercedes in one driveway

and an Audi TT next to a Jaguar X Type in the next. The village of Froggatt in the Derbyshire countryside is home to stunning scenery and ma-jestic motors.

But Bob would much rather travel around the Peak District with his rescue dog Sophie by his side. The Lurcher cross Labrador has been his companion for just less than a year, but the two have already struck up an unbreakable bond that has helped him to battle one of life’s most chal-lenging diseases.

“She’s very therapeutic for me,” says Bob, as Sophie lays by her owner in his lounge, her paws crossed casually. “She gets me out walking three or four mornings a week and it’s very good for my Parkinson’s.”

Bob, 65, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2003 and admitted having a very difficult time coming to terms with the news.

“In the March of that year I went out to see my sister in Arizona and I couldn’t physically shuffle cards,” he says. “She told me to go and see a doctor and he knew straight away what it was.”

A trip to America the year before had ended with Bob falling backwards without any warning whilst out on a walk. Initial fears of a stroke were dispelled, but in June 2003 a specialist confirmed to Bob that he had Parkinson’s.

Bob Raeburn was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2003. Many would have let their life deteriorate, but Bob chose to fight the disease in every possible way. Even if that eventually meant

Checking into

Wii-Hab

HEALTH


“That’s all I heard,” he says bluntly. “I didn’t listen to the rest of what he said.”

“For a year I was in denial. I was ill with depression in 2001 and I had to retire from the my job at the bank be-cause of it. I think it was then that the Parkinson’s started to take hold.

“It was that year that I got a divorce. I had to start look-ing for happiness and, I wasn’t very happy at that time.”

Having now split from his wife and lost his job to this crippling disease, few envisaged Bob’s remarkable recovery, both mentally and physically, over the past decade.

But he has had to work incredibly hard to achieve the contented life he lives today, and it is all down to his deter-mination to tackle Parkinson’s head on.

“I believe if you can control your mind then you can control your body,” says Bob, giving us just a small idea of much resolve the ex-banker has.

Su Dokus and crosswords keep his mind active along with his continued research on how best to tackle Parkinson’s.

Previous research has claimed that working your heart to 80% of its maximum rate slows down the disease. Which would explain Bob’s jam-packed training regime that he undertakes every day without fail.

On top of his walks with Sophie, he attends the gym three times a week, lifting weights, jogging and swimming. Exercise doesn’t come naturally to him, but he insists the hour and a half work outs are worth it every time.

“When I am swimming I have to tell myself to keep mov-ing,” he says. “Stuff that comes subconsciously to some people I really have to think about it. I have to tell my left leg to keep kicking.

“But after all that I feel normal for a while. I don’t have to tell my muscles to do things because it happens naturally and I can relax for a while.”

With the gym, walking, and even table tennis sessions in his back garden, it’s hard to imagine Bob having the desire to do any more exercise when he has a moment of spare time. The amount of effort he puts into raising awareness of the disease every day must leave him wanting a rest.

But a trip into the kitchen reveals otherwise. Shuffling past his partner Mary, Bob pulls the small television out of the corner and flicks on the switch of his Ninetendo Wii as his relentless daily routine continues.

“I play it more in the winter when I can’t get outside for walks, but it’s good for me so I still play occasionally in the summer,” he says.

The Wii is just another way of nullifying the effects that Parkinson’s has on Bob’s body. The Wii-motion board (a rectangular, scale-like board which the player stands on) helps with balance and stability – one of the main problems for Parkinson’s sufferers.

Having read about the “Wii-hab” three years ago Bob started playing and reaping the benefits straight away. The motion board told him he was leaning to the left, allowing him to adjust his body weight accordingly.

“It’s helped no end,” he says, again refusing to beat around the bush. “A friend of mine and I started up a Wii club to help other Parkinson’s sufferers and you could see the benefits they get from it.

“One woman came and we had to hold her hands while she was on the board. Then after a fortnight she could stand on her own two feet. But we’ve had to stop it because people don’t come and it frustrates the hell out of me.”

Though Parkinson’s has also hampered Bob’s facial expressions, you can feel the frustration coming through in his voice. He doesn’t want Parkinson’s to take its course on anyone and believes sufferers should face the problem rather than bow down to it.

“I’m very competitive and it’s a good aspect of your per-sonality to have when you’re battling this disease.

“There are certain things in life you can’t control and you can’t control Parkinson’s.

“But I choose to fight it.”

If you can control your mind you can control your body

It helped no end...you can see the benefits you get from it

Parkinson’s disease:What you should look forParkinson’s is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Early in the course of the disease, the most obvious symptoms are movement-related, including shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walk-ing and gait. Sleep problems are also a feature of the disease and can be worsened by medica-tions. If you have any of these symptoms then you should book an appointment with your GP.

Checking into

H

Wii-ally addictive: Bob has another session on the Wii


Ways to fend off the condition and prevent it from harming your life

Whether young or old, as human beings we are all prone to forgetting things

from time to time. It could be a wallet, the date of your

son or daughter’s birthday, the name of a newsreader, the car keys, or even your wedding anniversary.

No matter how serious or trivial the short term repercussions may be it is a fact of life that our memories are susceptible to slipping away as we get older.

But what differentiates a simple case of forgetfulness to a serious form of dementia? It is a question that health professionals and sufferers themselves still find difficult to answer.

It is proving to be one of the most strenuous health and social care challenges of the 21st century, as official statistics prove.

The condition puts huge strains on NHS resources and healthcare services, at a time when there are painful and ruthless government cuts.

Dementia costs UK taxpayers over £17bn a year, which is equivalent to the annual government budget for building and maintaining Britain’s road and rail network.

Our aging population could result in this figure rising astronomically, with estimates suggesting that it could cost future generations as much as £50bn in the next 30 years.

A third of men account for cases of all forms of dementia, and over a million people are projected to have a form of the disease by 2021, a figure which could double by 2051.

National campaigns supporting elderly causes are receiving more widespread publicity in the media. The government has reacted by taking

steps to provide funding for research and will increase care and support for those who need it.

Policies implemented today by MPs will have huge implications for future generations. But what are the solutions available today?

Spotting the early signs of the condition, no matter how severe, are crucial in determining the quality of life for sufferers.

Jim Garrett, a 71-year-old retired school headmaster from Wiltshire, is one of more than 750,000 people who suffer from dementia in the UK.

He was diagnosed with ‘mild cogni-tive impairment’ (MCI), a mild form of the disease, at the age of 69.

“Jim did find it difficult to complete some of the most basic everyday tasks. It became a huge battle,” says his wife Hillary, who recalls her husband’s struggle to understand the symptoms

he had been keeping under wraps. “As he was a headmaster for 30

years, he was always mentally so sharp. He never carried around a diary with him because he remembered where staff meetings were being held, or what time a class started, off by heart.

“I never thought he had anything as serious as dementia. But I suspected that something was wrong, and I was afraid to say anything because I didn’t know how he would react.”

Dementia

HORIZON investigates Britain’s growing problem in fighting dementia. Jon Day spoke to a couple who have been affected by the debilitating condition

Coping now: Hillary and Jim Garrett Mrs Garrett believes that there is plenty of help and information widely available on the disease, via books and the internet, but her major difficultly was dealing with the emotional side.

“Families and partners are put in a very difficult position, and I feel that there is little guidance in handling the emotional strain of the condition.

“Eventually I realised that Jim needed help.

“I saw him staring at the kettle one day. He forgot what to do with it.”

Policies implement-ed today will have

huge implications for future generations

Families are put in a difficult position.

There is little help on the emotional side

HEALTH


Mr Garrett knew that memory loss was starting to affect him, and that his condition was worsening. He was afraid to seek help.

“Quite frankly, you feel embarrassed to admit that you need help.

“I was beating myself up inside about my condition. I bottled it up, and became very insular and miserable.

“I tried to find the courage to tell somebody. Months passed by and my life was getting worse.

“Eventually I told my doctor about the issues I was having with my memory at a regular check-up.”

As a result, doctors were able to diagnose Mr Garrett’s condition. “It was the most life-changing doctor’s appointment I ever had.”

There is no cure for dementia, but the process of the condition can be slowed down significantly through a specific drug treatment programme, or through special psychological and musical therapies.

But despite the changes to his life, Mr Garrett has learnt to think posi-tively about the future.

“I take all sorts of tablets now to help me get by, and after nearly two years I am coping extremely well.”

Mr Garrett has also valued the importance of keeping mentally and physically active.

“Jim has always had a passion for reading, so I encouraged him to join the local book club, and he loves it,” says Mrs Garrett.

There is a possibility that his condition will develop from a mild to a severe form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, in the future.

TOP TIPS

The Garrett’s are deeply grateful for the support they received.

“We know that thousands of others like Jim are not so lucky.”

The Alzheimer’s Society, one of the leading dementia charities in the UK, are calling for dementia checks free of charge on the NHS at 75.

They say that only half suffering from the disease get a diagnosis.

“It is a worrying fact,” says Professor Clive Ballard, the charity’s Director of Research.

“Many are missing out on vital healthcare and support that is so critical in diagnosing the disease at the earliest possible stage.

“Dementia is more common in

Keep you brain active

3 ways to help beat back memory loss and keep your mind sharp

1Challenging your brain and mental abilities helps stimulate brain cells and keeps your mind sharp. Whether you like reading, writing, or trying a hand at a new skill, or relearning old ones, they are all ways to give your brain a workout. Brain games and doing puzzles also help. Try to fit these mental challenges into your daily routine at any ability or skill.

Plenty of exercise2Working out can keep blood flowing to the brain, leaving your brain cells well-nourished with oxygen and nutrients. It could be anything from a brisk walk, to a round of golf or swimming.

Staying socially active3Maintaining relationships with others can help improve your mental performance. Social activities often are intellectually stimulating, which prompts good memory function. Friends can provide support when you’re stressed. Research has linked loneliness with an increased risk of memory loss and dementia.

Bring something into your routine that you like. All exercise

greatly helps

those aged over 70, so the only effective way to improve the process of identifying the disease is through screening patients at a specific age.

“A test at 75, which would examine a patient’s mental and physiological condition, would help identify the signs of dementia, before symptoms become any worse.”

The uncertain economic outlook will be a determining factor in how much money the government can put aside for dementia care.

There are many ways to fight off memory loss that naturally occurs with aging, without even going anywhere near a doctor’s surgery, or by taking any pills.

“Even if you do not have an active lifestyle, there are many simple things you can do to help,” says Sue Gillen, from Age UK.

“Bring something into your daily routine, that you enjoy, that requires some form of sustained mental stimulation and physical exercise all helps greatly.

“Engaging in activities such as these will keep your mind focused and physically sharp.”

For free advice on the symptoms of dementia - contact your GP, or visit HORIZON.co.uk

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Useful websites: Alzheimer’s Society: www.alzheimers.org.uk Age UK: www.ageuk.org.uk


With people over 65 at more risk from tooth decay and gum disease than anyone else, Andrew Wheedon speaks to an expert to find out how to reduce to the risks

Many of us have been there – that end-less wait in the reception reading mag-azines that are six months old before being ushered into a cold, sterile, chalk

smelling room only to have somebody standing over you with a vast collection of metal implements. It is hardly a 20-minute period that has you counting down the days until your next appointment.

Dental problems such as gum disease and tooth decay are two of the most common human diseases. In fact, people over 65 with natural teeth have more tooth decay than any other age group. Problems such as bad breath and a dry mouth could be symptoms of more serious health problems. This is why the drag of visiting the dentist is not something that should be put off.

With figures showing that around 67% of people over 65 are struck by the gum disease, there has never has there been a time to suck up the anguish and book that check-up.

So why are so many over 65’s affected by the disease when the chances of getting it are dramatically reduced by brush-ing teeth regularly? ‘The problem lies heavily with a poor diet and a physical difficulty with brushing teeth, says Dr Elaine Tholan, a dentist at Storrington Dental Surgery in West Sussex.

