AofA's Hot To Trot Talking Points

Every Friday

Got a great mix for you this week - starting with -

1. We were delighted to hear that Jane Dotchin is back in the saddle at 84 and doing her annual 600 mile pilgrimage. Amazing. She was ill last year so had to rest. . She was up for the AofA Inspiring Personal Story Award in 2023.

   So I tried to contact her to let her know. No easy task. But in the end I found a publisher that had published a book on her. This is what I got back from her PA at the time - Hi Rose .......Hilary forwarded to me your email regarding Jane and the Advantages of Age Awards ceremony.....

   I have spoken with Jane and she wants me to sent her apologies but will be unable to attend the event on the 23rd .......bit too far to go on horseback lol .......

   I hope the night is a success and wish you well

   Kind Regards

   Chris ......PA to Jane

2. We sent huge congratulations and re-published her Q & A in the FB group - it’s here in the paid archive - of member, Ani Wilsher who had her 88th birthday this week and is always being a positive influence in the group. Thanks Ani for all your encouragement and appreciation. And you look great on this motorbike!

3. We lauded a new Take A Seat scheme in Richmond, Yorkshire where businesses open their doors to people who may need a rest on the way home. Richmond is very hilly. There is no obligation to buy anything and lots of friendships are being forged. This is Sheila Russell.

4. A piece in the Guardian documented the journey of a photographer following those who had terminal diseases. Great piece. ‘Julian Kingma travelled Australia photographing the lives and deaths of people who accessed assisted dying, and those who care for them. He thinks about death differently now.

   Julian Kingma was afraid of dying.

   In this regard, perhaps the award-winning portrait photographer is not much different from the rest of us. But Kingma’s obsession with mortality had stalked him since childhood – and spilled over into adulthood.

   Sometimes, in his work, he would be sent out on end-of-life stories, documenting terminally ill people. He was fascinated by people who wanted to end their lives, long before Victoria became the first Australian state to introduce voluntary assisted dying (VAD) legislation in 2017.

   In 2021, he listened to Better Off Dead, a podcast by Andrew Denton, founder of the assisted dying charity Go Gentle. Denton was telling the stories of some of the first people to access the landmark Victorian laws.’

5. We were happy to see the incredibly versatile and a brilliant combination of knowledgeable and funny as well as having heaps of integrity - 70 year old Kirsty Wark winning the Bafta Fellowship. And a great speech. We miss her on Newsnight. Loved how loved she is. And she talked about her gang of close women friends and how her husband calls them - the Coven.