GLORIA HUNNIFORD returned to Chester’s Storyhouse last week to host an interactive debate on ‘101 Ways to Enjoy Getting Older’.

The free event, sponsored by Inspired Villages Gifford Lea, saw Gloria Hunniford joined on stage by published author Jean Beatty, a resident at Gifford Lea, near Chester.

More than 100 people from the city and further afield attended the lively panel event, which saw candid discussion on topics including health and happiness in retirement.

Gloria Hunniford OBE has been touring the UK, talking to retirees about how everyone can make the most of their retirement.

The ‘101 Ways to Enjoy Getting Older’ debate formed part of Storyhouse’s ‘Love Later Life’ festival of workshops, theatre, song, arts and crafts, and health and wellbeing.

The TV star was joined on stage for the penultimate leg of the tour by Jean Beatty, who at 90 has recently moved back to her home county in the UK from North Carolina in the US, where she’d been living since 1952.

Jean had a plethora of interesting stories to share, including details of how she became a successful author.

She has had two books published – ‘Different Drummers’ and ‘Stoney Beck’ – both of which gained five-star reviews.

Jean’s brother, along with her niece, great-niece and baby great-great-niece joined her at the debate, with baby Rose sitting on Gloria’s knee for some of the show.

This prompted discussion about how spending time with children and young people ‘keeps you feeling young’, with Gloria revealing she’d love to have another baby, ‘if she wasn’t too old’!

Gloria also told the audience how she no longer judged herself on how she looked, but on how much energy she had.

Jean and Gloria agreed that having things in the diary to look forward to was important in later life. Jean also explained how being part of the community at Gifford Lea, in Tattenhall, helped her to feel less lonely, as did spending time with her dog, keeping busy, learning new things and staying curious.

Audience members were encouraged to contribute to the discussion, sharing their top tips on enjoying life as part of a ‘Question Time’-style segment. Visitors were also invited to submit their own questions and comments before the debate began, which were discussed later in the event.

One attendee said she still takes part in the same keep-fit class she’s been going to for 12 years, where she meets a group of friends.

Many attendees revealed they wanted to travel more – in particular to Australia – and another audience member spoke of how he enjoyed ‘not being in a hurry’ and getting ‘10 hours of sleep a night’!

James Cobb, director of Inspired Villages, said: “Our penultimate ‘101 Ways to Enjoy Getting Older’ event was a big success.

"It was wonderful to have one of our residents on the panel with Gloria, and it was fantastic to see such open and honest debate about the issues that matter to people in later life.

“The tour has been incredibly exciting, uncovering some interesting ways to make the most of retirement. We’ve been blown away by the level of audience participation and have now gathered the data in preparation for the tour’s finale at The Southbank in London next month.”