Lindsey and her Production Team came to Dalry House a week ago to make an in-house training video about the BBC’s intention of encouraging companies to employ people of 50-Plus.   We were to be their guinea pigs as the Silver Surfers are definitely over fifty!   And it turned out to be quite an afternoon – the few minutes it was supposed to take extended to more than two hours.   But it was fun – honestly.

 The session started off with the ladies (over-fifties) being filmed and taped while they worked the computers.   Margaret F – being a trained typist -  demonstrated her 'speed' on the keyboard .   It wasn’t easy with the microphone over her left shoulder and practically on the keyboard.   But The Team seemed pleased with the result and Madge and Margaret P. were happy to just watch Margaret F.    Then Lindsey interviewed us and asked about our feelings about being 50+.  We all felt that the over 50’s had a lot to contribute in to-day’s workforce   The skills acquired over so many years in the workplace don't suddenly vanish at the half century.   Many skills must be lying dormant just waiting to be put back into use   The over 50s would be as happily involved in charity work as in 'gainful' employment.   There must be so many employers who could utilise skills acquired by the over 50s in the way B & Q seem to be leading the field in this area.   The Silver Surfers are fortunate in having many outside interests but there must be many who would prefer to be still working rather than stagnating at home. 

So good luck to ‘Auntie’;  we hope this video is successful and more firms see the possibilities and make full use of  this available workforce, who still have the skills and expertise and are less likely to need ‘family’ time off.

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Follow-on from ‘Auntie’s’ visit
After all the excitement of making the Training video, on the day the lone photographer came to take ‘stills’ The Silver Surfers’ life was back to being cool calm and collected once more. We got on with what we laughingly call our work while the Photographer floated around taking what we hoped would be nice flattering pictures of the Fit and Active Over Fifties doing their own thing Without the hustle and bustle of the first experience we were more relaxed – and as Lyndsey had sent us a box of chocolates that was a good incentive to look efficient and proficient! We have since had a quick look at the training video and enjoyed it – we hope it will encourage more firms to think about employing more over-fifties, over-sixties, or even over seventies! If these age groups are physically and mentally capable – why not?

The Three Ems/ April 2004