Is Joan Bakewell really a good representative for older people?

13/05/2009

There was such a fanfare when Joan Bakewell was appointed to be the Voice for older people, and high hopes that someone with her media profile could highlight the issues older citizens face.

Sadly, I feel that her recent comments in Observer Woman Magazine beg the question whether she has the imagination or sensitivity to continue as 'Voice of Older People'. I certainly would not want her representing me when it reads:

"At 76 Joan Bakewell wouldn't give a long skirt house room, far less actually wear one. 'I don't want to wear sensible skirts' she says, 'I don't want to look like an old frump. I mix with active working people, so I don't want to look like I have come from a pensioners' meeting. My life is somewhere else. My skirts and dresses hover around the knee.'"

How comments like this can help fight age discrimination is beyond me!

Monica Evans