“As people get older, we often see a higher rate of decay

because their diet can go downhill. I often see men in this age category who have a high sugar diet, as it is the easy op-tion, particularly if their spouses have deceased.

“A lack of dexterity can also play a part meaning that many older men can’t brush their teeth as efficiently or as easily.

“This makes it even more imperative that people over 65 have a check-up at their surgery every six months.’

The basis of good dental health starts with healthy gums - but according to the British Dental Health Foundation, 19

In the chair: Dr Elaine Tholan talks to and advises a patient during a routine check-up in West Sussex

‘Open

HEALTH


out of 20 of us will suffer from some form of gum disease during our life. And ignoring the problem can lead to costly dental treatment.

The two main types of gum disease are gingivitis and peri-odontal disease. Gingivitis can be cured, but if left untreated it can turn into the more serious periodontal disease – which causes tooth loss.

Gum disease is caused by plaque – the bacteria that clings to the surface of your teeth and gums and start to cause the

teeth to rot. Blood-stained saliva when you brush your teeth is the first stage, says Sue Edwards of the British Den-tal Health Foundation. “Some people think that they are be-ing too vigorous with their brushing and so ease off it.

“This does more damage to your gums though as the bleeding is a result of bacterial plaque around your teeth. It is a sign that you are not brushing properly.

“Once you start brushing or flossing correctly your gums will stop bleeding within a couple of weeks.”

The grey area of dental treatment prices for people over 65 continues to remain prevalent and is something that needs to be cleared up, says Dr Tholan.

“Many pensioners seem to be of the understanding that because they get free prescriptions, they also get free dental treatment. Unfortunately this is not the case.

“It is not just some pensioners who think it is free though – before the General Election, I even had a politician tell me that he thought it was free!”

Should people over 65 be given free dental check-ups throughout the UK? With the chances of oral health prob-lems rocketing in this age group it is something that the Gov-ernment should look, Dr Tholan adds.

“I would definitely support a free NHS check-up service for people over 65 or at the very least a means tested system so that everybody can afford it.

“Many people in this age group have many other health problems to deal with, and sometimes the dental health is-sues fall down their priority list.

“This shouldn’t happen – there should be more of an in-centive to get a regular check-up.”

There are still thousands of people in the UK who are un-able to find an NHS dentist who they can register with and often find themselves having to go privately for check-ups. There have been improvements to the system and in 2008 a new NHS online directory was launched at http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories. If you are not currently registered with an NHS dentist then type in your postcode to find your nearest practices and at the very least, get yourself put on the waiting list for one.

Gum disease is the main cause of teeth loss and nearly a quarter (23%) of people in the UK over 65 did not have any of their own teeth left in 2009 according to a survey by Age Concern. Despite the added cost - up to £204 on the NHS and an average of £500 privately, dentures can also cause oral sores and can also alter speech. This is another reason for looking after your teeth – otherwise it may be too late to save them.

There are no guarantees that a healthy diet, a regular check-up and brushing your teeth will prevent oral health problems such as gum disease, but for £17 – the cost of a check-up, it does provides a chance to catch the problem early before serious problems occur.

In the chair: Dr Elaine Tholan talks to and advises a patient during a routine check-up in West Sussex

H

wide’

Sir Michael Parkinson talks to chris Conway >>


“T elevision today is poor and it’s a real shame,” says Michael Parkin-

son, “After working in the indus-try for as long as I did, to see it turn into what seems to me to be a constant drivel of reality shows, shopping channels, fly on the wall rubbish, it’s very sad. That’s why I don’t really watch television anymore.”

Known as the ‘King of Chat’, Michael Parkinson or ‘Parky’ as he’s called by friends, family and fans, is still quintessentially cool.

He still has the presence and aura that he used to dominate guests of his show with and even at 76, can still cut a dapper figure in his trademark suits complete with handmade Italian leather brogues.

“I get them from a great little bou-tique,” he says of the shoes looking down at the pair he has on his feet, “I never thought as a youngster growing up in Barnsley that I would one day be able to buy lovely, handmade leather shoes from a boutique.

“Just because I’ve been quite suc-cessful, doesn’t mean I’m any different to who I was,” he says, insisting his Barnsley roots, which included plenty of trips to Oakwell on a Saturday af-ternoon to watch his beloved Barnsley FC play, have not been forgotten.

A Yorkshire lad through and through, it’s clear he hasn’t lost his jagged edges, no more so than when speaking to him on the phone to ar-range our later interview.

“Sir Michael, can I call you back, it’s a really bad line,” I ask him. “Go on then, but hurry up,” he says, “I’ve things to do you know,” before slam-

ming the phone down.When we eventually chat, he’s honest

enough to admit that his ‘bluntness’ as he labels it “is not because of my age, it’s because I’m from Yorkshire,” he says, laughing.

A name that is often used for him is the ‘silver fox of television’, more so now he’s doing adverts for AXA Sun-life, and I ask him what he makes of it.

“I don’t like some of the nicknames I’ve been given over the years,” he says, “but I suppose I am getting on a bit now, so that’s certainly better than being called an old fart.

“I was always brought up to believe being honest got you everywhere. Tell-ing lies or trying to keep people sweet only serves to cause problems for you later on. Besides it’s not in my nature to try and butter people up.

“I’ve never done it and I never did it on the show either because I wouldn’t enjoy doing it, the guests would feel foolish and it’d be very obvious to the audience what I was doing. So I just didn’t do it,” he says.

Born in 1935 in Cudworth, a small mining village in South Yorkshire, Parky’s had one of the most prestig-ious careers in broadcasting and one

that if today’s modern presenters got only a sliver of, they’d still be more than pleased.

Inspired by his father who used to give his cricket match reports to a journalist on a bike, Parky de-cided there and then that was what he wanted to be.

These days to be a journalist a

university degree is required or at least some kind of formal training, but back then, you just needed an established reporter to show you the ropes.

Parky got that in the form of Stan Bristow, a man who would not only become his mentor but a great friend also as the years rolled by.

“Stan had a great influence on me, both when I was a junior reporter and later on, when I was doing ‘Parkinson’. He was a fantastic reporter himself,” he says, “He was organised, efficient, a good communicator, a people’s person and he pretty much taught me every-thing I knew back then.

“He was that good that I believed, and still do today, that he could have gone on to work on any of the na-tional papers.

“But he enjoyed being a local jour-nalist, enjoyed being part of the local community, writing stories about local people and being part of local life.”

Does Parky miss the local life in Barnsley and does he believe that lo-cality helped play a part in his success?

“It was Stan really, without him, I don’t know if I would’ve been as successful. He helped me out greatly when I first started and I owe a lot of

what I know to him. “Stan was one of those people that

would take everything in his stride and was never fazed by problems, a good quality for a reporter to have and I was lucky that he took me under his wing,” he says, smiling.

It’s obvious hearing him talk about Stan, his great mentor, that they >

exclusive


enjoyed a close friendship and that even now, retired and a slower pace of life being enjoyed, Parky still feels a massive debt of gratitude to Stan.

“I would never have imagined that I would have the sort of career I’ve had. Who would?” he says, chuckling.

“Back then I just wanted to do what I thought I would enjoy.

“Being a journalist seemed like a good career. You saw the glamour of it in the Hollywood films, but I knew it wouldn’t always be like that, but I still wanted to do it. It was different too, a lot of people went into manual work, but I always enjoyed what I did,” he says confidently.

He pulls his shirt cuff down, looking at his watch as he does so. It’s clear that even now, retired and ready to enjoy life with his wife Mary, he still enjoys the hustle and bustle of journal-ism and thrives on interviewing and asking questions of people.

“I never thought I would have the kind of success I’ve had when I first set out as a journalist. I came from an ordinary background. I just set out try-ing to work hard so that I could make sure I did well and would do my family proud,” he explains honestly.

Even today, there’s still one moment that stands out for Parky. He reckons it made him who he would later be-came as a reporter. He looks pensive as he sits and he starts to brush at his royal-blue, silk tie.

There’s nothing on it, but clearly what he wants to say is difficult for him. He leans forward and looks up, pursing his lips. As he does, a faint smell of cologne suddenly becomes present in the air.

“There was a difficult situation once…” he starts, but then trails off. “Well, basically, I told a mum her son had died. With any job there are good parts and bad parts and that moment for me was definitely one of the bad ones,” he says, looking crestfallen.

“It helped me grow both as a person and a reporter and it was certainly an experience. Luckily it was an experi-ence I didn’t have to repeat again mind. It was strange.

“When the telegram came through, we just assumed she would already know, so to knock on the door and be

greeted the way we were was unex-pected and a little difficult.”

Difficult situations are luckily not something Parky has ever had to deal with frequently.

He reminds me he’s only ever had to deal with one other ‘difficult’ situation in his life, before intimating he actually means a specific person.

I know immediately he’s referring to THAT interview with Meg Ryan on his famous, Parkinson, show.

Clearly his willingness to mention it suggests he feels the need to explain what happened when the two of them came to sit opposite one another, in those now immortal purple chairs.

“Everyone saw what happened. It was incredibly awkward. She was booked and we all expected her to be

great, but frankly she was anything but,” he says.

Parky grimaces, clearly failure, espe-cially in such an important aspect of his career, is also difficult for him.

“She just didn’t seem interested and I tried everything I could to bring the interview back round, to get her back onside, but it just didn’t happen.”

I ask him if he was upset by it, because before Meg Ryan, Parky had always appeared to enjoy a rapport with the vast majority of his guests.

“No,” he stresses. His tone is sud-denly guarded.

“I wasn’t upset by it, I was disap-pointed,” he explains. “People say it was my fault, but I just did my research for it as I would’ve any other guest. >

Arise Sir Parky: Receiving his knigthood in 2008 with his wife Mary

EXCLUSIVE


“I think the problem was that she was on her guard from the off.

“No matter what I’d asked her, she clearly didn’t want to be sat in the chair with me, doing the show and talk-ing about the erotic love scenes she’d performed in the movie she was there to promote.”

We quickly move on, because his story is a fascinating one. A reporter for the South Yorkshire Times, he covered all aspects of local life before moving into television for the then burgeoning Granada TV in 1969.

Although he’s clearly been ambitious throughout his life, television is a far cry from covering local council meet-ings and even Parky admits he was very lucky back then.

“TV was one of those things I just stumbled into. In those days to work in TV you couldn’t just start out in TV. If you wanted to be a broadcast journalist or a presenter or a chat show host or whatever, you first had to be a newspaper reporter.

“I was working on Fleet Street by the time I was 23, so I’d had some good experiences,” he says.

“TV was never something I thought about doing, it was more a case of something I just fell into, but I enjoyed it and made the most of it.”

“Cinema was something that we felt was needed at the time” he says.

Fast forward a few years and it was time to sit down with some serious heavyweights in the dual worlds of entertainment and sport. Mohammed Ali, Orson Welles, John Wayne, David Beckham and Denzel Washington to name but a few.

“Don’t forget Meg Ryan too,” he says grinning. Clearly at 76 he still has a sense of humour, something he’s keen to stress he feels is as important as his own personal health and fitness.

We quickly veer off and onto the subject of health, as I ask him how his is. As a journalist himself, he under-stands people want to know certain things and he admits he’s been very lucky with his health.

I put to him that if he has any tips or secrets for the reason why he’s re-mained relatively healthy even now, at 76, that he must share them.

“I just eat what I want to,” he says rather boldly.

“I know that probably doesn’t sound good, but I’m 76. If I want chips, I have chips. I’ve never been particu-larly big or had a weight problem, so I don’t worry at all about what I’m eat-ing. I just try to enjoy myself.

“I have a personal trainer who I

work with three times a week, so that keeps me healthy, in good shape, so that I can carry on doing what I want to do for that bit longer.

