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Birstall Post June 2002 (227) cont.

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Methodist Church news

OUR JUNE highlight will be the Garden Trail Saturday and Sunday June 22 & 23.
This year the gardens are all in the ‘middle’ of the Greengate Estate (Kingsgate, Denegate, Heathgate etc). There will be eleven gardens open to the public, with teas, ice cream, and stalls on the way round with searches for younger children. Buying a passport in advance from many shops in the village is a saving. Proceeds this year are split with half to our church funds and half to Rainbows.
We are grateful to those friends who have kindly opened their gardens for this popular event, and to Birstall Garden Centre who cover the costs.
Subject to fine weather it is hoped that the Sunday evening service will take place in one of the gardens at 6pm on 23rd.
At a meeting in May it was agreed that the alterations to the church in the Vision 2000 project can go ahead in its entirety. The only difference outside will be the provision of a new disabled ramp. All the other alterations take place inside the worship area. The most expensive single item is the rewiring with new lighting and other electrical work in the church. Hopefully the work will commence later this year.
Our Summer Gala in May raised £965 towards the Vision 2000 project. As with all fund raising in Vision 2000, one third will go to work in The Gambia where we are supporting the building of a new Church in the village of Arumba. Many friends have been filling old film containers with 20p coins - that has raised £1000. Thanks to all who have supported this cause.
On June 2 at the Parish Church of St James there is to be a joint service for the whole village to join in at 3pm in celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. All are welcome.

TG news

THE APRIL meeting of the Townswomen’s Guild was opened by the new chairman, Mrs June Flower.
The retiring chairman, Mrs Alwen Skinner, just back from an annual visit to see her son in Australia received a plant with many thanks.
The speaker for the evening was Dr J B Smith who talked about a Victorian man’s view of women, portrayed in books in the 1800s eg Vanity Fair. Members were most amused when Dr Smith pointed out that there were only two good girls in the audience, the rest were bad. The theory being dark haired girls were good and blondes bad (grey hair was evidently in this category too!)
After coffee, there was a quiz about books, which was won by Mrs Marjorie Heath with 19 points out of 20. After the business of the evening Jackie Partner, a member of the Guild led the social studies group through a wonderfully relaxed and humorous evening whilst showing some of her ‘treasures’. These included a variety of items collected from car boot sales, antique fairs and antique shops. The collection included a piece of ‘Goss’ biscuit ware bought for 20p which some time ago was valued at £60! There was also a white rabbit holding a carrot. This was a lasting memory of her father, who had made a felt white rabbit during the war, shortly before he died.
The next meeting of the TG will be held on Tuesday June 18 at 7.30pm at Highcliffe School, Birstall, when the speaker will be Jill Willis BSc, Dip, NN, the topic being ‘We Are What We Eat!’ Visitors welcome.
The social studies group will meet on June 10. Anyone interested in singing, ring Jean Sumner on 2675430.
From A Boden

Agers new hands

(l-r) Stuart Hartop, David Hulberts and Mick London of Agers Carpets

ESTABLISHED SOME 30 years, Agers Discount Carpets is changing hands, with manager Stuart Hartop taking over the reins as of June 1.
Stuart, with his wife Diane, is a well known figure in various circles in the Birstall area especially the bowling club, and he’s looking forward to taking over the Thurmaston shop and welcoming customers, old and new.
“I will be continuing with the same staff as the retiring owner, Mr David Ager” Stuart says. “Mr Michael London (or Mick-Fit) has been with Agers for over 25 years and has an enviable reputation in the carpet business. I am delighted Mick is staying with me, along with David Hulbert.”
He added: “Our customers spread the length and breadth of Leicestershire with a high percentage of our work being local, which includes the Melton Mowbray area. Our reputation has grown over the years and we have an excellent customer base. Agers ‘Shop at Home’ service has always proved popular, together with their policy of free fitting on carpet orders above 16 square yards.”
Agers Carpets, Bridge Park Road, Thurmaston 2694307

