amplifon life

Stylish andeasy to useThe Geemarc CL8400BT ‘clamshell’mobile phone is so simple to use –you can answer and end calls bysimply opening and closingthe phone.

Now available at your Amplifon branch –contact details on pages 30 and 31

Big buttonsGreat amplificationExtra loud ringVibrates when receiving call or text3 one-touch memoriesEmergency call facility

Bluetooth® enabled

£99.99more from Amplifon...

Issue 8 Autumn/Winter 2012

TV�s Dr Chris Steelecampaigns forbetter hearing

Currying flavour: adding a littlespice to your cooking

Traditional or exotic pets:the search for man�s best friend

Connectingwith ourcommunitiesThroughbranches,through staff

Amplifon’samazingcustomersTalentedanddetermined

LatesttechnologyFor morenaturalhearing

In this edition6 A celebration of cycling – a quest for medals or just for fun?

10 Seeing the lights fantastic – one of nature’s most amazing visualphenomena coming our way

14 The National Trust – not just stately homes and gardens

22 So who really is man’s best friend?

24 Transform your garden into a wildlife sanctuary

Amplifon features4 Hearing aids changed my life says TV doctor

8 Our literary customers

12 Lifetime aftercare – it’s what makes Amplifon special

16 ReSound VersoTM – for more natural hearing

Amplifon news and information20 Connecting with our communities

26 Inspirational stories of endeavour from customers and staff

28 Getting to know an Amplifon District Manager

Regulars18 Recipes

13 Recommend a friend

29 Puzzle page

30 Branch details 24

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Dear Reader

As the temperatures start to dip and the leaves begin to turn, welcome to our golden Autumn/Winter 2012

edition of amplifonLife! Once again, we have a host of fascinating and heart-warming features for you

to read, along with information about Amplifon UK and our products and services.

Campaign for better hearing: TV’s Dr Chris Steele

Known for his passion for improving people’s health, well-known TV doctor Dr Chris Steele MBE is

campaigning to raise awareness of hearing issues and promote better hearing. The former GP – who is

approaching his 25 year anniversary with ITV’s This Morning programme – talks to amplifonLife about

his own experiences and why he believes more people should be encouraged to have a hearing check.

See pages 4 and 5.

And so many of our customers have stories about how Amplifon has changed their lives for the better –

see pages 8, 12 and 26 for some of their experiences – and page 16 for some fantastic new hearing

technology that produces a really natural sound experience.

From Northern Lights to fantastic pets...

Our pages are also packed with a diverse range of special features. As we approach a year of solar max,

we feature the possibility of seeing one of nature’s great natural phenomena, the Northern Lights. We also

take a look at our favourite pets – and some of the quirkier ones – and turn the spotlight on cycling

opportunities for either fitness or fun.

And of course there are all our regular features on gardening, recipes and topical things to see and do.

There’s also an opportunity for you to help friends or members of your family who may need help to

improve their hearing: if you introduce them to Amplifon for a hearing assessment, we will say thanks to

you in the form of Marks & Spencer vouchers.

We hope you will enjoy this edition and we look forward to seeing you in your local branch soon.

Yours sincerely

Steve Fleming

Chief Executive

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IN THIS EDITION

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We hope you enjoy reading amplifonLife. Our aim is to keep you entertainedwhile giving you information about Amplifon and reminding you about thebroad range of products and services we have available for you.

We’d love to hear from you with your thoughts about the magazine, so please sendyour comments or ideas to us at: Marketing Department, Amplifon, Gateway House,Styal Road, Manchester M22 5WY. Or via email to: [email protected]

Don’t forget to give us your name and contact details so we can get back to you.

Thank you!

What do you think about your amplifonLife magazine?

Dr Chris Steele

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CELEBRITY AMBASSADOR

In fact his work wasrecognised by theQueen in 2008 with theaward of an MBE for hisservices to the medicalprofession and to broadcasting.

Dr Chris says being a GP and knowing thetheory and symptoms of hearing loss in noway prepared him for his own experience:‘I was just like everyone else,’ he toldamplifonLife, ‘I thought there’s nothingwrong with my hearing, even when my wifekept telling me to turn the television down– a bit ironic when I was appearing on itevery week!

One of the things that brought it home tohim was Christmas time with the family.‘I’ve got four children and two grandchildren– so you can imagine what it’s like wheneveryone’s talking and laughing around thedinner table – the sheer noise!

‘When your hearing is going, you can’t followa conversation in noisy environments, so youdo miss out. That’s when it hits you – justhow isolating it can be. I’m lucky, I have a bigfamily, but there are many, particularly olderpeople, who are on their own. It’s hardenough for them to go to places and meetpeople, but if they can’t hear properly they

can withdraw into themselves. I know whatit’s like – you’re afraid you’ll mishear and giveinappropriate answers – you’re afraid oflooking silly.’

‘I know people think there’s a stigma abouthaving hearing aids – it’s admitting you’regetting older – but there are so manypeople who can be helped if they just dosomething about it.’

Having a hearing test himself and beingfitted with hearing aids was a completerevelation: ‘One of the first things I noticedwas the rustling of paper on the desk –I just hadn’t realised I’d stopped hearingthat. Then when I got outside I was hearingbirds singing for the first time in years.’Dr Chris also believes his much improvedhearing is helping him professionally –making sure he is at the top of his game inthe busy studio environment each week.

He is delighted to be an ambassador to helpraise awareness of hearing loss alongsideAmplifon – and he was keen to experience amodern hearing assessment first hand.‘Forget I’m a doctor, just treat me as youwould any other patient,’ he told Hearing AidAudiologist Lee Thompson at his localWilmslow branch.

He was impressed with what he saw:‘It was very thorough,’ he said, ‘and Lee wasso patient. He was happy to explain everyaspect and really wanted to know about mylifestyle. I simply said I wanted to hearbetter, but he explained that the type ofhearing aids and settings would be differentdepending on how I spend my time andwhat was important to me. I hadn’tappreciated that he would tailor my hearing‘system’, just for me.

‘And I can’t believe how small my hearingaids are – we’ve come a long way from the‘beige banana’ that is still in some people’sminds. Some hearing aids even sit insideyour ear canal and really are invisible.I wear ‘behind the ear’ models and wastalking to the sound guys who work onThis Morning about them. Those guys aresound professionals yet they hadn’t evennoticed them – in fact they didn’t evenbelieve I was wearing any until I took themoff and showed them!

‘And the technology is incredible –

the sound quality and the way you

can link to things like your phone or

your stereo... just amazing.’

Now Dr Chris wants to use his personalexperience to help other people:

Affectionately known as ‘Dr Chris’, he broke new ground by broadcastingpractical and educational demonstrations to help identify the early signsof breast and testicular cancer. And when the letters poured in tellinghim ‘you saved my life,’... ‘you saved my wife’s life’ – he knew just what apowerful part he could play in improving people’s health.

Dr Chris Steele MBE with Lee Thompson of our Wilmslow branch

TV Doctorcouldn’t hearthe TV...

Dr Chris Steele MBE tells how hearingtechnology has transformed his life andwhy he believes everyone over 50 needsto get their hearing checked.

As the ‘TV doctor’ on ITV’sThis Morning programme for almost25 years, Dr Chris Steele is a warmand familiar face to millions.

And for many hundreds of people in SouthManchester he was also their trusted GeneralPractitioner, a job he loved. ‘I became a doctorbecause I wanted to help people,’ he toldamplifonLife.

His name was first mentioned to producers ofthe show by TV couple Richard Madeley andJudy Finnigan, whose GP he was at the time. ‘At first I said ‘me, on TV? No way’ – but my kidsall thought it was hilarious and said ‘Dad, you’vejust got to do it’ – so I did!’

He agreed to a three month run on theprogramme with a short item once a week...and the rest, as they say, is history!

I really believe everyone over 50 shouldhave a hearing test, as automatically

and routinely as they would go to the dentist orthe optician,’ he said. ‘It’s just so easy now. Thesedays you can get your hearing tested for free onthe High Street – all you have to do is walk in orring up to make an appointment. I think it isessential to get this message out to people sothey know how easy it is.