“I do take my health seriously though, that’s why I work with the trainer every week, although like I said before, I just eat what I want to, when I want to. I don’t worry.

“Even if I couldn’t afford the train-er, I’d just try to stay active as much as I could by walking or perhaps even cycling, because I used to enjoy that a lot when I was younger.

“I don’t play sport now like I used to. The one sport I play very occa-sionally is golf, but that’s only really when I get the time and I don’t get as much time these days as you might think I do.

“I don’t even have a particularly good handicap….” I interrupt him to scoff and playfully suggest that many people would kill for his handicap.

“I play off 24 at the moment,” he says, making it his turn to scoff.

“In the past when I had more time and I could play and practice, I had a lower handicap but now, I only play

when I’ve got some spare time, so my handicap’s gone back up.

“I’d love to get it down again, but that’ll come at a time when I’ve got more time on my hands.”

During his time as host of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Parky got the unique opportunity to speak to the then England Football manager, Bobby Robson.

As a fan of sport, I suggest to him that he must’ve really enjoyed it.

“Desert Island Discs was a great three years for me. As a fan of sport, it was great to be able to speak to the England manager, let alone about his favourite music,” he says.

“Bobby was a great man, a gentle-man and a fantastic talker. He would always inquire how you were, even if he’d never met you before and would always give you as much time as he could and sometimes even more.”

As we sit and talk, I study him. He’s smaller in real life than he used to look on ‘Parkinson’, but his facial features are just as distinguished.

“Have we covered everything?” he says jovially. “Not quite” I reply.

Our digression onto the small matter of his health means we forgot to talk about some of his favourite guests from his ‘Parkinson’ days.

“Where should I start, there were so many,” he says, sighing.

Although it would be easy to call him arrogant, especially after the career he’s had, he shows no signs of it whatsoever and I suggest he starts off talking about some of the guests that really ‘wowed’ him.

“Orson Welles was fantastic,” he says. Welles famously told Parky to throw away his prepared questions so they ‘could talk’.

“I couldn’t quite believe it when he said that,” he says, “I was a little bit shocked and flabbergasted. I was very nervous, here I was interviewing this great man and he wanted me to lose my questions.

“I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I took a gamble and thankfully it worked.

“We spoke and he answered my questions that I asked him as part of our conversation and thankfully I think it was still something that the viewers could enjoy.”

Are there any other guests that stand out for Parky?

“John Wayne was good. He was

quiet and I had to work hard to get answers from him, but again it was a very rich and rewarding interview with him, as someone I’d seen in all these cowboy films.

“He certainly wasn’t anything like his character in True Grit.” He smiles.

“Mohammed Ali was and still is the most remarkable man I’ve ever met and interviewed.

“He had an aura about him, but I also thought he was a bit of a prat,” he says, this time back in the bluntness he attributes to his Yorkshire roots.

“He swaggered onto the set and sometimes tried to dodge questions or tried to lead the interview in a differ-ent direction, but when he spoke, you listened. It was all you could do.

“I interviewed him four times and each time he won. He was always hon-est and would always answer whatever question I asked him.

“He understood people were curious about him and hearing what he had to say and every time he delivered.

“As a man he had a remarkable life and some terrific achievements in sport. I mean this when I say it, it truly is still a privilege to have met him, let alone been able to interview him.”

I could say the same of you, Parky. H


Cycling? Swimming?

1 0

Swimming Cycling

1 1

Swimming Cycling

1 2

Swimming Cycling

WELL-BEING

Health

Calorie Burn

EnjoymentBoth are low-impact exercises – water supports you while swim-ming; and during a bike ride your weight is taken by the seat and han-dlebars. Good news for the joints. Weight-bearing exercises are best for preventing osteoporosis.How healthy cycling is for you depends on where you cycle. If you cycle in busy traffic you're putting both your lungs and heart at risk. Blood vessel damage can occur up to six hours after exposure to high pollution levels. In a swim-ming pool you may not suffer from air-borne pollutants instead you’re more likely to encounter things such as veruccas and athlete's foot, oh and the occasional plaster. Neither swimming nor cycling will

burn many calories unless you do it at speed. If your cycling style is more tortoise than hare, you'll burn nearly 200 times fewer calories for every 30 minutes you ride. It’s exactly the same in the water. Cruising through the water like a swan will burn about 100 fewer calories than vigorous swim-ming for 30 minutes. If you do enjoy a good dip, try and find a heated pool. Swimming in cool water increases ap-petite and you’re more likely to hit the take away on the way back home.

Unless you’re in the gym, when cy-cling the scenery is constantly chang-ing. Swimming on the other hand has a sense of deja vu. Cycling also allows for companionship. Attempting a conversation while swimming is likely to result in a mouthful of water. If you're stressed and need time alone, swimming is the perfect remedy as it eases tension.

Every month Horizon finds out which exercise really is best for you

AND THE GOLD MEDAL

GOES TO

cycling


Exercise 1 Calf Raises

Hold your arms in front of you, with your fingertips rest-ing on the top of the chair.

Raise up on to your tip-toes, so both heels are off the ground.

Hold for 10 seconds.Slowly lowering your heels

back down. Repeat this 10 times.

Increase intensity: Let go of the chair and use your balance.

Working: Ankles, calves and balance.

TIP: Move both your ankles up and down in sync.

Exercise 2 Lunges Stand behind the chair with

both legs in front of you and feet pointing forward.

Move your left leg back-wards touching your toes on the floor.

Bring your left leg back to it’s starting position.

Repeat this 10 times.

Increase intensity: Move your back leg futher away.

Working: Hip flexor.

TIP: DON’T bounce with your back foot.

C air Aerobics

LEGS AND BACK

By

Ross Edgley

(Celeb and YourGym.tv personal trainer)


Exercise 3 Flamingo stance

Stand behind the chair with both legs in front of you and feet pointing forward.

Using the chair to balance take your left foot and place it on your right ankle.

Hold for 10 seconds. Change to the other leg and

repeat the same steps. Repeat this twice.

Increase intensity: Release one arm or both from the chair.

Working: Posture and balance.

TIP: Keep your head facing forward and your chin up.

Exercise 4 Back bend Step a small distance away

from the chair. Place your arms down your

side and bend at the abdomen towards the chair.

When you chin is nearly touching the top of the chair, stop and hold for 5 seconds.

Then come back up slowly before bending back down again.

Repeat this twice.

Increase intensity: Reduce the time it takes to come back up.

Working: Lower back.

TIP: DON’T bounce up and down.

Snack attack: keep it lightInstead of having large meals at a single sitting try snacking throughout the day to boost your body’s nutrient intake. A few ideas for quick and nourishing snacks:

Sandwiches filled with cooked meat, bacon, tinned fish, cheese or peanut butter. Use different breads for variety and add pickles, relish and sauces.

Toast with pilchards, sardines, beans, cheese, ravioli, tinned spaghetti or well-cooked eggs. Crackers or digestive biscuits topped with cheese, toasted crumpets, teacakes, yoghurt, fruit, malt

loaf, fruit cake, breakfast cereals or soup

WELL-BEING


Ain’t no mountain high enough

Birthday celebrations come in many forms - parties, a nice meal out, a night in with the family. But not many people choose to mark their special occasion with a 14,000 feet climb. Horizon’s Chris McKay spoke to one man who did just that

Walking up the unlit driveway nothing struck me as different to any other house in the street. Freshly cut grass in the front garden reminded me of

the professionally pruned lawns at the Chelsea Flower Show. Hanging blossom from the cherry tree created a whirlpool of white petals. An elderly figure greeted me at the black wrought iron gate, ushering me in with a welcoming smile. “I would shake your hand but I’ve been doing some DIY and got some muck on mine,” he says.

His conservatory was clean, tidy, smelt like lemon pledge and was covered with photos and ornaments, each with their own little place on glass tables. There were pictures of him meeting Prince Charles, a family group photograph of him, his wife and his two children and picturesque shots from his extensive travels. In the corner of the room a vase of flowers he bought his wife for their golden wedding anniversary. “Would you like a cup of tea?” he says, packing up his rucksack

Dr Graham White isn’t your average pensioner. Born in Birmingham and now living in a small semi-detached house in Ecclesall, he was the founder of Medical Aid to Poland Foundation, which, over the years, has transported over £2m of life saving equipment from English hospitals to 57 hospitals in Poland. He was also the Polish Consulate in Sheffield and he set himself a personal target that most people a third of his age would struggle with, taking him away from roads, healthcare and oxygen.

He has just climbed the Himalayas for the second time in his life, and reached the dizzy heights of 14,000 feet. Gra-ham took me around one of his regular walks in Ecclesall Woods as he explained why he wanted to tackle the Nepa-lese mountain range for the second time.

As he loosened his Sheffield University jumper from his light-weight trousers, he sa he had two main reasons.

“I reached the grand old age of 75 and thought I was in reasonable good health. I was planning on doing it any-way so decided to raise money in the process. I was also celebrating my 50 years of teaching Dental Material Science and Dental Technology.”

In between greeting other walkers Graham explained why he chose to raise money on his climb for a favourite charity. “Weston Park Hospital is only one of three dedicated cancer charities in the whole

Twice in a life-time: Two children hold-ing their new toothbrushes (right top)Graham stood in front of Mount Everest (right bottom)


of the UK,” Graham says. “My wife has had treatment there and I wanted to give something back. It’s not just the research. The front of house care and all the nurses are bril-liant too.”

He has surpassed the target of £750, with Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, donating and wishing him the best of luck on his JustGiving webpage.

We got to an opening where the woods met the main road and started talking about the preparation Graham did for his trek back in 2010.

“I started off by doing a couple of shorter walks a week, about six or seven miles around Sheffield. The idea isn’t to do it quickly but to keep up the same pace all the way round. It’s about endurance.”

Asked whether the walks he went on prepared him for the difficulty of the Himalayas, Graham told me that noth-ing could truly compare to the dangerous paths of his trip. “If you’re on a path and a yak train starts heading towards you, you move out the way otherwise they will just push you off the cliff.

“All the paths are dangerous. There were no roads, no paths, just rough dangerous terrain and rocks with rope bridges that crossed huge gorges.”

After doing two walks a week, for a month he increased the intensity to prepare him for his trek. “After a while I would do three walks a week, two shorter ones and a longer one on the weekend,” he says. “It would be about 17 miles and I set off about 10 in the morning and got back just before dinner.”

Dr White pointed to the sky, “See how our sky has a grey tint to it? Well in the Himalayas it’s completely clear.” A small sparrow flew past. “In this country you can see that bird, not perfectly though. In the Himalayas the sky is crisp and so clear. You can make out birds and trees in the distance and see the mountains in so much detail, even if they’re on the horizon.”

Graham’s advice is to do the walks with a friend, not only for safety but for motivational reasons

too. “I have a walking companion just up the road who was a profes-sor too,” he says. “Until he hurt his knee we would do the walks together, we forced each other to get up and go.”

The sky is crisp and so clear, you can make out

birds in the distance

Suddenly, he tripped over a small rock and stumbled, us-ing his walking pole to steady himself. “That was lucky”, he says, “I knew there was a reason I always carried this pole with me.”

I found it fascinating that even when he’s only doing small walks he wears all his specialist gear. “You have a dif-ferent walking style when you wear all this stuff and use the pole,” he explained. “It also prepares you for when you get to the mountain because this is what you’re going to have to be carrying so you might as well get used to it.”

We started our walk back to his house and Graham ex-plained that no matter how old someone is the dangers of the walk could still affect them.

“Age wasn’t really an issue, the dangers such as altitude sickness don’t vary depending on age,” he says. “As we walked we weren’t split into groups depending on age. There was camaraderie between the group and we all looked out for each other. We suffered with staggered sleeping but no altitude sickness.”

