The Retirement Show 2010 – some highlights

The Retirement Show 2010 at Olympia last weekend was its usual, sometimes startling, mix of opportunity (travel, park homes, dancing and painting lessons) and health (information about bowel cancer, diabetes) with some financial planning from the Show’s main sponsor (Prudential) thrown in. 

Highlights this year for me were:

1. Advice

The Financial Services Authority has produced a really useful “Guide to Retirement” which promises “No selling. No jargon. Just the facts”. It aims to demystify the financial side of moving from work into retirement, explaining the steps and the choices you can make and covering topics such as pensions. entitlement, tax, saving, heathcare and  bereavement. Call the FSA Moneymadeclear Helpline 0300 500 5000 for a copy or visit http://www.moneymadeclear.org.uk/

2. Fulfil your lifelong dream

Stannah, the stairlift company, have launched the Stannah Think Again Fund which is open to anyone over 50 who wants to fulfil a lifelong dream. Previous winners have included Barbara Hawthorne, 76 who fulfilled her lifelong ambition of taking to the skies and learning how to fly. Tess McMahon, 56,  spent a day learning how to surf and Derek Davenport, 86, bravely jumped out of a plane at 12000 feet. Johnny Sheehan, 64, turned his dream into a reality by funding his first ever play. Apply online at http://thinkagainfund.stannahstairlifts.co.uk/

3. Artists’ materials

As our local artist and craft supplies shops has recently closed down, The SAA (Society for All Artists) catalogue caught my eye. A comprehensive 163 pages of quality painting and drawing materials plus books, DVDs and courses. There are impressive discounts for members. For more information, visit   http://www.saa.co.uk/ which includes details of the dedicated TV channel and members’ gallery.

4. Fashion Show

One of the more unexpected highlights of the afternoon was the fashion show by charity, Sue Ryder Care featuring donated clothes charmingly modelled by volunteers. As my student companion commented “ The clothes were surprisingly fashionable and well put together” (which, I might add, is praise indeed from that quarter!).

5. And finally

The climbing wall. A new addition to this year’s show, sponsored by www.laterlife.com, the climbing wall certainly proved a talking point and whilst no-one was daring to scale its heights whilst I was there, I understand that several brave souls did have a go. 

The Retirement Show is still a relative newcomer to the exhibition calender and is to a certain extent still finding its feet.   I would have liked to have seen more technology on offer, a chance to play with the Ipad for instance and some more examples of the latest telecare solutions.  I do like the “have a go” ethos, whether it’s scaling the climbing wall or trying out the samba or watercolours. Walking round a park home, does make you think whether this is the sort of place you might want to live or holiday in. 

Did you go to the Retirement Show? What did you think?