Photo talent

Sharon Waters, Association of Photographers/Kodak Student Awards Winner

A BIRSTALL photography student has won a prestigious Association of Photographers and Kodak Student Award.
Sharon Waters (42), a Leicester College student studying a National Diploma in Photography, has won the Editorial Section of the prestigious Association of Photographers (AOP) and Kodak Student Awards.
This annual competition encourages up-and-coming photographic talent and this year organisers received over 700 individual entries from students across the UK.
Sharon submitted three photographs to reflect a photographic brief entitled ‘Where have all the heroes gone?’ which was set by Esquire magazine’s Art Director Ian Pendleton and photographer Zed Nelson.
Winning £1000 for photographic equipment and an all-expenses-paid week with a leading photographer in London, Sharon said: “I can’t believe that I have won, I am so pleased. The competition was fierce and I was amazed when they called my name out”.
Originally trained as a primary school teacher, Sharon left teaching to pursue her interest in the arts. After taking a GCSE in Photography I knew that I had found my true vocation” she said.
Sharon is now undecided on her future. “I’m now at a crossroads in my career, I can carry on studying or see where this win and the experience I will get when I go to London will take me! Winning this prize has given me more options for my future career” she said.

Sportsmark award

STONEHILL SCHOOL is one of 457 schools throughout the country to be awarded a Sportsmark Award by Sport England.
The award recognises the school’s commitment to sporting activities for pupils.

School times

THE TIMETABLE of the school day at Stonehill School is changing.
From August 2002, the say will start at 8.40am and end at 3.10pm. The lunch break will be from 12.40-1.25pm.

CCTV study in Birstall

CLOSED CIRCUIT TV cameras, already running in Syston, may be extended to include Birstall.
The Crime and Disorder Partnership for South East Charnwood have organised a feasibility study with the support of the Parish Council, Age Concern, Birstall Village Watch and the Police.
The study will seek to establish if a CCTV scheme is required, how extensive it would be, costs and financing arrangements.
In Syston the scheme has resulted in a drop in crime. Volunteers, who are screened and trained, monitor the TV footage, which records 24 hours a day.

WI news

IN SPITE of a heavy rainstorm just half an hour before the meeting was due to start there were only three members missing from the May meeting of Birstall & Wanlip WI.
President Mrs Gregory welcomed two visitors, Mrs Janet Neaverson who came to direct business regarding the Resolutions for this year’s AGM and Vicki Green who will attend that meeting as a delegate from her own institute of Barkby & Beeby and will also represent Birstall & Wanlip.
There was quite a lot of other business to be dealt with first. This included a report by Mary Marvin of the recent group meeting held at Newtown Linford, items from county news and notices of other forthcoming events. Members will be baking cakes for LOROS freezer in June and holding a tombola stall at the Birstall Jubilee Gala Day in July. These items necessitated some arrangements being made at this meeting.
As the June meeting on June 10 will be the 85th birthday celebration of the institute it had been decided to hold that meeting at ‘The Bluebell’ in Rothley in the form of an evening meal there. Again arrangements needed to be made regarding menus and transport to the venue.
After a break for coffee and a tasting of the competition entries, the resolutions were to be dealt with. The competition this month was for a favourite recipe, with samples, where possible. These were all available for tasting after the judging and together with a tea loaf, courtesy of Yorkshire tea of Harrogate, the drinks with biscuits were amply supplemented.
Back to earth with serious talk about the WI constitution and two Resolutions, one asking for support for local abattoirs and the other for stricter controls on the importation of foodstuffs into Great Britain. Both were discussed until time ran out, and the delegate was instructed on voting wishes. Mrs Neaverson had much information to offer on these matters. She is a member of the Public Affairs and International Committee of the County Federation. Dorothy Gregory proposed a vote of thanks to her and also to Vicki Green for being our representative. The competition was won by Betty Barker with a fruit tea loaf and Kathleen Allen won the raffle.
By this time the wind and rain had abated so everyone was able to go home with dry feet!

