“Life Doesn’t Stop at 90!” 

“I always share my age with younger people. I’m 91, and when people see me being jolly and having fun, it gives them courage that life doesn’t stop at 50, 60, 70, 80, or even 90!” Hazell says with a grin. 

She believes ageing is an opportunity to continue exploring. “I’ve taken up Italian and chess, though I’m hopeless at the latter! But that’s one advantage of getting older — you have more time for yourself.” 

Navigating the Challenges of Ageing 

While Hazell remains positive, she acknowledges the difficulties. “The biggest fear is losing independence. You don’t want to restrict your life. And then there’s the worry of not being strong enough if something happened, like if someone tried to snatch your bag. My instinct would be to fight back, but I know that’s not always the best idea.” Despite these concerns, she stays active. “I still go out in the dark, down my lane, but I make sure to be cautious.” 

Finding Her Voice 

Hazell first discovered Voice through U3A in Richmond. “They put out a notice about an all-day seminar at the Business Design Centre. It was quite an adventure  — I’d never been inside one of those big office buildings before, with all the security and badge checks. I must have been in my 80s at the time. I was just this little old lady sitting at a table with the head of Lambeth Council, a doctor, and all these professionals. And there I was, representing the everyday person. That was 10 years ago, and I’ve been involved ever since.” 

Making an Impact 

“I once helped design a kitchen and bedroom suitable for older people. That’s something I would never have done otherwise,” Hazell shares proudly. She enjoys participating in research projects, particularly those focused on medical advancements. “I did a project with Exeter University’s medical school — I’m very interested in medical topics.” 

Why Businesses Need to Listen 

“A lot of the young people running these projects are incredibly knowledgeable in their fields, but they don’t always have life experience,” Hazell explains.  She recalls a discussion about the NHS where a young man suggested going completely paperless. “He didn’t seem to realise that many older people don’t have computers or smartphones to access their appointments online. It made me so angry — he was completely out of touch!” 

She’s also vocal about banking changes. “It’s getting so difficult for older people to access services with all the bank closures. I’ve written plenty of letters about that! Well, I won’t let these big companies get away with it. I even took on the government once!” 

A Life Full of Creativity 

Beyond Voice, Hazell remains active in creative pursuits. “A friend of mine volunteers at the London Wetlands and gave me some lavender. I dried it and made lavender bags. I also found a book in a charity shop full of handmade lace samples, so today, I decorated the bags with lace. I even put little labels on the back. Because I’m called Busy Bee, this one’s got a bee on it.” 

At a letter-writing salon with Age UK, Hazell visited the National Archives, where she saw historical letters. “including one Robert Dudley wrote to Queen Elizabeth I. he wrote the letter just before he died which she treasured until her own death, marking it ‘his last letter.’” 

Final Thoughts – Keep Talking, Keep Learning 

Hazell believes intergenerational communication is vital. “Human communication is the most important thing. I always try to speak to people  — on buses, wherever. Yesterday, a woman came up to me and said, ‘Oh, your smile has brightened my day.’ I thought, Good Lord! I wasn’t doing anything special — just chatting with the man behind the counter about a ring I saw in the window.” 

Her message to those considering joining Voice? “There’s always so much to learn. And that’s why I’m a happy person.”