We sipped on a bottle of water Graham brought with him as he told me how strict the guides were when it came to taking on fluids. “They made us drink water every couple of hours because that high up and with all the walking you lose so much water. We also had acclimatisation days where we would stay at one level for a couple of days, walking up and then coming back down to the same height to sleep.”

Being a professor in dentistry Graham was keen to do something different while he was on the walk. “As well as taking all my food, water, clothing and the essential items I took 100 toothbrushes and gave them to children along the way.” He says he had seen these two children and asked his guide if he could give them a toothbrush each. The guide shouted to their mum, who was collecting water from a pressured tap that fed water directly from a spring in the mountain. “The toothbrushes might not seem very important but they are helpful to these little villages and it’s something I wanted to do as a personal thing. Most places in the Himalayas are three days away from a doctor and five days away from a dentist,” he says.

“I was only there for a week walking, these people are there for their entire life and it’s remarkable when you see the terrain and the paths they have to walk down. You have to really see it to believe it.”

As we sat down for a coffee and a glass of Sheffield’s soft water back in the conservatory, he told me that he would recommend the experience to anyone of any ability. “Walk-ing is like skiing, they have different gradients and the more you do, the more experienced you become,” he says. “If you go with a reputable trekking company they’ll give you a questionnaire to fill in and recommend walks you would find comfortable or challenging based on your ability.”

Dr White hasn’t finished yet though. He is planning another trip to the Himalayas in October and this time will try and make it to the next level, reaching Farak Ri at 15,300 feet. Who knows, I might even go with him.

To donate to Graham and see more pictures of his trip log on to www.horizon.co.uk/news and follow the links.

Most places in the Himalayas are three days

away from a doctor

Photo album: Nepalese holy man (Left top) and (left bot-

tom) Mach-apuchare, Fishtail mountain. (Below) Bud-dhist Stupa or temple at Boudhanath

FEATURE

H


‘It was supposed to be a fun run’

Described as a “major event” by Brendan Foster, it’s safe to say such hyperbole from

the former distance runner is not born out of arrogance, but appreciation.

He sits down in an armchair at the Gateshead Hilton, tapping his feet as

he surveys the room. As he does, he fiddles with his bow tie, clearly finding it uncomfortable.

“I hate wearing these things,” he says, meaning the bow tie that sits an equal distance between the silk lapels of his clearly expensive dinner suit.

“Anyway,” he goes on “We’re really pleased. It’s been the biggest event of its kind, since it first started in 1981,

so it’s a great event. The event actually happens because Tyneside says ‘come up, join us and take part,’ so it’s not re-ally us that organises the Great North Run, it’s the public that organises it.

“It’s a real privilege to say thank you and well done to everyone that does the run and the fact that it gets more and more people wanting to do it every year just makes me very proud,

Chris Conway speaks to Kevin Keegan and Brendan Foster about the Great North Run, and how it maintains it’s appeal year-after-year whilst showcasing some very special people

FEATURE


not only for myself, but for each and every one of them.

“It’s great that over the years we’ve had all kinds of people take part in it, from Prime ministers to famous sports people, like for example Kevin Keegan, who’s here tonight.”

As he says those last two words, it’s almost as if someone blew a whis-tle, because suddenly Kevin Keegan appears out of a throng of fans, autograph hunters, journalists and well-wishers. The former manager of England, Manchester City and New-castle United strides across the room with a face that can only be likened to grey thunder-clouds.

KK, as he’s affectionately known on Tyneside, is best thought of for his positivity, yet as he wanders across the grand room which is positively awash with people enjoying themselves, he looks greatly unhappy.

Only when he starts to talk does it become clear why.

“I’ve slopped red wine down my fa-vourite tie” he says. Luckily enough he sees the funny side and smiles before letting out a chuckle and looking at Brendon, who’s sat beside him.

“That’s typical of you,” Brendan says shaking his head with mock disgust.

Keegan smiles. He has a warm, wel-coming face. Although he’s spent his whole life involved in the game, it’s not his face that gives away his age. It’s his hair. The once famous perm is now gone, replaced by a short, spiked cut, that is completely white.

“It’s silver actually,” Keegan says laughing loudly. “Or at least, that’s

what I tell my wife Jean.” As he settles into the plush leather

chair, his nose twitches. There’s a smell of aftershave around.

“It’s not Brut,” Keegan says, “I couldn’t tell you what it is though, the wife bought me it. I do like it though. I save it for special occasions and tonight’s pretty special to me.

King Kev is in the North East to be inducted into the Great North Run hall of fame, after taking part in the first ever run in 1981.

“Brendan here, he did me up like a kipper,” Keegan says waving his thumb

in Brendan’s direction, “because the only thing he’d told me was that it was a bloody fun run.

“I was with Southampton at the time and there wasn’t a lot of fun when I was running thirteen miles and it was quite a hot day. I did enjoy it though.

“That’s why I’m here tonight, to honour the people that don’t get the limelight, but do such a fantastic job. The Great North Run is a superb event that allows people of all ages and fitness levels to run, not only to prove a point to themselves, but to raise money for some great causes too.

“It was good being part of the first ever great North Run. I was pretty fit then, obviously, because I was still playing at my peak. I wore half a Newcastle strip and half a Sunderland strip (below), half of the shorts were black and half were red, and it was great fun. I got a great reception too, which was great.”

KK shifts in his seat. He looks about to speak, but instead, gets up. A small group of men has gathered nearby and have been trying to get Keegan’s attention for the last few minutes. Out comes a pen and KK starts signing away, posing for photos and having a laugh with the group.

“He denies it, but he loved it really,” Brendan says as he watches Keegan having a laugh with the group of very eager fans.

KK reappears. “Enjoy that, did you?” Brendan says sarcastically.

“There’s always autograph collec-tors,” Keegan says as he sits back down, “but I don’t mind that at all.

“One of them I’ve just signed a book for has a grey beard now but I knew him when he was a kid, so that tells you something about how long he’s been collecting autographs.”

For all Keegan’s not as lean as he once was, he is still appears in great shape for his age.

“I still try to keep fit. I still run. I’ve just come back from America where I was running seven or eight miles a day, so I’m in decent shape,” Keegan says.

Keegan is magnanimous in his praise for the Great North Run and the work Brendan Foster puts in organising it every year, but he smirks when asked

if he’ll be running it again this year.

“Maybe now at sixty-odd I’m a bit too old for it?

“I’m only kidding, I’d love to do it again

at some point, maybe challenge

him,” Keegan says, nodding his head in Brendan’s direc-tion.

“I’d like to see you try,” Brendan says coyly. KK smiles.

“If he did it again I’d take him on, he’s always beat me but I’d like to

beat him,” Keegan says, “Mind you, I’d

probably have to wait until he’s about ninety, because he still looks like he could run a bit.”

In the now famous words of Keegan, we’d “love it.”

That’s why I’m here tonight, to honour

the people that don’t get the limelight, but do such a fantastic

job

In for the long-haul: The route the runners take on the Great North Run

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‘Looking at the the sunset in

40 JULY 2011 HORIZON.co.uk

In April, terrorists bombed a cafe in Marrakesh’s main square, killing 25 people and injuring many more.

Arrests have been made and the UK government advises caution when travelling. But don’t be put off by the recent headlines. From the moment you see that pinkish Marrakesh landscape, you will be entranced by one of the world’s most colourful, noisy and crazi-est cities.

Marrakesh is spectacularly hectic - if you think London was busy, then get ready for this striking city to obliter-ate your image of ‘hustle and bustle’ – Central Marrakesh makes Piccadilly Circus look like a sleepy Cumbrian vil-lage. Taxi drivers treat their beige 1980 Mercedes Benz like McLaren F1s and Vespas weave in and out of donkey carts and people.

Within seconds you will learn a new word which is probably best adhered to – ‘Balek!’ which means ‘move it or lose it, donkey coming past!’

Even with all the buzz of the market place, a relaxing city break is almost a guarantee – it isn’t the hippie town we all read about in the sixties, but instead

is a now a magical resort for people of any age.

With many of the hotels, guest man-sions and riads (Moroccan palaces with a courtyard) located about two kilome-tres away from the centre, it is possible to escape from the adrenaline soaked labyrinthine alleyways and streets.

A place that can be explored alone, as a couple, or as a group, the Pink City of-fers something for every person seeking rich Arabic culture. The focal point of Marrakesh is the Jemaa el-Fna square, situated next to the impressive Koutou-bia mosque which serves as an impor-tant reminder of the city’s main faith of Islam. Standing at 221 ft tall, the Hispano-M a u r -e s q u e piece of a r ch i t ec -ture also helps tourists to regain their bearings after becoming engulfed in the maze of souqs (covered market streets) that make Marrakesh so distinctive.

It is the perfect city to visit once you’ve retired, says John Crossman, 70, who owns a riad just outside the Jemaa el-Fna square. Three years ago, he visit-

ed Marrakesh with his wife, and within 18 months he had started up his own business there. “It has got everything you need for a short break with beauti-ful culture and the weather is excellent.

“The city was in a state of shock after the terrorist attack, but the authorities have worked hard to make it safe again.

“Unfortunately terrorist bombs are a real threat all over the world - it shouldn’t just put you off Morocco.

“Whether you want to explore the Atlas Mountains or just spend a few days visiting the fascinating Souqs and relaxing then you won’t be disappoint-ed by Marrakesh.”

You haven’t seen Marrakesh until you’ve explored the Souqs – the experi-ence can be com-pared to jumping into an icy plunge pool - you can

brace for it, but nothing quite prepares you for the shock as you enter. Despite the streets being as narrow as a pave-ment, motorbikes still snake in and out of pedestrians at high speed.

Corny phrases like ‘cheap as chips’ and ‘not Primark quality’ are at best amusing and at worst mildly irritating.

It is the perfect to city to visit once you’ve retired

Andrew Wheeldon travels to Marrakesh after the April terrorist attack - the place made famous by Crosby, Stills & Nash to discover why 10 million tourists will still visit the city this year

‘Looking at the the sunset in

Andrew Wheeldon travels to Marrakesh after the April terrorist attack - the place made famous by Crosby, Stills & Nash to discover why 10 million tourists will still visit the city this year


Either way it only adds to the carnival-like atmosphere.

With over 3000 alleys all thought-fully divided up into sections, it is like walking through an ancient department store. You go from the clothes sec-tion, to the herb and spice area before ending up in Souq Haddine where the blacksmiths work tirelessly to trans-form scrap metal into a masterpiece. Simply soak up the noise of the hun-dreds of vendors vying for your atten-tion and custom.

The spice souq is a must-see, with its enchanting colours and smells through the freshly dyed saffron and paprika that clings to your nostrils with every step. The beauty of these souqs is that they are not just there for tourists. You are not constantly harassed to look at a pair of fake sunglasses because this is the place that keeps much of the liveli-hood of Marrakesh going. The streets are packed with local men and beauti-fully dressed women all buying goods to keep their family and businesses functioning which is perhaps what gives it its majestic, rustic feel. At night

the Medina Quarter becomes a haven for snake charmers and story tellers where the noise of pungis (flute-like instruments) echoes around the square.

The foot of the High Atlas moun-tains are just 20 kilometres from the centre of Marrakesh and a trip in a

4x4 jeep is the perfect way to experience the traditional Berber culture – the first set-

tlers in Morocco, in 3000BC. The indigenous people make up 40%

of the country’s population and wel-come visitors to their home to sample freshly made green tea and macaroon biscuits. Several reputable companies offer trips, complete with an English speaking guide and range from a day trip to a week-long expedition.