Free books of local walks

TWO NEW walks leaflets have been published by the Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project, in partnership with Glenfield Parish Council and Humberstone Village Community Forum.
The two free booklets - ‘Walks In and Around Humberstone’ and ‘Five Circular Walks In and Around Glenfield’ have both been written by local people.
Humberstone is located to the North east of the city of Leicester, and until quite recently was not part of the city at all. It is one of only two ‘Urban Villages’ in Leicester (the other being Evington). The booklet includes walks around Humberstone village, the Humber Stone and a circular walk to Barkby visiting the site of the medieval village of Humberstone.
In the Glenfield booklet the walks range from 2 to 8.5 miles and covers routes around Glenfield, along the disused railway; woodland walks in the National Forest and a circular walk to Groby Pool.
One of the main objectives of the Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project is to improve access to the countryside. The project also hopes the booklets will attract people from nearby parishes to explore the countryside around them.
These booklets are available free of charge, subject to availability, by sending your name and address to Samantha Forster, Project Officer, Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project, Dept Planning and Transportation, Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield LE3 8RJ.
The Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project represents a partnership approach to working with and for people and the environment through enhancement and protection of existing countryside within the project area. The Countryside Management project is based at Leicestershire County Council and is centred around the City of Leicester and covers a total of 300 square kilometres (113 square miles), including areas within the districts of Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth and Oadby and Wigston.
Other walks leaflets produced by the project include; Five Circular Countryside Walks from Groby, Five Circular Walks from Great Glen and Two Steeples Walks (walks in and around Wigston). There is also the Sence valley Series, of which there are four leaflets: Crow Mills, Crow Mills to Aylestone Meadows, Kilby to Wistow and Kilby Bridge.

Noticeboard

Is there anyone in Birstall who has the board game Lord of the Rings? If so, do you know how to play it?
My grandson received it for Christmas and despite the efforts of various members of family and friends no one has yet been able to fathom it out. Can you help?
M M Wayne, 22 Poplar Ave, Birstall 2673128

At the conclusion of my year as Mayor, I would like to thank all those residents, organisations and groups who have helped through their invitations, welcomes and support to make the past year such a memorable one for the Mayoress and myself.
It has been a demanding year but equally it has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. Eva and I have enjoyed attending a large number of events and functions in Birstall and welcoming many groups from the village into the Town Hall. During the year, we have visited nearly every part of the Borough and have received visitors from all over Charnwood and beyond into the Town Hall.
Our abiding memories will be of meeting so many individuals of all ages and of hearing about the contributions that they make to a great variety of activities that go on in Birstall and Charnwood.
We would also like to thank all those who contributed directly or indirectly to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal. This year £8439 was raised and this included approximately £1500 from the Charnwood textile and clothes recycling. The money will go to research supported by the National Eczema Society.
Tony Stott
Mayor of Charnwood 2001-2002

This refers to the letter in the May issue from Mr Nicholas J Birchall MCSD which refers to the proposed village sign, in which alternative suggestions are made in respect of the constituents of the design.
I wish to point out that the requirements issued by the Council were that the cedar tree and the Beast of Birstall should be included in the design. My own contribution was the symbolic lighthouse in order to balance the composition, and the whole project was depicted in the simplest possible manner in order to reduce the cost of the actual carving, yet at the same time including all the things which are associated with our village, and with which most of the villagers are familiar.
As far as the alternatives suggested by Mr Birchall are concerned, there is nothing in the list which would distinguish Birstall from any other village in England, they all have their fossil remains, their rivers, locks and canal boats, bridges, cottages and churches. At least, the present design includes the symbols which are unique to our village, and quite frankly, I am not the least bit interested in the signs of other villages, including Barkby, my concern is Birstall.
My design was submitted to the Committee, discussed at length, voted on and approved by a majority vote. It was sent to a wood-carver for a quote and one would reasonably expect it to be implemented, subject to the price being acceptable.
Despite the Council’s u-turn, I have no objection to other suggestions to replace the lighthouse and will offer four alternatives to be judged by residents in the library.
Finally, the opportunity to submit designs was open to all, including Mr Birchall, and his ideas would have been taken into account along with everyone else’s had he taken the trouble to get involved.
Norman Sims

I came across the enclosed some years ago and now wonder whether you might like to publish it. It might give food for thought to a few unsmiling individuals!
Roy Ewens
A Smile
A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship.

