New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. World
  2. UK
19 January 2022

This England: Age is no limit

This column – which, though named after a line in Shakespeare’s “Richard II”, refers to the whole of Britain – has run in the NS since 1934.

By New Statesman

Age is no limit

A grandfather who took up skateboarding at the age of 82 has insisted “age is no limit” in life. Don Morton began his new hobby in September after previously being a passionate skier and rollerblader.

The grandfather-of-two said: “I am the living proof that age is not a barrier. There is no reason to not take it up – older people can have a very fun time just going on the pathways. I’m in the process of building up speed.”

Scottish Herald
(Daragh Brady)

[See also: This England: Story of my life]

Give a gift subscription to the New Statesman this Christmas from just £49

Too close to home

It may have been intended as a light-hearted jibe at its West Yorkshire counterpart, but a new strapline on “Welcome to Hull” signs has provoked a wide-ranging reaction on social media.

The sign, on roads on the border with East Riding, now features a strapline that says: “We know we aren’t perfect, but at least we aren’t Leeds.”

Yorkshire Post
(Michael Meadowcroft)

[See also: This England: Once in a blue moon]

A salty shock

A Cardiff woman says she was stunned when she opened a Walkers multipack and one of the packets had no crisps in it.

Yarna Davies had bought a multipack of cheese and onion Walkers crisps. When she arrived home she tucked into a packet and was so hungry she dove in for another. But to her horror the second packet had no crisps in it at all, “not even a crumb”, she said, reflecting on her ordeal.

Walkers has apologised, blaming a production error. “I was annoyed,” Davies said. “But it’s a once in a lifetime thing.”
Wales Online
(Christopher Rossi)

Each printed entry receives a £5 book token. Entries to comp@newstatesman.co.uk or on a postcard to This England.

Content from our partners
Building Britain’s water security
How to solve the teaching crisis
Pitching in to support grassroots football

This article appears in the 19 Jan 2022 issue of the New Statesman, The end of the party