‘Hearing aids can transform people’s lives – I know they have transformed mine.

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PEDAL POWER


A celebration of cycling

This summer’s LondonOlympics and Paralympicsmust surely haveconfirmed the fact thatBritain rules the worldwhen it comes to cycling!

Social cyclingCycling can be as sociable a pursuitas you want it to be. Group up withfriends for day trips, join a localcycling group or sign up for themany charity events that take placearound the country with routes anddistances to suit all abilities.

Or even consider a cycling holidayand enjoy the pleasures of exploringa new place at your own leisurelypedal power pace.

British Cycling, the sport’s UKgoverning body, provides a hugeamount of information and hintsabout cycling, whatever yourability or aspirations.

Visit www.britishcycling.org.ukfor more information.

Always wear a helmet that meets the British Standard (BS EN 1078:1997) even if you’re just popping down to the shops on your bike.

The right bike for you

Road bikes feature skinnytyres, a lightweight frameand drop handlebars.These are designed forriding on paved streetsand for speed.

Mountain bikeswiththeir wide, knobblytyres and stout frameare for handlingoff-road rugged andsteep, hilly trails.

Touring bicycles are designedfor bicycle touring and longjourneys. They are durableand comfortable, capable oftransporting baggage, andhave a wide gear range.

Hybrids a cross between roadand mountain bikes, hybridsare a good choice for mostcity riding and offer speed,durability and a comfortableupright seating position.

In recent years Team GB cyclists haveconsistently outshone other nations withmultiple gold medallists. Sir Chris Hoy,Victoria Pendleton, Laura Trott andBradley Wiggins – the first British rider towin the Tour de France – have all becomehousehold names as well as beingimpressive ambassadors for the sport.

Add to this the success of our paralympians suchas Sarah Storey and Mark Colbourne and few willdoubt that cycling is now truly ‘high profile.’

Indeed, since Scotsman Kirkpatrick Macmillanwas credited with inventing thefirst pedal driven bicycle in 1839,Britons have been riding them toget to work, to improve orchallenge their fitness, for healthreasons or for pure enjoyment.

And, inspired by the wonderful achievements ofour home-grown pedalling heroes this summer,the number of cyclists in the UK – currentlyestimated to be 3.1 million – is set to surge.

Health andhappinessAs a form of exercise, cyclinghas broad appeal. It’s one ofthe easiest ways to slotexercise into your dailyroutine because it is, after all,a form of transport –and it’s also cheap and goodfor the environment.

Most people, regardless of age or fitness level, can enjoy cycling if theyhave the right equipment – and regular cycling can help you loseweight, stay trim and reduce stress. And because it’s a low impact formof exercise, it’s easier on your joints than running or other high impactaerobic activities. But it still helps you get in shape.

For example, an adult who weighs 80kg (12st.9lb) will burn more than650 calories with an hour’s riding and tone their legs and bottom.If you ride up hills or off-road you’ll also work your upper body.

The best way to build your cardiovascular fitness on the bike is to ridefor at least 150 minutes a week. So you could cycle to work or theshops a couple of days or do a few shorter rides during the week with alonger ride at the weekend – you’ll soon feel the benefits.

The Hearing Aidby David Dennis

You wonder why I query not the thing I’ve nearly heardI think I’ve got the gist of it but not got every wordI’ve learned to make replies to you as if I’ve understood

In fact you often never know, I’m getting rather good.I’ve found it works exceeding well, I never need to sayYou mumbled or were facing a completely different way.It saves that awful feeling when sometimes I have to check

Your voice gets raised, the tone goes harsh, I catch it in the neck! ‘I wish you’d wear your hearing aid,’ I know that that is trueBut mostly I hear well enough, the problem could be you.With a little bit of effort and your diction sorted outI would hear you very clearly without the need to shout.It’s bad enough, this ageing game but do you need to hurtBy treating me as stupid with a language terse and curt?My hearing isn’t perfect but that’s really not a sin. So, please a little patience, if my hearing aid’s not in.


WITHIN A FRAMEby Eric Kitchen

Should I be asked to paint a scene

I’d paint in spring when all is green

I’d paint clear water running fast

Released from winter’s frozen grasp.

And from background hills capped in snow

Many streams would steam and flow,

On lesser hills I’d dress with trees

To subdue high winds to a gentle breeze.

High clouds would skirt and touch the frame

The right hand corner would bear my name,

The need for shadows from a warming sun

But delay the rain, till my work is done.

A cottage too would take pride and place

And a stone built church set to grace,

Authenticity, I would add the proof

With ancient barn with tilting roof.

Hoe and rake, spade and sickle

A leaking tub and a constant trickle,

A horse-drawn plough from some past decade

A milking-stool but, no dairy-maid.

In the foreground, a meadow specked with flowers wild

A broken gate with access stiled,

A winding path to infinity

All set down with sincerity.

One of the many pleasures of working atAmplifon is the quality of the contact ourbranch staff have with our customers.

In conversations we learn about their lifestyles – which helps us torecommend the best hearing aids for the sorts of activities theyare involved in – but we also learn about their skills andachievements, and in this edition, we celebrate the literary talentof three of them...

David Dennis has been a customer at ourPortsmouth Branch for about three years buthas been writing poetry for ‘donkey’s years!’Said David: ‘I often write verses in birthday andChristmas cards for friends and my speciality iswriting a person’s name vertically and then

building a poem around those opening letters – what appeals aboutpoetry is the discipline of the metre that’s required.’ Here he turnshis attention to the wearing (or not!) of a hearing aid...

Literary customers

A customer at our Preston branch since 2009, Eric Kitchen starteddrawing only recently but has been writing since 1960 and to datehas written nearly 100 poems – some of which have beenpublished in local magazines. Said Eric: ‘I enjoy writing aboutvarious places I’ve visited and about everyday life.’

On his visits to the branch, Eric has been known to perform hispoetry for staff and he has kindly presented a framed original of this poem withhis associated illustrations to the team at Preston. In August this year he upgraded hishearing aids and now enjoys a significant improvement in his hearing.

Catherine Rothwell is a retiredChief Librarian and a writer on localhistory, having had many of her bookspublished. Her latest book due out this autumn,is called: ‘From Turbot to Tipsy Trifle: Memories andRecipes of Devon’ and is full of historical anecdotestaken from meetings with Devonshire folk along withold Devon recipes and illustrations.

It follows publication of several similar books onCornwall, Kent, Somerset and on her native Lancashire.

Catherine has been writing since she was 18 when shewon an international essay prize and she has enjoyed itever since. Her output increased considerably onretirement when she and her late husband would takeoff exploring the British countryside, meeting peopleand gathering the stories and local information thatform the backbone of her work.

A customer at our Blackpool branch, Catherine speakswarmly of the service she receives there. Said Catherine:‘Julie at the Blackpool branch helps me with myAmplifon aids. She breezes in like a breath of fresh airand it is so good to have a human being attending to

you instead of a mysteryvoice! My aids have been agreat help when giving talksor attending meetings whenquestions proliferate.’

Catherine receiving theTyson Literary Award for‘Along the River Kent’ at theLake District Book of theYear Competition 2006.

OUR TALENTED CUSTOMERS

Northern Lights holiday destinations:So where and when are the best places to travel to for the best chancesof a good display of the Northern Lights? Tour operators specialising intrips to see the Northern Lights are offering a wide range of travelopportunities to a variety of destinations – including some of the mostremote parts of the globe.

The Northern Lights are most visible under dark, cloudless skies, away frommoonlight or artificial light, between October and March and the mostspectacular displays usually occur above the Arctic Circle in the northernregions of the following countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland,Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Russia. Closer to home, fainter displaysof the lights can sometimes be seen from Scotland and during periods ofsolar maximum they have even been viewed from southern England.

PHENOMENA


As the weather grows colder and the nights drawin, it’s tempting to fly to warmer climes to seekout a little winter sun, especially after such adisappointing summer for so many of us.