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.
Anon

It is with great interest that I noted the old picture of the Triangle, Birstall in the May edition of the Birstall Post.
I can’t name the two ladies deep in conversation but I am the young lady patiently waiting for the Leicester bus. Unfortunately I can’t date the picture exactly but I know the skirt I was wearing was purchased during my student years 1953-56. To my horror, when I saw the postcard on sale I realised that my petticoat was showing! What a way to be photographed for posterity.
Christine M Hewson

Over the last few months I have had some disagreements in the ‘Post’ with Birstall United Football Club.
But recently, as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, I was invited to present the trophies at their 24th International Junior Tournament.
What a brilliant event!
16 teams took part, not just from Leicestershire, but also from Cheshire, from Lille in France and from our twin town of Rixensart in Belgium.
Over 30 matches were fiercely contested and, clearly, all the players (under 10s and under 13s) had a great time.
I do not know how much time Jeff Plumb and his committee at the club spent organising the tournament, but it must have been hundreds of hours over several months arranging not just the matches, but also referees (including premiership referee Peter Jones) and, more especially, the accommodation arrangements for a hundred or so visiting players.
Well done to Birstall United Juniors FC.
The weekend was not just a credit to the club, but to the whole village.
Peter West

Two day jubilee festival

IN CELEBRATION of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, Birstall Parish Council is holding a Festival on the School Lane playing fields on Saturday and Sunday July 6/7.
Saturday will be for the young people, with fairground rides and food stalls throughout the day, and
local bands and groups performing from 2-9pm.
On the Sunday the Festival will be formally opened at 10am by the Chairman of the Parish Council Nigel Coleman, followed by a short service conducted by the Rev Chris Gray and the Rev Ernest Sheard. The attractions will include rides, a children’s bouncy castle, numerous interesting and varied stalls and entertainment. Food, drink and ice cream will be available.
The theme of the children’s fancy dress parade this year will be ‘fashion and/or events’ which have taken place during the 50 years of the Queen’s reign and the organisers would welcome as many children as possible to take part - just turn up on the day at 2.45pm on the car park against the bowling green, before the parade on to the park.
The ‘Last Night of the Proms’ will again be held on the Sunday evening and this year, thanks to a Shire Grant, the Council has been able to invest in an extremely good and reliable sound system which will be used throughout the weekend.
The Hathern Band will be playing and the singing will be led by Karen Sampson, a former Longslade Student.
There will be more details in the July issue of The Birstall Post.
From S Alcock

Logo a winner

DESIGNS PRODUCED by two Longslade students were winners in a competition to design a logo.
The competition was to produce a design for the South East Charnwood Crime and Safety Forum. The winner was Samuel Stocks (14) and the runner up was Claire Battye (14).
Mrs Ann Charlish of Longslade’s Design Department said: “Sam and Claire have worked extremely hard in producing design ideas working closely within the constrains of the design brief. Their enthusiasm and commitment has been exceptional throughout each process of the competition. Sam is very keen to become a Graphic Designer and with his ability he should go far.”
Sam’s design will now be used on all publicity and correspondence for the Forum.

Vacancies

BIRSTALL PARISH Council currently has two vacancies.
Anyone wishing to become a Parish Councillor is invited to submit a letter of application to Birstall Parish Council, the Village Hall, Birstall Road, Birstall, Leicester.
One of the vacancies has a deadline for receipt of applications of June 6. For more information about the duties and responsibilities of councillors, contact Hugh Knight, the Parish Clerk on 2676191.

Nature notes

The good lady’s cousin was over from America - California to be exact. He is a widely travelled businessman, whose fund of traveller’s tales, whilst very interesting, are rarely the stuff of which nature notes are made. However, on this occasion - as the saying goes - he came up trumps.
Apparently a humming bird had nested on the verandah of his house; as with most humming birds, it laid two eggs, incubating them from the day the first was laid. This meant that the first egg had a head start, and the chick that hatched was that much bigger. Its sibling - smaller, lighter, less able to fend for itself - had been pushed out of the nest and was found on a table on the verandah in a sorry state. The cousin decided to raise the reject himself using sugar-water and a dropper. When it was strong enough, the cousin put the baby bird back into the nest, making sure that the elder could not eject it a second time. In due course the elder bird fledged, and buzzed off as young humming birds so. The younger however, did a nose dive. After a lot of encouragement it did finally fly off: more a series of powered hops and pancake landings if the truth were known.
Many species of bird put their youngest offspring at risk by incubating from the first egg laid. If one egg is laid every 24 hours, this could mean that the last egg hatches 3-4 days after the first. The eldest has priority at feeding time, has been brooded longer and therefore has put on more weight, whilst the youngest is most likely to suffer from starvation and hypothermia if food is hard to come by. In theory it is better to have one or two youngsters fledge than lose all four (say), and the first hatched have the better chance of fledging if they are that much older.
It then struck me that all our common sparrows and robins and thrushes do not obey this rule; they all start incubating when the last egg is laid, so all their eggs hatch at the same time and all stand an equal chance of perishing if their food source fails. In fact, the common birds are the exception, rather than the rule. Why is this?
On the face of it, one could say that the common birds’ food is predictable; that there is so small a chance of failure that any disadvantage of having the young all the same age is more than balanced out by the disadvantage of losing part of the brood because the other part are older bullies. This is probably true for titmice and starlings, which time their broods to coincide with the breeding of various insects, but it does not work so well with other species. The argument assumes something, bound up in the word ‘broods’: titmice and starlings have only one brood a year - all our other common birds have several. Where a humming bird or an eagle will take weeks to incubate, and over a month to feed the young, sparrows and blackbirds achieve laying-to-independence in a month or six weeks at most, and are ready to start again. If they lose one brood they are ready for the next attempt within days. Birds like ospreys will not be ready for a year.
But then - ospreys may live for several years, sparrows can look forward to about six months unless they are very lucky. It is all swings and roundabouts.