The remoteness of the mountains re-mained virtually unexplored until 1960 and life for many villages has barely changed for centuries. The foothills provide an idyllic retreat away from the madness of Marrakesh. Those wishing for the royal treatment can even spend a night in Sir Richard Branson’s Casbah hotel, for £750 for the night – breakfast

is included though!No trip to Marrakesh would be com-

plete without a visit to the traditional Hammam Spas. Whether or not you would visit a health resort in the UK, many tourists want to immerse them-selves in the relaxing regime that Ber-ber men and women have stuck to for a millennium. You will find the tradi-tional bathhouses located on almost every street but Horizon recommends Les Bains De Marrakesh, a beautiful old Casbah, completed with a 21st cen-tury design finish. Naturally it won’t be everybody’s idea of enjoyment to be lathered in black Moroccan beldi soap, given a full body massage, and coated in local clay, but it is certainly an experi-ence worth trying.

The people of Marrakesh do not just take pride in their own appearance. The customer services is excellent every-where and clean streets free from lit-ter is the norm. If you decide to visit the city, you will certainly be welcomed with open arms.

Read our 5-day travel itinerary and watch Andrew’s video diary at www.horizon.co.uk/travel

TRAVEL

The freshly dyed saffron clings to your nostrils

world throughyour eyes’

H


Made in

MoroccoCheap and easy ways to replicate the best of North African cuisine

After HORIZON took a trip to Marrakesh we experimented in making Moroccan food in our own homes. And it wasn’t as complicated as we thought. Here’s how you can create a cheap, mouth watering, three course Moroccan dinner this summer.

These kebabs are the closest thing to the ones served at the many booths that set up in the Jemaa el Fna at dusk.

1. Place the lamb cubes in a shallow dish with all the other ingredi-ents. Toss well and leave to stand for two hours.

2. Thread the meat onto metal skewers about six to eight pieces per kebab.

3. Place the kebabs about 5 to 10cm away from the heat source, either grill or barbeque.

4. Cook until browned and turn over. The lamb should be cooked through but still juicy.

5. Sprinkle each kebab with a small amount of cayenne, cumin and salt to your taste, bearing in mind the heat of the cayenne. Serve hot with bread. Serves six. Time: 20 mins Cost: £15

Starter: Skewered and grilled lamb

TRAVEL


Made in

MoroccoMain: Chicken tagine with dates

This wonderful, comfort laden tagine is a sure fire way to keep you warm should the summer sun not be enough.

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan stir in the onions and cook until soft and coloured. Add the garlic and ginger and cook gently for a minute. Stir in the cinnamon and tip into a tagine or casserole dish.

2. Brown the chicken in the same saucepan. Transfer to the tagine.

3. Add the stock to the chicken and onion mixture in the tagine and stir well. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4. Put in the oven, medium heat, 190C, for about 60 to 90 minutes

5. Remove tagine from oven and add the dates, lemon juice and or-ange blossom water. Stir well and return to the oven for 20 minutes, until the dates are soft, and the sauce is a nice consistency.

6. Serve with roasted vegetables and couscous. Serves four. Time: 20 mins Cost: £12

Vegetarian: Grilled auberginesThis sweet, sticky, spicy dish has a fantastically decedent qual-ity to it. One of the best ways to have aubergine, and if you can get hold of the baby ones even better.

1. Preheat the grill or griddle. Dip each aubergine slice in olive oil and cook in a pan either under the grill or in a griddle pan. Turn the slices so they are lightly browned on both sides.

2. In a wide frying pan, fry the garlic in a little olive oil for a few seconds, then stir in the ginger, cumin, harissa, honey and lemon juice. Add enough water to cover the base of the pan and to thin the mixture, then lay the aubergine slices in the pan.

3. Cook the aubergines gently for about ten minutes, or until they have absorbed all the sauce.

4. Serve with chunks of fresh bread to mop up the juices. Serves four. NB. Shown here with pork and tomato sauce. Time: 18 mins Cost: £6

Dessert: Oranges with cinnamonThis classic Moroccan dessert is a light palate-cleansing end to a Moroccan meal.

1. Peel the oranges, cutting away all of the pith.

2. Cut the oranges across into fine slices and arrange on a plate.

3. Drizzle over the orange flower water, sprinkle over the icing sugar, and dust with half of the cinnamon.

4. Chill well before serving. Just before serving dust with the remaining cinnamon and decorate with a few sprigs of mint. Serves four.Time: 15 mins Cost: £4 H


A bridgetoo far?

Known around the world as one of the most popular and challenging card games ever, Horizon sent Tom Leese to find out just how hard bridge really is

ou would be forgiven for thinking you had just walked into an ancient library

- groups of people with fur-rowed brows deep in thought. The silence was deafening, but there was a friendly air about the building, an 18th Century detached house in a leafy Shef-field suburb.

On the second of three floors there were yet more stern faces but a couple of left turns and the atmos-phere changed from that of concen-tration to an air of relaxation. There I stood – faced by a collection of bridge beginners. Needless to say, I felt much more at home.

“They are the serious ones round there,” said Gill Woodcock pointing down the stairs from where I had just come from. “You get some very competitive players, but these people play a little slower.”

Mrs Woodcock is teaching one of the oldest card games still popular today. It was derived from Russian Whist, the origins of which can be traced back to the early 1600s. The antiquated game evolved over the years and eventually gave us bridge, a pastime enjoyed by more than 200 million people worldwide.

With the average age of the English Bridge Union being 55, you would assume that bridge is a game

played solely by older generation. Some say the card game has an image problem, but Ian Johnson, another helper at the club, disagrees.

“I think most people find a new interest when they retire and bridge keeps the mind active,” he said with an enthusiastic smile. “There is also a certain amount of social interaction. You get to meet people from all walks of life.

“But you can play it no matter what age you are,” adds Mrs Woodcock who also agrees. “If you start playing it at a young age you can progress really fast and be a good player in no time.”

The conversation stops at this point for Mrs Woodcock to remind a player to hold her cards a little closer to her chest. So immersed in thinking about her next move, she had forgotten the first rule of nearly every card game. I

Y

Play your cards right: How a bridge table looks towards the game’s end

LIFESTYLE


was soon to sympathise with her.There were three tables of four

people in the beginners’ section with a further four tables around the corner and at least eight more downstairs. Out of roughly fifty players at Sheffield Bridge Club that warm Tuesday night, only a handful were under 50.

I had heard that it was not the easiest game to grasp, and Mrs Woodcock had no reservations in explaining the com-plexity of what she was teaching. I was starting to see why there are so many nervous expressions on every table.

“It’s great fun, it really is, but I’ve been playing thirty years and I’m still learning” she is quick to point out.

“You learn one layer of the game and you master that then you learn another then another. No matter how long you play, you never stop learning.”

A week before Mrs Woodcock’s words of wisdom I picked up “Bridge for Beginners” by Victor Mollo & Nico Gardener. I needn’t have bothered. Two pages in and I had already confused my dummies with my defenders. Having had no experience of playing the game before, I feared that the hour watching others diligent-ly playing the game would be rather pointless and I would trundle home none the wiser.

Mr Johnson invited me onto a table that was just about to start a board – each player had been dealt thirteen cards and were about to start the bid-

ding. The four players were split into two pairs, and they sat opposite each other before having to work together to beat the other two players.

This table was a battle of the sexes with Elaine Carver and Anne Jennings taking on John Huggins and Guillaune, a young Frenchman who was enjoying his first experience at Sheffield Bridge Club.

“The worst part is the bidding,” he said, before rolling his eyes and shak-ing his head. “Everything else isn’t as tough to get the hang of but I found the bidding very difficult to start with.”

The players looked at their hand of regular cards, mused for a minute, and began playing bidding cards - one to seven of each suit. The higher the bid, the more confident that player was of winning.

“It is like a message, you are communicating without speaking,” said Mrs Carver. “You have got to cal-culate how many tricks you and your partner have between you.”

“Which I have failed miserably to do,” said Mrs Jennings, as it becomes clear that their opposition hold the better hands.

Now a step-by-step guide as to how play unfolded:

1) Guillaune won the bid and his partner Mr Huggins laid out his hand on the table for all to see.

2) Mrs Jennings, on Guillaune’s left,

then put a card on the table.3) Mr Huggins is then told what to

play by his partner (a card of the same suit).4) Mrs Carver, pausing for a mo-

ment’s thought, plays her card before Guil-laune does the same, which happens to be the highest of the four.

5) The highest card wins the trick, or hand, and the process is repeated until all the cards have been played.

It seems simple, and play is at a healthy pace until it comes down to the final few cards. Guillaune pauses with a nervous grin on his face before unconfidently playing a nine of Hearts.

“He’s trying to remember if all the higher cards of that suit have gone,” said Mrs Carver, explaining the thought process behind her opponent’s seemingly risky play. “And he’s got it spot on,” she said as Guillaune and Mr Huggins win the trick and complete their victory for that board.

And finally it became clear why you could hear nothing but the tick of the Grandfather’s clock as you entered the building. You could have been at

the Crucible, watching the black ball trickling along the baize towards the pocket facing an agonising wait to see if it would go in to win the match. At times the tension was almost unbearable. The game

requires all the concentration you can muster, and not forgetting a very impressive memory. There’s simply no time for chit-chat.

The boys clearly took great satis-faction out of their win. Bridge is a difficult game to master and few reach the very top echelons, however judging by the delighted faces once the final round is won or lost, you can see just why so many millions of people love the ancient game.

“I did it because I retired and it is one of the things in life that I had never done,” said Mr Huggins “And you do get all apprehensive when you play but you never get bored with it because you never quite learn every-thing about the game.”

And that is why bridge appeals to so many people. The game can be as sim-ple or as complex as you want it to be.

It is easy to understand why the peo-ple of Sheffield gather at Thornsett Road for their nightly match-ups. As the evening draws to a close, the si-lence is lifted and members can finally relax and let their minds switch off for a while. But win or lose, you can be sure they will return for another two hours of the most mentally challeng-ing and exciting card game that there is today.

Most people find a new interest when

they retire and bridge keeps the mind active

You never get bored with it because you never quite learn

everything

Social occasion: Bridge clubs unite many people from different backgrounds

H


A Country LifeT he golden rule in becoming one of the most respected television presenters

is to refrain from talking down to your audience.

It is a quality that Yorkshire-born Countryfile presenter John Craven possesses in abundance. His unbroken 40-year run fronting two of the most loved BBC television programmes will testify that.

He continues to have the stage presence of your favourite school teacher. Authoritative and informed, whilst sustaining an unrivalled aura of warmth and friendliness that is loved by millions.

From talking to the youngsters in the 1970s and 80s, to exploring the wonders of the British countryside, the 70-year-old has become one of the nation’s favourite presenters through his genial approach.

“I have always been able to keep a fairly unemotional view on things. I feel it is an essential element if want to have a long career in the journalism.”

Craven’s ascent to television stardom started out in more humble surroundings. He took over the running of his local church magazine as a teenager, which he described as a “bit of a dowdy old thing”.

After laying his boyhood dreams of becoming an actor to rest, he wanted to become a journalist.

“In my younger years I was never one to shy away from performing. I fondly remember reading articles from the newspaper to my parents as if I was presenting the news on television.

“It did used to irritate my parents after a while. They just wanted to read the damn paper.”

Having an impartial perspective in life has always been his mantra. This has transcended through millions of television sets in the thousands of shows that he has presented down the years for the BBC.

They thought highly of Craven, and he went on to front one their most influential programmes - Newsround.

John Craven has graced our television sets for nearly 40 years. He talks to Jon Day about the

iconic shows that defined his career“At that time there was no regular

news service for young children. Many kids simply didn’t take any interest in news because it was too stuffy and deemed old-fashioned.

“The BBC saw an opportunity to engage youngsters in news broadcasts. We wanted to provide a service that helped them understand the world in a way that would interest them. That’s how Newsround was born.”

He became the face of the news for the younger generation of the time.

Some 23 years have passed since his last Newsround bulletin, but Craven still holds great affection for the pro-gramme.

“It makes me incredibly proud to think that Newsround has launched the careers of many wonderful presenters and correspondents.