The Northern Lights – or aurora borealis –are caused by the interaction between theEarth’s atmosphere and charged particlesfrom the sun. When the particles meet theEarth’s magnetic shield they are drawntowards a circle around the magnetic

North Pole where they interact withthe upper layers of the atmosphere andemit burning gases that can producedancing arcs of green, yellow, violet andred light that flicker and blaze across thenight skies in winter. The Vikings believed

the haunting appearance of the NorthernLights were reflections of the ghosts ofmaidens while Inuit people interpretedthe eerie sight as walrus spirits playingwith human skulls. Others believed thestrange sky visions were fighting dragons,dancing gods or the spirits of the dead,either people or animals.

Visitors this year and next have the addedadvantage of travelling at a time of ‘solarmaximum’ when solar activity reaches a

peak and displays are likely to be morefrequent, more vivid and visible frommuch farther afield. Experts predict thatunusual conditions during the wintersof 2012 and 2013 will offer some of thebrightest displays of the NorthernLights to be seen for 50 years.

The shape and location of the lightschanges with increased solar activityand they can widen and spread south,so they are sometimes visible in Scotland

and on rare occasions as far south as theMediterranean. Of course there are neverguarantees with a natural phenomenonso visitors have to be prepared fordisappointment too. Perhaps it is betterto choose a destination that offersalternative attractions and sightseeingjust in case the lights prove a no-show.

You could combine your trip with otherenjoyable activities such as a fjords cruise,a Lapland Christmas, ski tour, ice fishing,

snow festivals, ice sculpting competitions,glacier hiking, whale watching, husky dogor reindeer sledding, a jeep tour or a stayin a log cabin or an igloo.

For a very special experience check intoSweden’s spectacular Ice Hotel which iscreated every year from several tons ofsnow and ice and includes a chapel andan ice bar. Rooms feature ice sculptures,ice furniture and ice beds covered withreindeer skins.

But if you can resist the lure of the sunshine and choose to head instead tothe chilly northern regions, you could be in for a rare treat this winter as youjoin the hopeful hordes in search of a sighting of one of nature’s wonders –the spectacle of the Northern Lights – as a bumper year beckons.

RECOMMEND A FRIEND

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Your details (to allocate gift voucher)

Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms):

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Tel:

Email:

Friend/relative details

Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms):

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Tel:

Email:

*The person being recommended must be new to Amplifon. As part of Amplifon’s commitment to customer satisfaction, we offer a 30 day money-back guarantee to ensurethat the person is happy with their new Amplifon hearing aids. The extra £40 reward vouchers are sent out after this 30 day period provided the order is over £495.00.This reward offer is exclusively for Amplifon customers.

AL 8 SS

CUT

HER

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Please complete the information below. Simply address your envelope to:FREEPOST RLTC-JHSS-RCZB, Amplifon Customer Services, Gateway House, Manchester M22 5WY

(no stamp required)

Why I recommended AmplifonWhen Kent customer Stephen Lewis recommended ourservice to a colleague at work he knew he was entitledto some ‘thank you’ M&S gift vouchers from us.

But just sending in a form to claim the reward wasn’t enoughfor Mr Lewis – he wanted to place on record exactly why he wasso keen to introduce someone else to the ‘Amplifon experience.’

In a letter to our Customer Services Department he explainedthat it all started when he walked through the doors of ournewly opened Kensington branch in 2010 and met Hearing AidAudiologist Barry Rogers.

Explained Mr Lewis: ‘He confirmed what I think I already knew –that I was going deaf! However, it took a further year before Ireturned having finally plucked up the courage, and went aheadwith an order for hearing aids for both ears. In that year I hadresearched other hearing aid providers, and been pestered on aregular basis by them to make an appointment, something thatdid not happen with Amplifon. There simply was no pressure.

‘The main feature I noticedwhen I saw Mr Rogers was his totalcommitment to customer satisfaction and that has continuedsince I had the hearing aids fitted. It was on the strength of myexperience that I recommended a colleague at work and he hasbeen very impressed with Barry Rogers’ commitment tocustomer service – something which is sadly so rare today.’

So do you know anyone you would like tohelp hear better?

If you do, why not recommend them to come along to meet us?As well as giving them the opportunity to experience our greatservice, you could receive up to £50 worth of M&S vouchers.

All you have to do is fill in the form below and send it to us.Once your friend or colleague has completed their free hearingassessment, you will receive a £10 M&S gift voucher. There’s nolimit to how many people you can help – we’ll send you a£10 M&S gift voucher for every person you recommend whotakes advantage of our free hearing assessment.

WORTH OF M&SGIFT VOUCHERS

Recommend a friend and receive up to

£50

12 amplifonLife

Our customers have the absoluteconfidence of knowing that when theybuy our hearing aids, the aids will beserviced, maintained, provided with newtubing whenever it is needed andgenerally checked to see that they areworking properly – completely free ofcharge – for the life of the hearing aid.

We make sure that customers understandhow to look after their hearing aids athome: knowing how to insert themproperly and complete daily cleaningroutines. And because we arrange forcustomers to come and see us regularly foraftercare, we can make sure that a hearingaid is always working at its best.

We also recognise that thingschange in terms of people’shealth and lifestyle, andaftercare visits mean that wecan talk to customers and makeany adjustments to hearing aidprogrammes and settings to takethese into account.

After the first three months,we recommend that peoplecome for an aftercareappointment at a minimum ofevery six months. We remindpeople so that they don’t have toworry about checking in their diaryand to make sure the appointmentis still at a suitable time, or if theywould like to set a different date.

It’s all designed to make it as easy aspossible – and it doesn’t mean customerscan’t come and see us in betweenappointments: we encourage people tojust call in if they have any questions orconcerns – it doesn’t matter how often –it’s all completely free.

Lifetime aftercare:it’s what makes Amplifon specialWe’re always asking our customers what they think of our service –because we want to make it even better – and one thing weconsistently hear is how much people value our lifetime aftercare.

What we do for our customers in a typical aftercare appointment:

3 Clean or replace tubing in the hearing aid

3 Clean the casing and microphone duct

3 Check for acoustic feedback

3 Check general hearing aid performance

3 Help and advise you on your current aid

3 Supply you with a free pack of batteries

And when it comes to routine care at home, we offer a range of specialist cleaningproducts, called Ampliclear®, specifically designed to maintain the function of yourhearing aid. Why not call into your local branch to find out more?

See pages 30 and 31 for all of our branch addresses and contact details.

And that's not all – if the person you have recommended decides to buy a hearing aidfrom Amplifon, you'll receive an additional £40 worth of M&S gift vouchers*

8

The National Trust

National Trust in the UK

And in Ireland, HeritageIreland looks after thenational monuments andnational historic propertiesthat are in State ownershipor guardianship – with sitesright across the countryranging from castles toNational Parks.

Not just gardensand stately homes!

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South WestEast Poole Mine, Poole, Redruth –at the heart of the Cornish Mining WorldHeritage Site this mine celebrates thetechnology that shaped the modern world.Explore the industrial past and see two greatbeam engines (a type of steam engine)preserved in the engine houses. (Pictures 1)

South EastThe Needles Old Battery and NewBattery, Isle of Wight – a Victorian fortbuilt in 1862 and used throughout the twoWorld Wars. Explore the undergroundtunnel that leads to dramatic views overthe Needles rocks. (Pictures 2)

East of EnglandWicken Fen National Nature Reserve,Ely, Cambridgeshire – Britain’s oldestnature reserve which supports more than8000 species of plants, birds anddragonflies and features the last workingwind pump in the fens. (Pictures 3)

MidlandsThe Workhouse, Southwell – the mostcomplete workhouse in existence, wherethe lives of the 19th century poor arebrought vividly to life with archive evidence.(Pictures 4)

North WestQuarry Bank Mill, Styal – one of Britain’sgreatest industrial heritage sites showinghow a complete community lived andworked in this 18th century functioningcotton spinning mill and estate. (Pictures 5)

The Beatles’ Homes, Liverpool –visit the childhood homes of John Lennonand Paul McCartney, so typical of Liverpoollife in the 1950s. (Pictures 6)

