This summer we’ve been touring The Golden Years Caravan, a roving cinema and art gallery featuring a series of ambitious artworks which confront common perceptions of ageing and retirement.
The Golden Years Caravan is a celebration of the curiosity, creativity and culture of Greater Manchester’s ‘golden generation’ and shares stories of what it’s really like to grow older in Greater Manchester in 2019.
Inside The Golden Years Caravan audiences are invited to watch This is Our Time, a short film made by Thirty Pound Gentleman and neighbours from Manchester Cares.
Manchester Cares is a community network of young professionals and older neighbours hanging out and helping one another in a rapidly changing city. Manchester Cares aims to reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people and young professionals alike. It seeks to improve the connection, confidence, skills, resilience and power of all participants so neighbours can feel part of our changing city rather than left behind by it.
We were fortunate to work with a brilliant team of older neighbours from the Manchester Cares network to help make our short film, This is Our Time with Thirty Pound Gentleman. We’ve had a blast getting to know them and thought you would to, so we sat down over a nice brew and biscuits and had a good chinwag with the squad. Enjoy…
GED
Describe Yourself in 3 words
Outgoing, jovial and hopeful
What do you love to do/ are passionate about ?
Music (DJ) + large music DVDs, radio show
collection dancing, motor sport commentator joining- in activities
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
To continue being active and “young at heart”
What is the best thing about growing older?
Experience (and gaining more) learning new skills, meeting new people
What song gets you up and dancing?
I love to love, Tina Charles
GLORIA
Describe Yourself in 3 words
Happy Gorgeous, Jolly
What do you love to do/ are passionate about ?
Dance to music, going out socialising, cooking
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Become a Hollywood star
What gets you up and dancing?
Reggae music!
ROSETTA
Describe Yourself in 3 words
Artistic, active, enthusiastic
What do you love to do/ are passionate about ?
Art, podcasting, writing, organising events, climate change education and activism
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Make a lasting change the lives of people in Batti village, Gambia. Sustainable development matters.
What is the best thing about growing older?
Freedom to be all that I want to be, to do all I want to do, to set goals, learn and grow, be the real me.
What song gets you up and dancing?
Snap- You got the Power
JIM
Describe Yourself in 3 words
Old, deaf and blind… ha ha. Serious answer- I am artistic
What do you love to do/ are passionate about ?
Art. Drawing.
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
To keep going, to stay alive.
What is the best thing about growing older?
I’ve been happier, it has given me a sort of freedom, to speak my mind without fear, to be honest.
What song gets you up and dancing?
Dancing In the Dark- Bruce Springsteen
FRANCESCA
Describe Yourself in 3 words
Outgoing, Active, Cheerful
What do you love to do/ are passionate about ?
Meeting different kinds of people, learning from the people I meet, learning new things. And singing.
What is the best thing about growing older?
Peace of mind, don’t have to be told what to do, make my own decisions.
What song gets you up and dancing?
My Girl- Otis Reading
EDWARD
Describe Yourself in 3 words
Striving for something better
What do you love to do/ are passionate about ?
Read, write and socialise
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Acquiring a good name
What is the best thing about growing older?
Listening and benefiting from others
What gets you up and dancing?
Seeing other people happy
You can find out where you can watch This is Our Time in The Golden Years Caravan here.