Our round-up of the funny, fascinating and unusual stories this fortnight
GLOWING SUPPORT
Britain’s kindest plumber will be able to keep even more of his customers warm this winter after a surprise £20,000 donation popped into his account from Hugh Grant and his wife Anna.
James Anderson (56), from Burnley, Lancashire, began fixing heating and plumbing systems for free for poor and elderly locals who couldn’t afford to pay, and has since become something of a celebrity.
His community interest business, Depher CIC, was founded in 2017, and has so far supported more than two million people, according to its GoFund Me page. He and his supporters don’t just stop at sorting heating. They run a food bank and deliver food shopping for those in need.
Now a national hero, James described the donation as ‘wonderful and humbling.’
Sashaying on
As the world’s first supermodel, Jean Shrimpton (now 81) was a swinging Sixties icon whose face graced the covers of British, American and French Vogue simultaneously. Apparently though, The Shrimp ‘never liked being photographed’ and had retreated to a quiet life in Cornwall within ten years.
Now another new chapter is opening for her – the hotel she bought with hubby Michael Cox in 1979 is up for sale for a cool £1.9 million.
Retire for a happier, healthier life!
It may not come as any surprise to those of you who are finding a whole new lease of life since you’ve stopped working – but a new study of more than 20,000 people aged 50 to 80, across ten European countries, has discovered that retiring transforms your life.
German university researchers concluded that retiring can actually roll back the years, making us feel happier and healthier.
Former office workers, in particular, may become significantly fitter as they take more walks and exercise.
Retired people are more likely to say they feel in ‘good’ health than those with jobs.