By Finch

Planning applications

Miss S Beddell - erection of single storey extension to side of semi detached dwelling. 24 Johnson Rd
Mr D K Dyer - erection of single storey extension to front of detached bungalow to form linked garage, 267 Birstall Rd
Mr D E Gregory - change of use from printing office to bungalow. 97A Wanlip Lane
Mr & Mrs R L Brown - erection of extension to side of conservatory to rear of detached dwelling and formation of pitched roof over conservatory. 19 Roman Rd
Mr & Mrs Hodgson - erection of single storey extension to side of detached dwelling. 23 Freehold Rd
Mr Chamberlain - erection of one detached dwelling with integral garage, following demolition of bungalow. 91 Park Rd
Mr & Mrs Chapman - erection of two storey extension to side of semi detached dwelling and single storey extension to rear. 367 Loughborough Rd
Birstall Garden Centre - redevelopment of the site for retail and office use. 19-35 Sibson Rd
Mr & Mrs Cox - erection of two storey extension to side of semi detached dwelling. 7 Roman Rd
Mr Flintman - erection of two storey extension to side of detached dwelling. The Gate House, 1 Mill Rd

Watermead Country Park

WHEN IT comes to an interest in natural history and bird watching in particular, Watermead Country Park north is improving year after year.
With just over 185 species having been recorded during the past 12 years, numbers of bird watchers have increased dramatically.
Although rare species such as Spotted Crake, Cetti’s Warbler and Osprey have certainly encouraged more people to realise the potential of this amazing site, it is the numbers of the resident and regular migratory species that are by far the main draw.
Comprehensive species records have been kept since 1990, recording numbers of our rarer summer visitors, of which singing males are counted and their territories logged.
Keeping such records is extremely important, as it enables us to know whether certain species are increasing, decreasing or remaining stable. It also helps us to understand the ideal habitat that these birds require during their full breeding season.
Of all 11 species of Warbler that have been recorded, Marsh and Cetti’s are only singular sightings, though the possibility of them becoming more regular visitors can only increase with time. Grasshopper Warblers were once quite common, with up to five pairs breeding around the fields at the southern end of the park, though with the changing of that particular habitat; they have failed to return over the past six years. This however is not the end of the story. The ideal habitat for this species has now increased in this area, so it is hoped that they may once again become a regular breeding bird for the park.
The eight remaining species are the Blackcap; whose numbers have increased dramatically over the past 12 years. Garden Warbler numbers have remained low during this period, though this year their numbers have risen to an all time high. Numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat have all remained stable.
Reed Warblers are on the increase as more of their habitat (Norfolk Reed) is being created around the park. The proposal over the next five years to extend our existing reedbed cover from around three acres to approximately eight acres can only help to increase the numbers of breeding pairs.
The final species, the Sedge Warbler, has decreased nationally during the past several years, though our records show that numbers for this year are recovering to their former levels.
A full range of guided walks throughout the year are led by park rangers, looking at all aspects of Natural History. From Bat, Dragonfly, Bird and Mammal walks, to our landrover tours of the park. So why not give us a call and book a place and learn what an exciting place for wildlife Watermead Country Park north is.
Dale Osborne, Park Ranger
Wednesday June 12 Landrover tour (£3 adults £1.50 concessions)
Wednesday July 10 Landrover tour (£3 adults £1.50 concessions)
Wednesday July 24 Bat walk (2 adults £1 concessions)
For more information and to book a place please phone 2671944 (answer phone, please leave name and number)

