Yep, our first ever conference is this weekend. And we can’t wait. The photo above is of our Awards 2025 and really Rebel Later Life: the ideas party came out of the warm and wonderful glow of the awards. We realised how members of the Advantages of Age loved to meet, and were curious about what they all did. From the All Ages Project in Hackney to The Crone Club in Sheffield to Dr Lucy Pollock’s book The Golden Rule about compassionate care as we get older. And so we thought we’d do an ideas party or conference. And gradually a roster of treats made their way to us - From Lynne Franks and her keynote speech Jane Duncan Rogers chairing the What if you Don’t Have enough Pension panel as well as taking the Compassionate Guide to the Nitty Gritty of Getting Older. There is a veritable smorgasbord of delights.
We loved this story. The story of Disco Sally.
‘”I’m having the time of my life. What’s the matter with dying on the dance floor?”
At the urging of a much younger friend, 77-year-old Sally Lippman stepped into New York’s Studio 54 one September day in 1977 — and fell in love. Despite being in her late 70s, she started spending most nights at the famous disco club, where she became a beloved regular known as Disco Sally. Lippman partied all night, dressed in wild prints, wore her sunglasses indoors, and even married a 28-year-old before she died in 1982.
Go inside the wild story of Disco Sally: ‘[https://inter.st/0j5i](https://inter.st/0j5i...)
3. For those in Kensal Rise and Harlesden, there is an opportunity to read a poem at Poetry Rising at Kensal Rise Library on Oct 28th at 7 30pm. Organised by local poem Chys Salt, it was full last time. And there is a featured poem. It is free.
Cathi Rae is a forced to be reckoned with. An accidental academic, a poet and an Insta star, Cathi is chairing Rebel Later Life’s panel on Ageism and Words which will be informative and fun. And not everyone in agreement. I noticed myself almost using the word ‘still’ when referring to Agnes B at 84 at the end of her show. Incredible.
Brilliant. Agnes B at 84 getting an ovation for her spring/summer show. We salute you.
6. Have you ever been to a Death Cafe? This Saturday at Rebel Later Life - there will be the experience to attend one. I went to one back in 2017 and I was impressed by the scope of what people expressed within that safe space. Thanks to Victoria Keen - who is a funeral professional - for running it and also being on the panel for How to Have a Funky Funeral....