“I still find it remarkable today that some folk come up to me and say ‘I remember you from John Craven’s Newsround’, 20 years after I left.”

Fortunately for Craven, the end of

Kids simply didn’t take an interest

in the news


FEATURE

Present Day: New role as senior reporter on revamped Countryfile

Craven - Through The Years

his stint on Newsround in 1988 and the launch of a new flagship BBC rural affairs programme came almost at the same time.

In 1989 he began fronting a show that would end up shaping the next 20 years of this proud Yorkshireman’s imperious television career.

“It was time for something new, and the launch of Countryfile couldn’t have come at a better time.”

The transition from children’s to ‘adult’ programming was seamless. Craven’s soft and rounded Yorkshire accent quickly established itself as the soundtrack to the programme.

Very few presenters can explain the pros and cons of contentious subjects like badger culling, fox hunting or the construction of wind turbines without upsetting or irritating those who have a passionate view on the issue.

He built the foundations of the Countryfile brand, as it became the genteel staple of the Sunday morning schedules for 20 years.

I was happy with my new role. But I

felt victimised“Countryfile became the programme

that you had on whilst you were peel-ing the potatoes or preparing the beef for roast dinner.”

But it was thrust into the national spotlight in 2009, for both right and wrong reasons.

Its move to primetime was the catalyst which sparked a huge surge of interest and publicity in the show.

BBC bosses wanted to ‘sex up’ the programme, by drafting in younger presenters such as Julia Bradbury and Matt Baker, and a new evening time slot was born.

Craven kept his regular slot, but the main hosting duties were passed over to Bradbury and Baker.

“I recall being told of the move to a primetime slot, and what it entailed. Naturally, I met the news with a couple of reservations.

“I was more than happy to take on my new role. But I was unsure about the direction my BBC bosses wanted to take the programme. Though on the flip side our work would be seen by a much larger audience.”

Whilst Craven eventually welcomed the new timeslot, it was a gamble by the BBC that paid off. Ratings usually top five million, and the programme assumed the mantle of being the most respected voice of rural affairs and country life.

But as a result of the programme’s change in emphasis, the removal of some of its most recognisable and much loved faces – such as Miriam O’Reilly - caused controversy.

She won her age discrimination case against the BBC earlier this year, after claiming that she was dropped because of her age. Bosses claimed that she wasn’t high-profile enough to warrant a place on the new flagship programme.

In an honest admission, Craven feared for the future of Countryfile and its image.

“Personally, I felt victimised by some sections of the British press, who used the likes of myself, John Humphrys and David Dimbleby as beacons of the BBC’s preference to keep hold of their ‘old age men’ in favour of similar aged women.

“It upset me. The newspapers just assumed that I had a say in the new direction that the programme was going, which is not true.”

Whether it is the choice of hosts, or the way it portrays a particular issue, Craven accepts that the new time slot means Countryfile is more susceptible to both critical acclaim and derision in equal measure.

“That’s television. The programme has taken a lot of criticism in recent months. Thankfully our loyal audience has stayed with us, and I am delighted to welcome millions more to the show.

“No matter if you’re an urban dweller or a country man, rural issues affect everyone.”

“It is important that the programme continues to evolve.

“But I don’t feel that we have sof-tened our approach to any issue that we cover just because we have moved into a primetime slot.”

After stepping down as the main presenter in 2009, many thought that this would signify the beginning of the end of his television commitments.

“I’ll work for as long I can! I have had a wonderful career, and as long as I still love what I am doing so I will carry on.

“Once that fire stops burning I’ll think about calling it a day. But I still have plenty of life left in me yet – it just depends whether the audience and my bosses still want me.”

A modest appraisal of a memorable broadcasting career.

It is very hard to think of many presenters that have sustained a presence across BBC television for 40 years.

John Craven is a proud member of this very exclusive club.

2000: Recieves OBE for services to rural and children’s broadcasting

1989: Joins the new BBC ruralaffairs programme - Countryfile

1960s: Starts out in newspapers, before joining the BBC

H

1972-89: The face of Newsround


THIS MONTH’S MOMENT IN TIME:

Permission to party (Granted by

your new Royal Highness)

In our regular feature, HORIZON takes a look at some of the most iconic moments in recent history. This week we remember the summer of 1953, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation

On 2 June 1953, after 16 months of prepa-ration and with millions watching on television and cheering on from the streets of London, Elizabeth Alexandra

Mary was crowned Queen Elizabeth II.It had been a long wait for her majesty, having officially

been proclaimed queen on 6 February 1952 after the death of her father King George VI, but it gave the country time to prepare for a nationwide celebration.

“We had been treated to a television by my father so we sat and watched it with my two children,” recalled Barbara Hewitt, who was 29 when the event was broadcast on the BBC.

“Our friends who lived in Ashbourne came over and we made a bit of a party of it like everybody seemed to be doing.”

But the coronation cel-ebration wasn’t confined to the streets and hous-es of Britain. 20 million people worldwide watched Eliza-beth become queen, not only of Great Britain, but of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan.

Parties were also mounted all across the United States as the world united for one day.

“The coronation involved the country, and indeed the world, a lot more than the Royal Wedding did a this year.

“I think people were more royalist in those days than they are today. There was a lot of happiness about, especially as it had come soon after the war.”

But the eight years between VE Day and the coronation weren’t the happiest in the country’s history. Rationing was still in force and Britain was still bankrupt from its war effort. The coronation therefore provided another much needed lift for the population.

Elizabeth was the first female on the throne since Queen Vic-toria died in 1901, having become Britain’s longest

reigning monarch. It’s a record that Elizabeth is very close to over-taking, but her reign has been completely different than that of Victoria.

“The govern-ment does eve-rything now,” said Mr Beckett. “Victoria defi-nitely had more of a say back in the 1800s I’m sure, but Eliza-beth simply lets whatever plonker

Crowned: The moment a 27-year-old Elizabeth became Queen 58 years ago

FEATURE


who’s PM do his or her thing.“Not that we don’t love her. In ’53

she was a popular girl and no one begrudged her becoming queen. Her reception at Will and Kate’s wedding was tremendous, so the country still respects her no matter who’s really in charge.”

The masses of people who lined the streets of London for the royal wed-ding was similar to Elizabeth’s corona-tion, with thousands of Union Jacks waving frantically and great cheers at the sign of any royalty.

But whilst last month’s wedding ap-peared to be flawless, there were small hitches when Elizabeth was crowned. The carpet at Westminster Abbey had been laid with pile running the wrong way and so the queen’s robes did not glide over the carpet as effortlessly as she had hoped.

The day was also tainted by rain, as the spectators outside got a right royal soaking. But nothing could take the smile off the nation when the new queen and her husband Prince Albert waved to the crowd from the Bucking-ham Palace balcony.

“It was such a lovely day,” said Mrs Hewitt. “It really gave everyone some-thing to smile about. We ate and drank until we could consume no more.”

“And soon after that rations officially ended and then came the swinging 60s. I think the coronation gave us all the nudge we needed.

“So it boosted everyone’s morale somewhat. And the good times started to come after that.”

It’s nearly six decades since the conronation of Queen Elizabeth II. And it’s fair to say quite a lot has changed in the 58 years that followed.In 1953, 227 mil-lion people worldwide watched the coronation

When rationing stopped a year later, a loaf of bread would cost 10.5p

The yearly salary in the UK was just over £600

The price of an average house in the early 50s was £2,000

Elizabeth II was Queen and was enjoying her first year in charge of the country

This year the royal wed-ding was watched by more than two billion

Inflation has seen some loafs hit the shelves at as much as £1.80

The average salary in the UK now is over £26,000

58 years on you would and that figure has risen to more than £100,000

Elizabeth II still reigns and next year will be her 60th as Queen - celebrat-ing her Diamond Jubillee

God save the Queen: Brits all over the country gathered for street parties as they celebrate the coronation in style

H

THEN AND NOW: 1953 V 2011

TECHNOLOGY


Your guide to

Sign upSimply head over to www.twitter.com and click the sign up button. You only have 15 characters for a username so pick one you will remember.

Start following

After you’ve signed up the impor-tant thing is to start following. You can import your Gmail, Hotmail or LinkedIn con-tacts as well as search for people with similar interests. To follow just click.

Set up your

profileAdd a photo to your account and two lines describing a bit about yourself. If you’ve got a blog or website add a link to that.

Basic Tweet lingo

Retweet (RT)

Reply

Mention

Direct message (DM)

If you like a tweet you’ve read then you can click the ‘retweet’ button and all your followers can see it too. It’s like forwarding an email.

If someone has tweeted and you want to respond you put ‘@’ followed by their name.

If someone gives you a ‘mention’ it means that somewhere in a tweet they have put your twitter name. E.g Great show by @_Parkinson_

You can send someone a private message on Twitter by clicking the ‘messages’ at the top and finding their name. However, you can only message someone who is following you.

Tips•DON’T just tweet what you’re doing.Tweet about news, opinions or even TV shows. •If you’re tweeting a link, use a link shortening service like ‘bit.ly’•Everyone can see your tweets. If you don’t think you should share it THEN DON’T.•Don’t worry if it doesn’t all make sense at first. Sign-up, start following and you’ll soon pick it up.

Horizon brings you the latest from the World Wide Web. This month

The social networking site brings users breaking news and up to date commentary on everything from sports to trials at court. You can follow friends, businesses, professionals and celebrities. Even Lord Alan Sugar is on there. Chris McKay takes you through the basics to get you started.

HORIZON to come

next month

Subscribe to HORIZON

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sir david jason

Tony Christie - ‘I always knew I could sing’

John Cleese - ‘Laughing is my only medicine’

Horizon meets Lawrence David - the 72-year-old who gave up a kidney to save his best friend‘Money Saving Expert’ Martin Lewis and how the spirit of ‘Scrooge’ is not such a bad thing

Available from July 25 2011 from Walk-in Centres, your GP, Dentists and Hospitals.

On acting, awards and meeting the Queen

Tesco VouchersFree £5 voucher for every reader

GUEST COLUMN


Isn’t it funny how times have changed? 30 years ago it seemed that

as people got older, they were deemed to be ‘old, retired, slower and ready to take it easy’.

Any thoughts of exercise were usually light to moder-ate, such as walking, chair aerobics or a gentle swim.

Nothing too adventurous, nothing too daring.

However in 2011 things are different and we’re now seeing a new generation. Exercise, fitness, health and disposable income for some have opened up a variety of options. Just recently I saw an advert for savings for older people.

Instead of saving for a retirement home, it was now suggesting people are saving for fitness activities, holidays and hobbies, such as cycling, rock climbing and sailing. That’s a fantastic thing.

Why should we be en-couraging people to slow down? If anything, it should be a case of ‘go at your own pace but make sure you enjoy yourself.’

Go travelling, sailing, play golf, have some nice meals out, especially if you’ve got the income to do it.

However, it’s worth being aware that we’re all vulner-able to the effects of ill health and stress and should make more of an effort to look after ourselves as we get older.

Trying to stay healthy will prolong our lives and will certainly improve the qual-ity of them, so that we can spend more time enjoying the things we like to do.

Maintaining health is all about moderation. If you

‘Ensuring your mental health is good is another way to stay healthy for longer’

like something that is bad for you, then rather than cutting it out of your diet altogether, try and limit it.

There is no point in being miserable while trying to maintain fitness and health.

Exercise is crucial, a tip would be to try and do at least an hour’s worth of exercise every week. It can

be split into six lots of ten minutes, or say three lots of twenty minutes.

An hour of exercise can give the muscles and joints a work out to ensure that they remain supple and flex-ible, thus cutting the risk of arthritis and stiff joints.

It can get the blood pumping, boosting the im-mune system and thus keep any diseases or illnesses at bay to ensure that you enjoy senior health rather than let it rule your life.

Regular exercise as well as a healthy, balanced diet can prevent diabetes, osteoporo-

sis, heart disease and many other illnesses.