Age Concern info

The Budget and Older People
The Budget 2002 was not exactly an older people’s Budget but it did contain some announcements that Age Concern was able to welcome on older people’s behalf.
At the top of this list was a one per cent increase in health spending between now and 2005-6. The good news for older people not in work is that this will mainly be paid for out of a one per cent increase in National Service.
Age Concern was even more pleased that the Government heeded its views and those of other charities who had been saying an increase in health spending would not be enough to tackle the crisis in social care. The day after the Budget, Health Secretary, Alan Milburn announced that Social Services would see real-term growth of more than six per cent - in exchange for a new responsibility to ensure older people get care beds when they leave hospital.
On personal finance Chancellor Gordon Brown will have delighted some 170,000 older people who currently pay lower and basic rate tax by announcing that in future years they will not be paying any more Inland Revenue bills from 2003-4. This is because the age-related personal allowances will rise by more than inflation to £6,610 for people of state retirement age and £6,740 for the over 75s. He also highlighted once again the Pension Credit which will be available to older people whose modest savings mean they narrowly miss out on the Minimum Income Guarantee.
Of course what Age Concern would have preferred to hear from the Chancellor was a basic state pension increase to bring it to a more adequate level. There is no denying he is seriously committed to helping the poorest pensioners, but the danger with the Pension Credit, as with the Minimum Income Guarantee, is that it may be too complicated to claim for many people. Also whilst the new money for health services is something to celebrate, the challenge will be to ensure that older people access the benefits: for example by properly resourcing the National Service Framework so as to ensure health services are non-discriminatory.
Finally while Alan Milburn’s announcement will give heart to many who depend on social services, Age Concern believes the emphasis on Social care provision should be on providing a range of options that enable older people to live independently as well as in care homes.

Listening Books Can Help
Listening Books can open up the magic world of reading to those who are affected by a disability or illness which makes it impossible or difficult to hold a book, turn its pages or read in the usual way.
The service aims to reach all those with physical disabilities, visual impairment and specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, for whom reading print is frustrating, even impossible.
Listening Books has three digital recording studios and record books in their entirety, including: classics, history, poetry, biographies, autobiographies, science, travel and dramatisations in addition to well known novels, sci fi, general fiction and other pleasurable reading.
It is a user-friendly postal audio book library service. Members receive a catalogue from which they can make their selections. Standard cassettes are sent out promptly and the library staff are always on hand to answer questions. It is able to offer sponsored membership to a limited number of qualifying people across the UK (due to some charitable trusts who fund projects in these areas.) Sponsored membership will be given on a first-come-first-served basis. The member can cancel at any time. There are no hidden costs.
To determine if you or someone you know qualifies, contact the Membership Department at Listening Books on 020 7407 9417 or by writing to Listening Books, 12 Lant Street, London SE1 1QH.

Avoiding Slips, Trips, and Broken Hips
Avoiding slips, trips and broken hips is a campaign being run by Health Promotion England in association with the Department of Trade and Industry to reduce the risk of falls in the home for older people.
An estimated 1000 older people die each year as a result of a fall on the stairs in the home. If the fall does not kill it can devastate an older person’s quality of life and that of their family or friends for ever - and yet many falls are preventable. By making a few simple changes to health and home the risk of having a fall can be greatly reduced.
Physical exercise - Tai Chi and walking, improve balance and strength thus reducing one of the main risk factors for a fall.
Footwear - shoes with thin soles and high collars improve balance and mobility compared to other styles.
Changes to the Home - get rid of clutter in all walking areas and make sure stairs are well lit. Pets that ‘get under feet’ should be given a brightly coloured collar so they are easily spotted. Grab rails and plain, light coloured carpets are some of the most effective changes you can make.
Eyesight - good vision (corrected if needed) and good lighting enable identification of obstacles and uneven floor surfaces.
Medication - should be regularly reviewed by your GP to balance the risks and benefits of particular medications especially if side effects increase the risk of falling.
Information leaflets (printed and cassette and in a range of languages) are available for free by calling the DTI Publications Orderline on 0870 1502 500 or by visiting the campaign website at www.preventinghomefalls.gov.uk.
Jex Woods