Sticklebarn Pub, Lake District –This popular pub in Great Langdale nowhas the status of being the only Trust-runpub in the country. (Pictures 7)

North EastHadrian’s Wall and Housesteads Fort,Hexham – one of Roman Britain’s mostnortherly outposts built around AD 122.Housesteads is the best preserved of13 outposts conjuring an evocative imageof Roman military life. (Pictures 8)

WalesAberdulais Tin Works and Waterfall,Neath – this picturesque spot demonstratesthe power of water and its impact onindustry through interesting exhibits andfilm and includes the largest waterwheel inEurope generating electricity. (Pictures 9)

ScotlandCulloden, near Inverness – visit the siteof the Battle of Culloden in 1746 – the lasthand-to-hand battle fought on British soil.(Pictures 10)

Robert Small’s Printing Works,Innerleithen, Scottish Borders –a printing time capsule featuring acompletely restored Victorian print works.(Pictures 11)

For further details about sites inScotland visit www.nts.org.uk

Northern IrelandGiant's Causeway – Northern Ireland'sonly World Heritage Site, showcasing thisremarkable natural phenomenon with its60 million years' old basalt stone columns.(Pictures 12)

Patterson's Spade Mill – hear thehammers and feel the heat in thistraditional spade-making mill from theIndustrial Revolution. (Pictures 13)

For further details about all theseplaces, including openingarrangements, visitwww.nationaltrust.org.uk

The National Trust, an independent registered charity, is guardian to a hugelydiverse range of places, properties, natural landscapes and environments –the sheer scale of which is guaranteed to inspire and surprise people of all ages.

Its vast portfolio guarantees that wherever youlive in the UK there’s likely to be something thatgrabs your interest within a short distance.

Rock of Cashel – CountyTipperary – A spectacular groupof Medieval buildings set on anoutcrop of limestone includingthe 12th century round tower,High Cross and RomanesqueChapel. (Pictures 14)

Muckross Traditional Farms –County Kerry – preserves thefarming traditions of rural Ireland.Three separate working farms, witha range of farm animals includingtraditional Kerry cows. Meet andchat with the farming families asthey go about their daily work inthe houses, on the land, and withthe animals. (Pictures 15)

For further details aboutsites in Ireland visitwww.heritageireland.ie

HERITAGE

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Offer ends:31st December 2012

Offer cannot be used inconjunction with anyother offer or discount.

a pair of hearing aidsor £200 OFF any hearing aid from our Mid Range and above

OFF£500amplifonLifereader offer

PRODUCTS

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a more natural hearing experience

Clear, comfortable callsWith the Comfort Phone feature, you’ll be able to answer the phone without even noticingyour hearing aid. Your phone calls will be crystal clear – with voices that sound natural.The volume on your non-phone hearing aid will be lowered automatically, so you’ll be ableto focus fully on your conversations without losing a sense of what’s going on around you.

Notice every noteYou get an amazingly clear, rich and distortion free music experience with the newMusic Mode setting. It cleverly preserves the tones and nuances of music, to achieveexcellent sound quality. If you have previously experienced issues with ringing or chimingwhen listening to music, Music Mode can make all the difference.

The VersoTM range ReSound Verso™ comes in a wide range of models designed tomeet your individual needs and styling preferences and makeswearing a hearing aid as comfortable as possible. From the newultra cosmetic IIC (invisible-in-canal aid) to the topperforming BTE (behind-the-ear aid), every model is small and powerful. They’re alsosleek and discreet – including some of the smallest hearing aids available. The settings canbe tailored to give you a perfectly customised, premium solution.

Durable and reliable Every ReSound Verso™ model is protected inside and out by iSolate™ nanotech coating,a unique water repellent coating that provides unmatched moisture protection and greatdurability. Any kind of moisture just rolls right off your aids – which means they’ll lastlonger – however active or sporty you are.

We know your needs are unique. With ReSound Verso™, your hearing solution will be too.

Connect to all the good things in lifeReSound Unite™ accessories extend the reach of your hearing aids. They make it eveneasier to overcome the most challenging listening situations, like a hands-free phoneconversation in a car where sound is sent directly to your hearing aids. And they connectyou to just about any audio device, phone, or home entertainment system. Thanks tounique wireless technology, ReSound Unite accessories stream crystal clear sound directlyto your hearing aids.

ReSound Unite™ Remote ControlGives intuitive, discreet control ofyour ReSound Verso™ hearing aidsand accessories.

ReSound Unite™ Phone ClipSends the sound from yourphone to your hearinginstruments so you don’t haveto hold the phone to your ear.

ReSound Unite™TVDelivers entertainment atits best when connectingto a TV, stereo or otheraudio device.

ReSound Unite™ Mini MicrophoneStreams sound and brings clarity to conversations in places like a caror restaurant. Just clip it onto the clothes of the person you’re talkingwith, or place it in front of them – and you’ll hear their voice clearlyfrom up to seven metres away.

More focus

More freedom

Just more...

You have much greater ability to focus onvoices and other sounds you want tohear – even in very difficult listeningsituations, like a noisy restaurant.

When you’re moving from one place toanother, the hearing aids automaticallyadapt to changes in sound levels makingit easier and more comfortable when youare on the go.

Even in the most complex or challenginglistening situations, ReSound Verso™

makes sounds clearer, so soft voices,high notes in music – even birdsong –will sound natural again.

Imagineeasily followingany conversation, being fullyaware of sounds around youand being able to move froma quiet place to a noisy onewithout having to thinkabout your hearing – becauseinstinctively listening towhat you want to hear justhappens naturally.

All this is now possible thanks to new breakthrough technology fromReSound that lets you tune in to all the voices and sounds that matter mostto you, instinctively and wherever you are.

The new ReSound Verso™ uses this unique technology which supports the wayhearing naturally works. We call it ‘Binaural Fusion™’ because it ensures that thetwo hearing aids work as one system to pick up all the sounds around you, comparenotes and balance what you hear. This gives you incredibly accurate and clearsound for a more natural hearing experience.

With the technology making all sounds audible and perfectly balanced, you get amore natural sense of what’s going on around you. You know which sounds areloudest, how close they are, and where they come from, so you can react andrespond naturally to what you want to hear.

You can connect to other audio devices with ReSound UniteTM accessories

RECIPES


As the nights draw inand temperatures dropa few degrees, perhapsit’s time to heat thingsup in the kitchen andadd a little spice toyour food

People seem divided about curries.On the one hand we hear that certain ones areamongst the most popular meals in Britain – for people from all ethnic backgrounds.On the other, there’s a perception for some that when eating curry in restaurants,flavour is sometimes sacrificed for heat!

Of course curries are meant to be spicy but that doesn’t mean being so hot your mouthburns and you can’t taste anything. Many enjoy what most people refer to as Indianfood (although many of our restaurants serving this type of food are Bangladeshi andPakistani) but perhaps can’t afford to eat out as often as they’d like to.

So here’s an easy introduction to making a tasty curry without recourse to jars orpackets – and dealing with the heat thing at the same time.

This recipe is called Chicken Dopiaza. It’s got yoghurt and cream in it – hardlyguaranteed to make the anti-heat brigade run a mile – and, unusually, doesn’t havegarlic (in this version at any rate), which is another ingredient some people object to.However, if you do like garlic, just add two cloves.

In Hindi ‘DO’means two and ‘PIAZA’refers to onions – and that’s just whatthis is: chicken with spiced onions!

So how do you prepare it?

DIDYOUKNOW?

Four tablespoons of oil

Two large onions, sliced

Four skinned chicken breasts(1 per person)

cut into large chunks

One teaspoon of chilli powder

One teaspoon of cumin seed

Two teaspoons of turmeric

Salt to taste

A 2 inch/5cm piece of freshginger, shredded

A bunch of fresh coriander,coarsely chopped

Two fresh green chillis, diced

A teaspoon of plain flour

Five tablespoons ofplain yoghurt

Five tablespoons ofdouble cream

CHICKENDOPIAZA

I N G R E D I E N T S

SERVES 4

Serve hot with plain boiled rice, along with poppadoms,relishes, and naan bread if you like them. A side dish of Sag Aloo(spicy potatoes and spinach) usually goes down well too.