Diabetes is another com-mon illness that hits people as they get older and, for the most part, has to be control-led by a sensible diet.

Other ailments such as os-teoporosis and arthritis can also be aided by a carefully controlled diet. Although

none of these illnesses can be cured by a healthy diet, the condition that our bod-ies are in is a big factor.

Eating nutritious, whole-some meals can give us the strength to fight against the effects of such illnesses.

Keeping a positive mental attitude also helps as we get older and although some people I speak to seem to think mental health doesn’t play a part in the ageing process, I promise you it does and it’s very important.

Remaining upbeat and positive and ensuring your mental health is good is

another way for us all to stay healthy for longer.

There is nothing more precious than our health and we all need to pay more attention to our health and our stress levels as time goes on and we become older.

I’m not suggesting radical changes, just some little tips that can really help make a

difference to you.To put it simply, if you

take care of your body, it will take care of you for that little bit longer.

Carla

Carla McKnight

on why staying healthy is the key to happiness

Carla is a personal trainer from Glasgow. She runs her own fitness coaching business. You can visit her website online at www.carlamcknight.com


The constant struggle for over 65s who justwant to go on holiday

of working for several decades. Insurance companies have a differ-

ent approach, charging this age group extortionate premiums for travel insur-ance or, worse, not insuring at all. By the time you reach 75, you will be lucky to find cover says Sarah Hardy of Age UK. “It is ridiculous that in this day and age, people are being refused travel in-surance because of what it says on their birth certificate.

With the population of over 65s reaching nine million, it presents a huge market for greedy insurers to cash in on people hungry for travel. Through an undercover investigation, Horizon is finally able to lay bare the facts about travel insurance companies that contin-ue to rip off people born before 1946. With there being no medical evidence

Travel insurers say that people over 65 are more than two and a half times as likely to make claims. Andrew Wheeldon looks into whether it is justifiable to group everybody into one category

ohn Allen, 74, retired four years ago after a 47-year ca-reer as an engineer. He is now desperate to travel the

world with his wife Sue whilst they are still in good health.

“We are still active people, and walk everywhere,” Mr Allen says.

“I may have had my 64th birthday a decade ago, but I am just as healthy now as I was then.”

But the Allens may be going nowhere - unless they are prepared to fork out on huge premiums – an issue faced by over 65s at the moment.

For many people, the age of 65 should signify the opportunity to ex-plore the wonders of the world and the time to enjoy the rewards that come out

J

ADVICE


to suggest that a 65-year-old is at higher risk than a 64-year-old, the reasoning behind the pricing seems illogical.

“It feels like as a whole we are being discriminated against,” Mr Allen says.

“We had to pay £122 each for insur-ance for our two-week holiday to Egypt last month.

“Since turning 70, the insurance prices have rocketed, I won’t be able to keep paying those prices much longer.”

You would think that people like Mr Allen who have worked tirelessly for nearly 50 years, have earned the chance to travel abroad, go sightseeing and re-lax. But many travel insurers disagree. Around 30% of policies are unavailable to travellers aged over 65 and many more exclude claims from those who are over 70.

Horizon used a 75-year-old mystery shopper to contact eight different travel insurance companies, five of which re-fused to even give him a quote. Despite, still walking five miles every weekend in the sleepy Cambridgeshire country-side, he was greeted by Tesco with: ‘All travellers must be aged 74 or under.’ A similar message was advertised on the Halifax bank’s website. Scandalously, it will not cover to travel out of Europe once they celebrate their 65th birthday.

A 64-year-old can get an annual world traveller insurance policy with Halifax for £111.78, which is just £37.49 more than a 21-year-old would pay.

However, regardless of health, once the age of retirement is reached, travel insurance no longer becomes a right and for many people in the UK it sim-ply becomes unaffordable.

“It is crazy that as soon as people turn 65 it instantly becomes harder to get insured,” says James Sayer, a travel expert at travelsupermarket.com

“Some 70-year-olds are healthier than some 50-year-olds after all, but right now people need to brace themselves for an overnight change in prices.”

There had been hopes that new age discrimination laws would put an end to arbitrary age caps. However laws now look like they will only be imple-mented while people are working. The Equality Act 2010 means that new age discrimination laws will come into ef-fect from 2012, but an exception stat-ing that age will still be used in the fi-nancial services industry where it is ‘fair and reasonable.’

This loop-hole is likely to allow travel insurance companies to continue bul-lying older generations. It would seem that government ministers believe that this is ‘fair and reasonable.’

Understandably people with serious medical conditions will have to pay a premium, but it seems grossly unfair to

refuse them any cover whatsoever.An Association of British Insur-

ers survey claims that people aged 65 or over are three times more likely to make a claim than those likely to make a claim than those aged 35 and this is what may insurances companies seem to be going on.

“We are not expecting these compa-nies to reduce their prices for everyone over 65 - some people have serious conditions which are obviously risky to insure,” says Thomas Harman, 68, a volunteer for Age UK.

“What we want is fairness. If some-body is 65 and is fit and healthy, then

they should be treated the same as any-body else regardless of age.

“I was a Premium card holder with HSBC where I got free insurance. However, once I reached 70 they just took it away from me,” says Peter Ed-wards, 79, who owns a packaging com-pany in Cheshire,

“I then took an annual policy for me and my wife with Saga. It cost me £800 which is ridiculous when that that com-pany claim to support pensioners.”

Marks & Spencers, the company that Mr Edwards now uses, are offering the most competitive price on the market this year. M&S (whose travel insurance is provided by AXA) has an upper age limit of 80 for annual policies and no age limit for single trip cover (except for those over 80 travelling to the USA.)

“We now pay £12 a month for both of us and even get free vouchers for their coffee shop,” says Mr Edwards.

“They have been excellent so far. I would certainly recommend them and most of my friends are with them too.”

Obtaining travel insurance before you leave British soil is a must. Without it, an unforeseen incident could leave you or your family with a bill of thousands or even millions of pounds.

Declaring any past or present medical condition is also essential, because fail-ure to do so may result in a claim being refused. If you are struggling to answer medical questions about your health on your insurance policy, then it is a good idea to talk to your GP.

The Foreign Office states, “Many people deeply regret not taking out travel insurance. Ensure your policy will refund the full cost of your holiday if you need to cancel or cut short a trip because you fall ill for example covers pre-paid expenses such as excursions covers extra costs incurred to get home.

Whilst the current laws are still in full force, there will be insurers prepared to charge extortionate prices but equally there are still companies who charge a fair rate.

To view a comprehensive list of our investigation on the seven travel insurance companies, visit www.horizon.co.uk/travel

Travelling abroad becomes an up-hill struggle

I may have had my 64th birthday a

decade ago, but I am just as healthy now as I

was then

H

Insurance tips:•Shop around for the best deals•Be completely honest with your

medical conditions•If you are only likely to make

one trip abroad a year, a single-trip policy may be better value because premiums can be very high for the ‘privilege’ of an annual policy

More information can be found at www.fco.gov.uk/travel

This summer’sWith The Open Championship fast approaching

Slazenger Heritage Jumper - £75A simple yet classy jumper in honour of the late Seve Ballesteros.

Ralph Lauren Kingston Chino shorts - £70Brand new for June, these sophisticated shorts are sure to keep you feeling sharp on the courses that allow a more relaxed dress-code.

56 JULY 2011 HORIZON.co.uk

Tommy Hilfiger Newport Stripe Golf Polo Shirt - £59You know that you are on to a winner when you find a garment that can be worn both on and off the course. A classic design.

Hugo Boss Crip Golf Cap - £39Here at Horizon we’re fed up of seeing caps with fancy designs, so we got very excited when we saw this one. You’ll never forget where you put your tee again!


Top 3 UK courses for under £50

SILLOTH ON SOLWAY, CUMBRIASituated at the north-west tip of England, you quickly realise that you are in for a treat with a collec-tion of tricky seaside holes. The 4th is the pick of the bunch - a par four that needs a clean drive to get onto the ridge which is a must if you want a clear view of the narrow green to the left. At £45 for a round this summer it really is a wonderful course.

MONTROSE, ANGUSIf you are looking for a traditional course, then this is the place to go. Little has changed in the last cen-tury, yet the links remain one of the UK’s most sought after. There are some excellent holes, not least the 2nd - where you tee-off by the sea onto the fairway which could be mistaken for a mogul-filled ski piste. 18 holes will cost you £47 and is an experience that is not to be missed.

TENBY, PEMBROKESHIREWhen a course is designed by James Braid, you know it’s going to be a timeless masterpiece. Its 1st, and 3rd holes have got to be in top 10 in all of Wales. They are certainly very difficult, but if you get through them unphased then you should be on course for a decent score. At £45 for the round, this is one of our favourite cours-es in the entire UK.

FASHION

golfing fore-sightHorizon brings you this summer’s must-have gear


More thanjust

a label...

We do it everyday in supermarkets and shops, up and down the country.

We empty our trolley on to the conveyor belt and watch the till operator scan our items. Beep beep. ‘£14.67 please.’ But how do they know the price? The barcode you say?

It’s a myth that the barcode is noth-ing more than an electronic price tag. In fact, it has nothing to do with price, Frank Pilborough, one of the inven-tors of the barcode says.

“The price of the product is on the computer in the shop, not on the bar-code on the printed on the product.

“The barcode is an information site for telling the store what’s selling and what isn’t. It’s marketing information for why a certain product is flying off the shelf in Glasgow but isn’t being touched in Southampton.”

Frank joined label making company Fisher Clark in 1960 after struggling to find a job with his seven O-levels. With a position opening up at Fisher Clark and a chance to change history he took the job and donned his white lab coat. What he wasn’t expecting was not only the difficulty of design-ing a barcode but the added task of designing labels for the products so the barcode had somewhere to sit.

“The technology of the barcode being the same for every label and every product, every week is absolutely critical,” he says. “The spacing between the 13 digits has to be the same. The thickness of the lines has to be the same and if it’s not it won’t scan and therefore won’t work.”

When Frank retired six years ago there were 21 different types of bar-code for various different tasks. The first number represents the country the product has come from. The next six digits tell you the manufacturer and the last six what the product is. But one of the biggest problems to overcome was variable weight prod-ucts. Before technology advanced and manufacturers could weigh chicken prior to it being packed, the price was in the barcode. “Now the chickens are split into weight and all are done with the same barcode” he says. “It’s because Asda, for example, has in its’

computer memory that an eight ounce chicken is £4.

“I spent 30 years of my life trying to sort this problem out. They had to come up with a weighing system that took that product and weighed it,

added a cost on using the cost per pound method and smacked it on the product at a rate of 150 per minute.”

In October 1979, barcodes made

their British debut at the Keymarkets superstore in Spalding, Lincolnshire, a supermarket chain now extinct. The first product to bear a barcode and be scanned by an optical reader was a box of Melrose teabags. The Americans had achieved this a year earlier with a packet of Wrigley’s chewing gum that is now on display in the Smithsonian Museum, America.

Frank continued his work after mov-ing from Fisher Clarke to Norprint.

“They chose IBM for the electronic scanners and us [Norprint] as the label makers,” Frank says. The issue, he explains, was that people thought there was some sort of scam going on. “They used to say, ‘How do we know you’re not adding three pence on to all our products when we get to the checkout?’ Supermarkets used to give people their own calculator when they walked in to prove they weren’t being cheated out of their money.”

Barcodes, those black and white stripes found on almost every product, revolutionised the shopping industry. But where did it all begin?

It can pick out a packet of

cigarettes through a mattress

Priceless: Even Mona Lisa can be barcoded

FEATURE


Barcoding didn’t just revolutionise shopping and products. It also started a revolution for security.

