Now retired for some years from occupational therapy in intermediate care, I volunteer with Age UK helping people with their Attendance Allowance applications, and also work as a musician playing flute and sax in a barn dance band and in a rock'n'roll dance band.

My 1984 Churchill Fellowship was spent in Scandinavia and Finland, looking at different approaches to the rehabilitation of the older person. I look back on the trip and the people very fondly. In addition to absorbing numerous ideas and different philosophies, it gave me confidence after managing a busy department to carry out research and gain a degree. We organised Finnish students to train with us and invited therapists over for visits.

Everything culminated in my final ten years working in intermediate care. I led a team of trained carers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and nurses working to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital, and supporting people on discharge, in the belief that with time and patience people could be brought to a level where minimal or no social care was needed.