So there’s a great, simple, not-too-hot curry dish but onewith real spicy flavour, which almost anyone would behard-pressed not to enjoy. Happy eating!

Seven steps to ‘Dopiaza’ heaven!1 Mix the chilli powder, turmeric and salt in a shallow salver or similar and coat the

chicken pieces in the mixture

2 Fry the chicken in ¾ of the oil to seal it. You don’t need special utensils for this –a large, non-stick frying pan is fine

3 Once the chicken is looking brown and well-sealed, remove it from the pan,add the rest of the oil and fry the onion, keeping a handful back for later

4 Add the chillis, most of the coriander and most of the ginger and the cumin seed.(This is where those great smells begin to kick in and you really start to feellike a curry chef!)

5 When the onion is softened, return the chicken to the pan, cover and cook foranother 15 minutes or so

6 Let the mixture cool a little, add the cream, yoghurt and flour and stir well into anice creamy texture

7 Return it to the heat for another ten minutes and a couple of minutesbefore serving, add the rest of the onion, ginger and coriander.

IN YOUR AREA


Connecting with our communities

Surf lifesaving which has its roots inAustralia, combines aspects of voluntarylifeguard services and competitive surfsport. In the UK, Surf Lifesaving GB hasvoluntary members who patrol localbeaches, offering advice, first aid andrescue services – a vital service to thecommunity. Surf lifesaving also offersopportunities for competitive sport withevents, both for individuals and teams.

Pool lifesaving is about training anddeveloping lifesavers to save lives in anyenvironment – water or land – and ittoo has a range of events andcompetitions which test and celebratethe skills of the lifesaver.

Twenty-two year old Gracie has beeninvolved in lifesaving since she waseight. She was always a very strongswimmer, and, living in North Devon

with its many surf beaches, meant thatsurf sports and lifesaving were always onher radar. Her parents heard about anopportunity for Gracie to join SauntonSands Surf Life Saving Club and the rest,as they say, is history!

Gracie has gone on to secureboth her beach lifeguard andpool lifeguard qualifications aswell as her level one in teachingaquatics so that she can helpchildren to learn a skill thatcould one day save their lives.

‘I love the surf lifesaving sport’ saidGracie, ‘as well as it keeping me fit andhaving the life saving aspect, I have alsobeen involved in competition and when Iwas 16 I was picked for the Great Britishteam and went to Japan to compete.

‘By the time I was 19 I was chosen torepresent England as part of a team totake part in the Commonwealth Gamesin Canada. I have won over 400 medalsin surf lifesaving, swimming and nationalopen water swimming competitions andhave taken part in many charityswimming events to raise money forcharities such as the RNLI and achildren’s hospice.

‘I am now part of Gyllyngvase Surf LifeSaving Club in Falmouth and I trainthere every week and take part incompetitions run by them.

‘I haven’t actually saved a life yet, butmy training has equipped me to do justthat. I have given assistance to people indistress: for example I administered anEpiPen on someone who was having anallergic reaction, have comfortedsomeone whilst they were having aheart attack and have carried out firstaid on someone who cut their head openon a surf board.’

Said Gary: ‘I recently fitted a hearingaid for Paul's dad Bryan. He was veryimpressed and we got chatting andbuilt up a good rapport. Then in generaldiscussion at one of his aftercare visits,I heard about his son’s work and thestory of how he began painting and itwas then that I suggested the idea of an‘Art Open Day’.

‘As well as actively promoting andsupporting an accomplished artist fromour local community, we felt that suchan event would also help to raiseAmplifon's profile with local people.’

Self-taught and much admired artist PaulStillwell began painting in 2006 as a formof therapy after the sudden death of hismother and only then became aware of apreviously undiscovered talent.

Paul began by painting his favourite actorsand now has over 40 autographedpaintings. British singer Cheryl Cole andactor Roger Moore both have Paul’s art intheir homes and Paul continues to receivenumerous accolades from celebrities andthe general public for his work.

To promote the event Paul kindlydesigned fliers and posters which werethen distributed around the local areaincluding to the neighbouring branch inSouthbourne which helped bydisplaying posters.

On the evening prior to the event, thebranch stayed open late so that Paulcould set up his easels and paintings andBranch Coordinator Jenny went home tobake the cakes!

On the day itself, Paul worked on his latestpiece in the branch whilst visitors admiredhis work and enjoyed refreshments and achat. Said Paul: ‘It was a lovely space todisplay my paintings, and the eventcertainly seemed to be eye-catching forpassers-by who then came in to take acloser look. It was a lovely day with lots ofinterest in my work.’

As the day was such a success, there areplans afoot to repeat it. Our branch staffin Westbourne and around the countryare always coming up with new ideas toconnect with their community so keepan eye on forthcoming plans for yourlocal branch and please call in to seewhat’s happening – you will always bevery welcome.

Amplifon Westbourne Branchis at: 104 Poole Road, Westbourne.Tel: 0845 241 1915

To see more of Paul Stillwell’s workvisit: www.paulstillwell-art.com

With branches right around the UK, Amplifon is a major presence in our towns and cities,and local Amplifon staff are making connections with their communities in all sorts of ways... ...here are two such examples of those connections:

Artistin branch

She’s alifesaver!

On a sunny Saturday in May the team at our Westbourne(Bournemouth) branch – Hearing Aid Audiologist Gary Baker,and Branch Coordinators Jenny Ambler and Penny Brown –hosted an exhibition of local artist Paul Stillwell’s work.

Branch Coordinator Gracie Dack from our Truro Branch is areal lifesaver! To be accurate she is both a surf lifesaver anda pool lifesaver.

1 1

3

3

4 4

2 2

1 Paul at work on hislatest piece in the branch

2 Welcome to AmplifonWestbourne’s art open day

3 Open for art, tea and cakes!

4 Customers enjoy the display

1 Gracie with her racing board

2 With team before CommonwealthGames in Canada

3 Diving into the pool (photo takenby Gracie’s partner Chris Read)

4 Taking part in a staged practiceincident

Research recently carried out by thecharity National Pet Month showsthere are a staggering 27 million petsin the country.

Top pet, perhaps not surprisingly, is thedog – with approximately 7.3 millionpedigree and mongrel animals living inour homes.

But cats are rapidly catching up – withthe research putting cat numbers in theUK at 7.2 million!

Other popular pets – particularly forchildren – are of course rabbits, guineapigs, hamsters and caged birds witharound a million of each being keptacross Britain.

But it is estimated that there are alsoover 200,000 snakes living in UK homes,and rats even make it into the list of thenation’s top ten pets which are:

Dogs (with the most popularbeing the Labrador)

Cats

Rabbits/guinea pigs

Birds (various)

Hamsters

Horses/Ponies

Snakes

Gerbils

Tortoises/Turtles

Rats

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

OUR PETS


So who really isman’s best friend?

It is believed up to 7,000 primates such as marmosets,tamarins and squirrel monkeys are kept in homes in Englandbut this is a conservative estimate.

Other exotic pets include spiders such as tarantulas, scorpions,insects such as the praying mantis, centipedes and millipedes.

Unusual reptiles kept as pets include chameleons, geckos,monitor lizards and bearded dragons.

Despite our close proximitygeographically, there is moreemphasis on dog ownershipacross the Irish Sea...

Results of another recent survey of theRepublic of Ireland and Northern Irelandrevealed that more than three times asmany households (35.6%) had one ormore pet dogs compared to just 10.4%having one or more pet cats.E

xoti

c pe

ts

PET ownership is thrivingin Britain – with nearlyhalf of all householdsowning at least one furry,feathery or scaly friend.People surveyed said they keep pets to add a bit of fun into the family or, in the case

of dogs, for added security.

But most simply keep them for companionship – and fascinatingly, a separate pieceof research by a leading pet insurance company revealed that a huge number of petowners use their cats and dogs as their first confidant!