The radio frequency technique, coding and electronic circuitry used in barcodes have led to developments in fight against major issues like drug trafficking. “A lorry coming off a ferry from Calais goes through a scanner that can read both sides of the lorry,” Frank explains. “It reads everything that’s in the trailer without having to touch or move anything. It can pick out a packet of cigarettes through a mattress, through a suitcase, in tightly packed boxes.”

Have you ever been in a shop and the alarm has gone off when you’ve walked out of the store? That’s the barcode at work again. The radio cir-cuitry in the ticket hasn’t been deac-tivated and the scanners near the exit pick that up and ring the alarm. The same principle is now being used for trolleys at shops.

“Trolleys were being dumped in the river when people carried their shopping home,” Frank said. “So a company in Suffolk developed a label that they could put on the trolley that sounded an alarm when the trolley left the car park.”

Frank has been at the forefront of new technology when it comes to labelling, so much so that he has pat-ented adhesive named after him.

“I spent most of my life trying to find an adhesive that would stick to

things like fish. At Mac Fisheries, the problem was continuous. You would get a piece of fish out the freezer and the label would fall off. It would then stick to the floor.

“Fortunately, I found an adhesive which did the job, which has now

got a reference of FP1, my initials. It’s used in Tescos and Asdas. It’s the best in the world.”

Frank’s fame spread and he was asked by Bernard Matthews, Mr Tur-key himself, to label all of his stock.

For years he also joined forces with a company in America who developed a barcode so that when the expiry date was reached, the barcode would vanish. “You couldn’t scan it and therefore you couldn’t buy it,” Frank says. “They check every day in supermarkets now because the vanishing ink costs about £30 a tin. It was just too expensive.”

Thermo chromic inks were the next big idea. “If you take a piece of chicken out the freezer and leave it at room tem-perature, the barcode goes from black to yellow. Saving people from possible food poisoning.” The problem, again Frank reiterates, is price. “The sort of prices you would pay for ink that changes colour is unbeliev-able. I would walk in to a shop and spend £300 a tin of ink that was not much bigger than a cup or glass.”

Label technology has also been used to make the sun lo-tion safer. “There is all this scare about skin cancer. Well the boys who make the sun tan lotion have

One of a kind: Frank with his unique barcode

discovered a label that changes colour when you’re on the beach to warn you to wrap up or go home.”

Frank also sat on the International Airline Technology Committee with the likes of SwissAir. His findings, along with his patented luggage label, have revolutionised the way airports handle our luggage.

“This has been on the go for 20 years and took a long time to perfect. I think it’s at a stage now when you can say, it’s not going to get much better.” But according to Frank there are still hold ups like taking the food out of the trolley and having to fill it back up after it’s been scanned.

So it’s not just as simple as ‘just a barcode’ on a bag of carrots. From air-port check ins to shelf restocking, the barcode is just the tip of the iceberg. So what’s next for the development of the barcode?

“Wallmart is using the technique to try and design a way that you don’t have to take your products out the

trolley. The only thing holding it back is price.”

Similar to security scanners at Dover and Calais the trolley would be pushed through two electronic readers. Each item would be scanned and then you pay. There would be no need for

checkout operators only increased security and the long queues would, in theory, vanish.

But it’s still a matter of price, Frank says. “Imagine how many checkouts there are in the UK and all of those have got to be converted into radio scanners instead of laser scanners. It’s going to cost an awful lot of money. It is a pain in the butt taking the stuff out the trolley, but at the minute there is no possible answer on the horizon that isn’t going to cost a lot of money and a lot of time.”

Although he’s retired, Frank still keeps up to date with what’s going on in the barcode world, seeing how the technology is ever increasing.

“All the fascinating things that are on the horizon could be used,” he says, “but they are unfortunately just too expensive at the minute.”

At the minute there is no

possible answer on the horizon

H

I spent most of my life trying to find an adhesive that would stick

Check out our website to see a timeline of the barcode and more pictures of Frank’s work.

www.horizon.co.uk/features


Fill the grid so that every col-umn, every row and every 3x3 box contains 1 to 9. For solu-tions, see page 61.

8 5

1 5 4 9 4 2 6 1 9 4 5 8 6

7 6 1 2

7 6 8 9 9 7 6 4 5 9 2

8

3 9 5

4 4 1 6 9 3 2 5 2 9 7 1

1 8 3 4 5 2 8 6 1 7 2

Su Doku

Smart StuffFancy yourself as a bit of an Einstein? See how well you fare on Horizon’s puzzle pages

Mild No 1 Difficult No 2

Set Square Cell Blocks

= 9

= 63

= 6

÷ x 6 = 14 + + +

+ + = 13 - x - x - 5 = 13

All the digits from 1-9 are used in this grid, but only once. Can you work out their posi-tions in the grid so that each of the six differ-ent sums works? We’ve put two numbers in to help you. Do the sums left to tight and top to bottom.

Mild No 1 Mild No 1

46

6

4444

3 5

9

Divide the grid into blocks. Each block must be square or rectangular and must contain the number of cells indicated by the number inside it

PUZZLES


Futoshiki

Fill the blank squares so that each row and column con-tains all the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Use the given num-bers and the symbols that tell you it a number in the square is larger (>) or smaller (<) than the number next to it.

>

>> >

>

> 4

1

>

> >

>>

>

Mild No 1 Difficult No 2 8 6 2 4 5 3 1 7 9

2 8 1 3 6 9 7 5 4 9 3 4 5 7 2 6 8 1 1 2 3 9 4 5 8 6 7

5 4 7 6 8 1 3 9 2

7 5 6 8 1 4 9 2 3 3 1 9 7 2 6 5 4 8 4 7 5 1 9 8 2 3 6

6 9 8 2 3 7 4 1 5

1 7 8 2 6 9 4 5 3

2 1 4 6 7 5 8 3 97 8 5 9 3 4 1 6 29 3 6 8 1 2 5 7 48 5 2 4 9 7 3 1 63 4 7 1 2 6 9 8 56 9 1 5 8 3 2 4 75 2 3 7 4 8 6 9 14 6 9 3 5 1 7 2 8

= 9

= 63

= 6

÷ 7 x 6 3 = 14 + + +

4 + 1 + 8 = 13 - x - 2 x 9 - 5 = 13

46

6

444 4

35

9

>

>>

>

>

>4 1 5 2 3

5 4 3 1 2

4 1 5 2 3

2 3 4 5 1

3 2 1 4 5

1

>

>>

>>

> 1 5 3 4 2

4 2 1 5 3

3 1 4 2 5

2 4 5 3

5 3 2 1 4

Crossword1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

11 12

13 14

15 16

17

18 19

20 21

23

22

24

25 26

Across1 Triangle functions on point of intimacy (8)5 Enlarge Fawkes’s purpose? (4,2)9 As seductive woman returned, so did her ring (7)10 He keeps a dog and a Manx cat on river (7)11 Honours drug to make one fat (5)12 Bagged journalist after time with alarm clock? (9)13 * Church with a set of bells to go over (7,5)17 Umbrian master in crafts as in order (5,7)20 Queen gets in — “in” as in 14’s game — with ram (9)22 They sing in church or outside one (5)23 Generosity sees glass re-turned (7)24 Exaggerated love before composer died (7)25 Can nearly work this land? (6)26 Legendary Welsh king has no right to join the Church of England, as it happens (2,6)Down1,2 *Party for cathedral functionaries, say (6,6)2 See 13 Temporary structure in the Sun’s building (6,3)4 Poor attenders fell on Jeremy or Simon coming up to the monsoon (13)6 House hosting game in 14 (5)7 *Crapper’s invention (according to the myth) (8)8 Heaven is in the display (8)10 Most of 9 goods bet ween birds — that’s the best thing of all (8,5)14 Game heard, maybe hard, in north Wales (9)15 Is one of those in 13 a queen, … (8)16 *… another 7 ac wandering round hill? (8)18,19 *Left like Aberdeen with game (6,6)19 See 1821 English Guardian’s going to Surrey town (5)

Solutions

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‘The last word’

Duncan Bannatyne sits down with Horizon to talk charities, his books, golf and television show ‘Dragons Den’

Horizon: Duncan, how are you? It’s nice to see you.

Duncan Bannatyne: Thank you. I’m good actu-ally. I’ve just been recording the new Dragons Den and we’ve got a new Dragon, so it’s all quite exciting really.

The show this year promises to be just as good as other years, but perhaps maybe a wee bit more excit-ing. I’m certainly excited by it, but it’s been pretty hectic too.

H: Wow. That sounds great. So if it’s been hectic, what’ve you been doing to relax and get away from it all?

DB: I’ve literally been sleeping. Last night I didn’t finish until eight-o’clock and I went straight out to dinner with my friend Jim. But I also try to spend as much time with the family as I can in between filming days.

H: I take it you enjoy fam-ily time?

DB: I love family time. Because I’m so busy I really savour every minute of it and as anyone who has a family will know, family time is very, very important. I really enjoy taking my family away to our villa in France and just sitting there and looking at the view. I find it very relaxing and very soothing. It’s great, we cook in, we go out for food, take in the atmosphere and the culture. I love it and it’s fan-tastic that I can do it with my family.

H: And in between all that you’ve still got a number of businesses to run too?

DB: Running my business takes up a lot less time than anything else I do. The television stuff, the family stuff, the charity stuff and my books take up most of my time, but that’s because I enjoy it all so much. I’m very fortunate that I’ve got a very good team around me to run my business so that I don’t need to worry about any of it.

H: You see, you’re describing all that to me and I just think it sounds far too busy.

DB: Well it is. I checked my diary today and I have six things in it, five of which are charity related, so that’s the way it seems to be going at the minute. Dragons Den and my businesses tend to take a back seat some days, but I don’t mind that. I love being able to help out and tweeting about it too, makes it really worthwhile to me.

H: You’ve mentioned charities quite a bit, so I take it they’re something that’s very close to your heart?

DB: I’m involved in about thirty charities and other than the Blue Lamp Foundation, there’s really only one other

that I’m giving as much sup-port too. I just love being involved with the charities because it’s so worthwhile, but great fun too.

H: You mentioned the Blue Lamp Foundation, which you’re a patron of. That’s PC David Rathband’s charity for emergency serv-ices personnel who’ve been injured in the course of duty. How did you come to be involved in that?

DB: I was in the North-East of England when the gunman was terrorising people and I remember double-locking my doors and checking them. Then the tragedy happened when David Rathband was shot in the face, twice. I was ap-palled, there were people on Twitter started supporting the gunman, so I decided to give my support to the policeman.

He came on Twitter and he thanked me and we arranged to meet up.

He came in, he had such a good sense of humour and he was such a decent bloke, he’d always wanted to be a police-man, that’s all he’d ever wanted to be. I thought he was fan-tastic and when he asked me to support his charity, it was a no-brainer, I said absolutely, because it is a fantastic charity.

H: The Blue Lamp Foundation is obviously a cause you’re very passionate about. Will you be helping out with any of their fundraising efforts?

DB: I’m even going to be doing some abseiling for the Blue Lamp Foundation next month, which I’m excited about. I’ve done some before, but I’m really looking forward to it. I’m also doing a parachute jump in a few months time for another charity which I’m looking forward too as well. I’d like to get David skydiving with me one day too, becuase I think he’d really enjoy it.

H: Just finally from me, do you play on sport in your spare time, like golf, which allows you to switch off from work and get outdoors?

DB: I don’t play golf, my younger son does, but I don’t. It’s one of those games I’ve just never had time to get into. I know David Rathband has a charity golf day organised, but I’m stuck because I can’t really play in it, but what I’ve said is that I’ll caddy for him and he thinks that’s great.

Next month: LARRY LAMB, from the BBC’s Eastenders and Gavin & Stacey

Email your questions for Larry to: [email protected] to us at: Horizon Magazine, Minalloy House, 18-22 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 3NJ

HEALTH

JUNE 2011 HORIZON.co.uk64

Documents

Horizon Magazine - July Issue