Hattersley and Mottram Community Media

July 2010
Life in this Hi-Tec world is not for the more mature people, what with e-mails and web sites the pace is to fast for the over 60's. Don't you believe it! My slogan was, "I have managed for over 70 years without it, why do I want to start now " Well there's no fool like an old fool they say, and in my case, how true.

I retired from full time employment at the age of 65, but promised myself that I would not spend the rest of my days going down hill. I am a member of the British Korean Veterans Association (BKVA), and at that time was Chairman of the Greater Manchester Branch, plus a member of the National Council, I also contributed articles to the BKVA magazine, so I had something to concentrate my mind, but not enough.

In the year 2000, I joined the Volunteer Readers Help, a charity that send their volunteers into schools across the U.K. helping children who are having problems with their reading. Following training and clearance from the C.R.B. I started two half days a week in one of our local schools. It was while doing this work that I wrote a piece for the Community News about an event at the school, following some wonderful encouragement from Muriel our editor, I soon started writing on a regular basis on a range of subjects, all written by hand of course. And that is the crux of my story

Knowing how long each report took me to complete, Muriel and the staff at the Community News began a long campaign to get me into the 21st century, a campaign that I resisted as hard as they pushed, for reasons stated above. Then one magic day Muriel arrived on my doorstep with an old computer that someone had thrown away, she soon set it up as a word processer to enable me to type all my reports.

I very soon found the value of this magic machine, no more miss-spelt words, if I missed something from the article, don't worry, just type it in at the correct place, no need to rip the paper up and throw it away as I always had to do before when I made mistakes. However, I was still not quite in the modern world, I was not "ON LINE"

My reports and articles were now neatly typed but they still had to be delivered by hand or by Royal Mail. The next phase of Community News’ campaign now started when Muriel told me of the wonders of the internet and how I could research any subject at the touch of a key. My reply always went along the lines that "I love going into the library and doing my research there “or, "I love the feel of a book, and you can't get that with a computer." I was soon being attacked from two sides, Muriel on one and my daughter on the other both having a go at this old wrinkly, in the end they won and I finally went On Line.

It was not long before I found that in fact it was me that was the winner. I do not exaggerate when I say that a whole new world opened up in front of my eyes. I very soon mastered the art of e-mailing, I can now contact friends across the U.K. in seconds, I have conversations with pals in New Orleans in the USA, I can read newspapers before they hit the streets, I can get the latest rail and air timetables and fares, looking for a short holiday break no problem, just click on it. I have said that I love reading books I still do, but now I can find the newest books in print, or old collectable ones within seconds and if I wish to buy, I can pay the lowest price for them, I also love jazz if I am looking for old records no problem! Car insurance, this year I saved £90 by checking the internet. If you were in the forces and want to get in touch with old pals, or perhaps you would like to see where you were stationed in Hong Kong or Halifax, just click on the internet you will be there in seconds, it just goes on and on.
I’ve heard strange stories about something called ‘Facebook’ and ‘Chat Rooms’ but I don't have to use them, if I don’t want. But what I do use is the facility to connect with people around the world in seconds. For example, working for the Korean Veterans I was asked to co-ordinate a student Camp for Peace this year. The authorities in South Korea had invited young people from all the 21 nations who had gone to their aid in 1950 when they were invaded by North Korea and China. The U.K. had been allocated 30 places to go to the grandchildren of British Korean Veterans. My job was to notify all the 50 branches of the BKVA in this country asking for nominations to be sent to my by the deadline. With just one letter and one click of a key I was able to do this. I received far more applications than there were places, so a lucky draw was made by Muriel our editor, (What talent this woman has) Each applicant had to be told of the result, I had to inform the Korean Embassy in London also the authorities in Korea and Korean Air. How long all that would have taken me using pen and paper and the Post Office is impossible to calculate, But messages, information, and answers to all questions were sent and received within seconds by e-mail for weeks leading up to their departure to Korea, and all for free. An e-mail can be one line long, or a complete book, it still costs you nothing.

Now not satisfied having me using computers and the internet, because of my contribution to the Community News they have now awarded me the smallest HD video camera you can imagine. It’s as small as a mobile phone and easily goes in my pocket. Keep an eye on the site because n doubt there’ll have me producing video reports before you know it. So that will be another hi-tec skill I’ll have, thanks to volunteering with the Community News

Those of you that are reading this have got access to a computer, but someone you know hasn’t, so why not share this world with them. Advise them, tell them about the help that’s here in Hattersley, tell them to contact the Community News office and ask about computer training for the more mature amongst us. Tell them about the freedom that computers can give, tell them not to be a ‘doubting Thomas’, as I was. Using a computer has improved my skills, has given me a wider view of life and has taught me many things that I was unaware of from around the world. All this and more has been given to me by the Hattersley & Mottram Community News and the wonderful staff there, without their encouragement and help I would still be in the dark ages.

Brian Hough
Community Reporter

(Picture above shows Brian receiving his Zi8 video camera from HMCM Trustee Mike Alford)