Nearly 90% of all cat and dog owners said they will talk to their pets for hours whenno one else is around – with top topics including relationship problems, work,relatives and financial matters.

Having a pet as a companion is particularly ideal for the elderly or disabled – but manyfear that if they owned a dog they would not be able to give it the exercise it needed.

But even that problem has been solved with a huge rise in the number of dog-walkingand pet-sitting services across the country.

Sandie Tricks of ‘Sandie Sits, Stays and Walks’ based inThame, Oxfordshire started her business just over twoyears ago and now walks between 14 and 18 dogs a day.

Said Sandie: ‘One of my clients is a 91-year-old lady.Most days she is able to sit on a bench on the commonand hit a tennis ball for the dog to fetch – but she pays me

to take her dog out for a good long walk at least once a week.’

This of course does add to the cost of pet ownership – but many think it ismoney well spent.

According to one pet insurance provider, the average lifetime cost of owning a dog isestimated at £16,900 (over 13 years). They also say the lifetime cost of owning a catis currently £17,200, based on an average annual cost of £1,028.

This, of course, assumes the animal will not have a serious illness – though big vetbills can be avoided by taking out pet insurance, typically at around £10 a month.

GARDENING


Transform your garden into a wildlife sanctuaryAutumn is a really important time of yearfor wildlife in your garden.By providing shelter and sustenance over the winter months you can support thesurvival of a wide range of native species. And by planting wildlife-friendly flowersand shrubs now you can make sure they continue to flourish in the year ahead.

Many of our native speciesof bee, butterfly, birdand mammal are struggling.

A combination of climate change,shrinking natural habitats andpesticide use mean some of ourmost familiar creatures –like bumblebees, sparrows andhedgehogs – are at real risk.But gardeners can help byproviding places where wildlifecan feed, shelter and nest.

Our gardens account for around25% of the land in most cities soeven if our own individual patchis small, it could be a valuablehaven for wildlife. And yourgarden will benefit right throughthe year too – bees and butterfliespollinate plants, birds feed offaphids and hedgehogs can keepthe slug population in check.

Here are things you can do as autumn arrives to help the wildlife in your garden:

� Create a compost heapA compost heap of grass cuttings,vegetable peelings and paper canprovide shelter for slow worms, frogs,toads and hedgehogs as well as, intime, providing you with high qualitynourishment for your soil.

� Provide food and waterWhile many of us supply birds withpeanuts and seeds during winter, weoften forget about the need toprovide them with water too –particularly when natural sources arefrozen over. Just a shallow dish ofregularly refreshed water at groundlevel will help both birds and othergarden wildlife, like hedgehogs.

� Don’t be too tidyLeave an area of your gardenundisturbed. A pile of logs, twigs andleaves plus a patch of weeds in ashady area will shelter frogs, mice andhedgehogs. Leave herbaceous andhollow-stemmed plants unpruneduntil early spring to provide homes foroverwintering insects.

� Build a bee hotelA collection of stems such as reeds,bamboo or old flower stalks makes agreat bee hotel for mason bees whichare non-aggressive and excellentpollinators. For bumblebees, dig ahole the size of a football and cover itwith a paving slab, leaving a fewpoints of entry.

� Look out for bee-friendlyflowers and plants

The RHS has developed a label whichindicates that a plant is good forbees. Planting a rich mix of thesesorts of flowers now will ensure yourgarden attracts a mass of buzzingand beneficial insects in the springand summer.

� Grow a variety of trees,shrubs and climbers

Good small trees for blossom andberries include rowan, crab apple andhawthorn. Ivy provides shelter fornesting birds and moths lovehoneysuckle. Autumn is a great timeto plant new shrubs and trees as thewarm soil conditions help them toestablish well before winter.

� Create a pondYou don’t need a big garden to have apond. An upturned bin lid or a sunkenwashing bowl will do just as well. Justmake sure it has one sloping side toallow creatures to get out, and addlots of plants.

� Go easy on the mowingConsider leaving a patch of grass togrow longer next year to attractnesting bumblebees. It will also provideshelter for small mammals and foodfor some butterfly caterpillars. Just cutit once a year in autumn.

Garden organicallyAvoid using chemical pesticides andslug pellets. The birds, hedgehogs andtoads you’ll attract to your garden willdo the pest control for you.

Enjoy!Whatever the season, take the time toenjoy your thriving wildlife garden.

Bird andbee-friendly plants

AutumnSedumMichaelmas daisy

WinterHollyPyracantha

SpringAubrietaFlowering currant

SummerBuddleiaLavender

KEEPING FIT


Tony Scrase-Walters, a customer atour Doncaster branch, decided inSeptember last year that hisupcoming 70th birthday in thesummer of 2012 was a cue for a littlecraziness, or as he himself puts it:‘The Day I Ignored Sanity’.

Tony takes up the story... ‘What could Ido to make the big ‘seven-o’ morememorable? As I had been confined to awheelchair on a permanent basis in thelast year, it left me with, what you mightcall, a slight problem. After disregardingcommon sense, I thought of completinga wheelchair road run. As I had not beenin a gym for about 45 years, it wouldtake me a while to build up my upperbody strength. So first off it meant a tripto my GP to be passed fit enough tocarry out the training required.’

Tony then went on to find himself acoach and mentor – a wheelchairathlete called Alan Rayment – a gym inwhich to train, and the use of a racingwheelchair. He also decided on a goal,which was to be fit and ready to takepart in the Leeds 10K on the 8th July thisyear, and to raise money for Marie CurieCancer Care in the process.

Said Tony: ‘My first thought about thedistance was to do a marathon, but I hadto take into consideration my age and thetime since I did any serious exercise. As itturned out, it was very good advice from

Alan to start small and then grow, becausemy breathing problem meant that Icould not use the racing chair as leaningforward in it restricted my breathing.

‘I would like to think that my effortsmay inspire other people in later life todo some exercise, especially otherwheelchair users. We are all aware thatif you keep fit, your general healthimproves. You do not need to take it tothe extent that I am, just a little regularexercise can promote great results.Think about it, you may even enjoy it.’

Tony completed the Leeds 10K on arecumbent hand bike in 1 hour and1 minute and raised £350 for Marie CurieCancer Care – a truly inspirational man!

Inspirational stories of fitness, endeavour and willpower

Said Tony: ‘May I also say‘thank you’ to your Doncasterbranch team who have suppliedmy two hearing aids and havelooked after me as if I wasroyalty. Other firms need to lookto you to learn how to treat theircustomers, it would makebuying a lot more pleasurable.’

Tony (left) with coach and mentorAlan Rayment.

Cycle powerIf you’ve read our article aboutcycling on pages 6 and 7, you’llhave seen examples of cyclingopportunities ranging from agentle trundle around countrylanes to power pedalling yourway to Olympic glory!

Among our newly inspired cyclistsis Chief Executive Steve Fleming,who has just bought his first bikein 10 years with the aim of addinga new dimension to his fitnessroutine which already includesrunning and golf.

Fired with enthusiasm, he cycled26 miles one weekend – and feltthe effects the following day!

Now he’s planning to build upthe distances a little moregradually...

The beautiful gameManchester is famedfor its footballingexcellence, but nevermind City or United,there’s a hotly

contested matchbetween teams from our

Support Office and a group oflocal Amplifon Hearing AidAudiologists every week.

So far the scores are pretty mucheven – but both sides say theyare always looking for newplayers to join their teams.

Other sporting

activities enjoyed

by Amplifonemployees...

There are many motives for taking physicalexercise – keeping fit and healthy, settingyourself a challenging goal, running up cashfor charity, and of course pure enjoyment!

All of these are cited by one of our amazing customers Tony Scrase-Waltersand a number of Amplifon employees who enjoy a wide range of sportingactivities. Get ready to be inspired by them...

Seriously tough stuff!But running is not enough for Mark Denison who hasbeen on a mission to get fit and keep fit now that he is in his 40s.

In August, he inspired three other members of the IT department (Gareth Wane,Chris Peak and Mike Barlow – all of whom are younger than he is!) to join him intaking part in a section of ‘Total Warrior’ – a gruelling test of fitness and enduranceset in the unforgiving terrain of the Lake District.

The event involved a 10K run with a difference – for it included steep hills, scaling8ft walls, ploughing through swamps and negotiating tunnels and even fire...but every one of them completed the course.

Said Gareth: ‘The week before I was petrified,wondering what I had let myself in for! However,it proved to be a lot of fun and I wouldmost definitely do it again next year.

And Chris Peak added: ‘It was a reallyenjoyable day and I was surprised byhow much energy I had by the half waymark – all I can say is the adrenalinemust have carried me through!’

In the running...We also have many runners amongour employees – several of whomhave raised significant sums forcharity and who have been featured inprevious editions of amplifonLife.

At our Manchester Support Office, threerunners who encourage each other bytraining together are Logistics ManagerJon Hale, IT Manager Mark Denison andRisk Manager Andrew Ratcliffe.

They regularly run from the office –although more formally they havebetween them completed 10Ks inWarrington and Tatton Park, Cheshire thisyear. At the time of going to press, theywere working towards a half marathon inBristol in September.

Another of our Tatton Park10K runners is Financial ControllerVicki Milton whose trainingregularly includes a four mile runhome from the office!

Pictured left to right:

Jon Hale, Mark Denison and

Andrew Ratcliffe.

STAFF INSIGHT

28 amplifonLife

Getting to know an Amplifon

District Manager

What attracted youto Amplifon?

I joined Amplifon in May 2009and my appointment was

seen as something of an experiment!My background was in blue-chipretail companies and Chief ExecutiveSteve Fleming recognised that myexperience in this customer-facing,High Street environment might be agood fit for the company. I was the firstnon audiologist District Manager andI was delighted to have the opportunityto work for Amplifon.

Tell us about yourDistrict and your role as

District Manager

The South East District isgeographically the smallest of

the Amplifon Districts, but with23 branches, three of which are incentral London, there is variety and lotsof opportunity. The District covers Essex,Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Outer Londonand the central London branches ofKensington, the London OtologicalCentre (which is just off Harley Street)and Wigmore Street. Each branch has itsown style within the Amplifon family –and there is inevitably a central London‘factor’ – we have Ambassadors andPrinces amongst our customer base inthose branches – all receiving the samefirst class Amplifon service.

My role is to support the BranchManagers in my District team in deliveringthe best possible service to ourcustomers. I’m known for my verystructured approach, meeting with eachof them for half a day every month intheir Branch to have a thorough catch upon how things are going, and offer ideas

and support. I’m an early bird, so I willoften arrive at a Branch between 6am and6.30am and do various administrativejobs before meeting the Branch Managerat 8.30am. Whilst these monthlymeetings are a key part of the way wekeep in touch, I am always available if oneof my team needs support.

How did you feelabout being named as

Amplifon’s District Manager ofthe Year for the UK and Ireland?

I was delighted to receive theaward of course, but to be

honest, it was much more significant forme when we won District of the Year too.

My personal award was announced firstat our conference and, as it’s notnormally the case that the same Districtwins both District Manager and Districtof the Year, I was a little disappointed,thinking that my team members weren’tgoing to get the recognition theydeserved. And then District of the Yearwas announced – and we in the SouthEast won! I was thrilled about that –it was far more important to me that wewon as a District as it’s a team effort.

What is the secret ofyour success?

No secret really... it’s all about theteam. It’s having the right people

in place and making sure they have thesupport they need. In the South EastDistrict, we have a great mix of talent –with older, more experienced people whohave been with the business for up to30 years and younger employees, someof whom are straight out of University.They each bring something unique to theteam and, at our monthly Districtmeetings, where Branch Managers andAudiologists from our 23 branches gettogether, we learn from each other andhow we can all contribute to making adifference for our customers.

What do you like to dooutside of work?

I have a very busy home life notleast because I have seven kids

and five grandchildren several of whomlive with us, plus of course I spend timewith my wife Sue who has put up withme for 32 years.

I am a season ticket holderat West Ham – I really lovemy football – and lastyear when they reachedthe championship final,I took my grandson and threeof my boys along to watch the gameat Wembley – a real highlight of the year.

Q

A

Steve receiving his award

Q

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Q

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Q

A

Q

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PUZZLES

amplifonLife 29

CUT HER

E

CONGRATULATIONS

G N I N R O M L W T E O P L ES C T H O L Y M P I A N L R PG O L D E W N B C F G A W I AR M U T Z L T A T I B A H L CB M C N A S C E T T O S C Y SV U N O D N R I O U N B T Z DA N O W E C E O N O R I S A NG I E G A D F M I A R E O L AN T L R N T O N O B G A P U LI Y E A R I A P E N A R M T CR O M U C P L L I R E S O N GA Z A R M B E C T A W H C A LE L H O G C H I Y R Z O P R TH A C R E T S E H C N A M A VS O L A R T V R O T C O D T B

Well done to last edition’s luckywinner Mr D Hargreaves ofSheffield, who was presented with abox of delicious chocolates by localBranch Coordinator Heidi Williams.

Issue 7 solution below:

Pleasefill in yourdetails and returnwith your completedwordsearch.

Name

Address

Postcode

Telephone

Marketing Department, Amplifon,Gateway House, Styal Road,Manchester M22 5WY

M V E L B O S W L R P N U F AU O O Y S U E A I L O G N O MV D I L P G R T J T I N E P EO H I P U U I E H U O G C L DR D O C A M A R E I B N F W NS R I N K D E W T R O I W I UT N I A O E F A E I R S L R OS B L P M N N Y L T M I A E SC S E I R O S S E C C A S L EI E I H R T N D V L E R E E RP N L O G I S D I E A D G S DM I C I D N A T S R A N R S HY H P E B U N T I N G U A S OL J D I V O A D O S I F B C EO R E C O M M E N D M A N Y M

AFTERCARE

ARTIST

AURORA

CELEBRITY

CHAMELEON

COMMUNITY

COMPANIONSHIP

COMPOST

CYCLING

DOCTOR

DOPIAZA

EARS

FOOTBALL

GOLD

HABITAT

HEARING

LANDSCAPE

MANCHESTER

MORNING

NATURE

OLYMPIAN

ORGANIC

PHENOMENA

POET

SOLAR

SOUND

TARANTULA

WORD SEARCHOnce again, we are delighted that so many of you are takingpart in our wordsearch competitions – nearly 1,000 entries forthe last edition’s teaser.

Here is another of these popular puzzles and as always there is a topical twist toour choice of words to reflect some of the articles and features in this latestissue of amplifonLife.

All you have to do is find the 27 words listed below – they may go forwards,backwards or diagonally. Try it for fun, or if you would like to send us your entry,together with your name and address, you will be in with a chance of winning afantastic box of luxury chocolates.

The solution will appear in the next edition of amplifonLife.

Steve Knight was our 2011 District Manager of the Year and,

much to his delight, his District – the South East – was also

awarded the top prize. Steve talks to amplifonLife about

his role and the secret of his success...

A recent

comment from one of

Steve’s Branch Managers

‘Steve is always available to offersupport when I need it. I couldn’t wishfor a better District Manager.’Matthew Allsop, Branch Manager,Wigmore Street, London.

BRANCHES


Amplifon branch detailsLONDON AREA

66 New Cavendish Street% 0845 241 199630 Wigmore Street% 0845 241 2256Bromley 19b East Street% 0845 241 1173Croydon 208 High Street% 0845 241 1936Epsom 126 High Street% 0845 241 9340Finchley 13 Ballards Lane% 0845 241 1976Harrow 109 Headstone Road% 0845 241 1984Kensington 273 Kensington High Street% 0845 241 1419Kingston-U-Thames 1 The Griffin Centre,Market Place% 0845 241 2267Lewisham 248 Lewisham High Street% 0845 241 1993Romford 162-166 South Street% 0845 241 2215Southgate 86 Crown Lane% 0845 241 2231St. Albans 19 Heritage Close% 0845 241 1205Twickenham 18 Heath Road% 0845 241 2248Walthamstow 375 Hoe Street% 0845 241 2251

SOUTH WEST ENGLANDBath 2b York Street% 0845 241 3721Bideford 2 The Quay% 0845 241 1912Bristol 20 Bond Street% 0845 241 1924Bristol 10 Carlton Court,Off Canford Lane, Westbury on Trym% 0845 241 3534Cheltenham 15 Regent Street% 0845 241 1928Exeter 143 Sidwell Street% 0845 241 1973Gloucester 84/86 Eastgate Street% 0845 241 1981Paignton 73 Hyde Road% 0845 241 1972Plymouth 45 Mayflower Street% 0845 241 2117Redruth 36 Fore Street% 0845 241 0771Taunton 16 Bridge Street% 0845 241 1578Torquay 3 Madrepore Road% 0845 241 2271Truro 67 Lemon Street% 0845 241 2238Yeovil 77 Middle Street% 0845 241 9338

SOUTH OF ENGLANDAylesbury 32 Buckingham Street% 0845 241 1906Banbury 51 High Street% 0845 241 3648Bletchley 147 Queensway% 0845 241 9206Bournemouth 9 Carbery Row,Southbourne Road, Southbourne% 0845 241 2226104 Poole Road, Westbourne% 0845 241 1915Bramley 12-13 High Street% 0845 241 1921Brighton 2a Preston Road% 0845 241 1923Canterbury 4 Iron Bar Lane% 0845 241 0657Chichester 3 Eastgate Square% 0845 241 1929Dorchester 2a The Forum Centre,Trinity Street% 0845 241 9203Dorking 51 High Street% 0845 241 1943Dunstable 5 Queensway% 0845 241 1941Eastbourne 21 Terminus Road% 0845 241 1947Farnborough 77 Lynchford Road% 0845 241 9337Guildford 9 Tunsgate% 0845 241 3578Hitchin 28 Hermitage Road% 0845 241 2108Horsham 5 Shelley House, Bishopric% 0845 241 2629Isle of Wight 65 High Street, Newport% 0845 241 1989Maidenhead 83 Queen Street% 0845 241 2867Maidstone 11 Earl Street% 0845 241 1938Margate 200a Northdown Road% 0845 241 2003Oxford 41 Upper Bar, Templars SquareShopping Centre, Cowley% 0845 241 3538Portsmouth 32 Arundel Street% 0845 241 2118Reading 7 Cheapside% 0845 241 2123Salisbury 2 Loder House,16 Endless Street% 0845 241 2216Southampton 2 London Road% 0845 241 2219Southampton 336 Shirley Road% 0845 241 3537Southend-On-Sea 64 London Road% 0845 241 2229Swindon 21a Milton Road% 0845 241 9347Tunbridge Wells 2 Monson Road% 0845 241 2246Watford 480 St Albans Road% 0845 241 3461Winchester 58 St Georges Street% 0845 241 3587Worthing 27 Marine Parade% 0845 241 2261

EAST ANGLIACambridge 14 Magdalene Street% 0845 241 3613Chelmsford 198 Moulsham Street% 0845 241 9205Colchester 30 Priory Walk% 0845 241 0667Ipswich 56 Westgate Street% 0845 241 2265Norwich Norfolk House,St John Maddermarket% 0845 241 2105Norwich 50-58 Ber Street% 0845 241 2106Peterborough 1 Cross Street Court,Cross Street% 0845 241 2116

MIDLANDSBirmingham 16 Needless Alley% 0845 241 1913Burton On Trent 8 Hampden House,Rosliston Road, Stapenhill% 0845 241 1925Coventry 15 City Arcade Shopping Centre% 0845 241 1932Derby 18 Osmaston Road% 0845 241 1939Dudley 8 Birmingham Street% 0845 241 1945Hanley 18 Stafford Street% 0845 241 1983Hereford Packers House,54 Berrington Street% 0845 241 9204Leicester 9 Abbey Street% 0845 241 1992Lincoln 8 Stonebow Centre, Silver Street% 0845 241 1994Northampton 38 St. Giles Street% 0845 241 2104Nottingham 46 Friar Lane% 0845 241 2107Shrewsbury 22 Mardol% 0845 241 2218Solihull 58 Station Road% 0845 241 2675Sutton Coldfield 88 The Parade,Gracechurch Shopping Centre% 0845 241 1298Sutton In Ashfield 50 Outram Street% 0845 241 2235Walsall 1 Bradford Street% 0845 241 2249Wolverhampton 50 Victoria Street% 0845 241 3638Worcester 22 The Shambles% 0845 241 2259

NORTH WESTAltrincham 34 Greenwood Street% 0845 241 1905Birkenhead 33 Milton Pavement,The Grange Shopping Centre% 0845 241 1167Blackburn 8 Preston New Road% 0845 241 9207Blackpool 32 Clifton Street% 0845 241 1914Bolton 123 Bradshawgate% 0845 241 9339Chester 4 Frodsham Mall, Frodsham Street% 0845 241 3620Crewe 291 West Street% 0845 241 1935Liverpool 70 Bold Street% 0845 241 1995Lytham St. AnnesBroadhurst Optometrists, 4 Station Square% 0845 241 1123Macclesfield Aspinwall Court, Chestergate% 0845 241 1998Oldham 36a Spindles Shopping Centre% 0845 241 2109Preston 35 Cannon Street% 0845 241 2119Southport 173 Lord Street% 0845 241 1206Stockport 7 Brown Street% 0845 241 3583Warrington 29 Buttermarket Street% 0845 241 3712Wigan 74 Market Street% 0845 241 2254Wilmslow 20 Alderley Road% 0845 241 1982

YORKSHIRE& NORTH EAST

Barnsley 10 Regent Street/2 Eastgate% 0845 241 2897Bradford 23 Westgate% 0845 241 1916Chester Le Street 7 St Cuthberts Walk% 0845 241 3609Darlington 3 Duke Street% 0845 241 1937Doncaster 17 Nether Hall Road% 0845 241 1942Grimsby 38a Hainton Avenue% 0845 241 2273Harrogate 29b Beulah Street% 0845 241 9345Huddersfield 14 Byram Street% 0845 241 1986Hull 22 Paragon Street% 0845 241 2264Leeds 1 Market Buildings, Kirkgate% 0845 241 1991Middlesbrough 49 Corporation Road% 0845 241 2006Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 28 Nun Street% 0845 241 2103Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 46 NewgateShopping Centre, Grainger Street% 0845 241 2008Sheffield 133 Pinstone Street% 0845 241 2217Sunderland 19 Olive Street% 0845 241 2234Wakefield 13 Cross Street% 0845 241 9328York 35 Micklegate% 0845 241 2262

SCOTLANDAberdeen 140 King Street% 0845 241 2263Ayr 5 Miller Road% 0845 241 1917Dumfries 8 The Loreburne Centre% 0845 241 3625Dundee 26 Castle Street% 0845 241 1946Edinburgh 45-47 Shandwick Place% 0845 241 1971Edinburgh 183 Morningside Road% 0845 241 3539Falkirk 20 Cockburn Street% 0845 241 1975Glasgow 39 Glassford Street% 0845 241 1978Glasgow 254 Sauchiehall Street% 0845 241 1979Inverness 17 Huntly Street% 0845 241 9344Perth* 5 Princes Street% 0845 241 2115Stirling* 12 Viewfield Place% 0845 241 3467*Opening hours vary – please contact branch

WALESCardiff 100a St Mary Street% 0845 241 1926Carmarthen 16 Merlins Walk% 0845 241 1927Colwyn Bay 30 Seaview Road% 0845 241 1931Cwmbran 12a Gwent Square% 0845 241 1283Swansea 14 Portland Street% 0845 241 2236

NORTHERN IRELANDBelfast 49 Cregagh Road% 0845 241 1908Belfast 257 Lisburn Road% 0845 241 3617

REPUBLIC OF IRELANDCork 35 Grand Parade% 021 427 9627Dublin 34 Lower Abbey Street% 878 6135

Registered office: Amplifon Limited, Gateway House,Styal Road, Manchester M22 5WY

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