Irish sportsman, broadcaster and author George Hook delivered the 5th Annual Dr. Mary Redmond Foundation Day Lecture recently, in St. Francis Hospice, Raheny.

In an entertaining and inspiring talk, he spoke about “The Lost Generation”, whom he described as older people who have skills that younger people no longer have. Examples of these were addition, subtraction, spelling, and correct writing style. I think he was really referring to people over the age of 65, but he was kind to the audience and included all those over the age of 35.  

George, whose 2005 autobiography is titled “Time Added On”, described how he has managed to turn his life around after many difficult years. He said he now feels he is doing a job he enjoys and has a good relationship with his wife and his children.
  
George considers that it is very important that we all have a challenge in our day – not stress, but a challenge that we can deal with. One of his own challenges is improving his ability to swim, with a plan to enter the Liffey Swim.
 
When people get to retirement age, George contends, challenges need to be present so they continue to grow and develop and to become an expert. He says becoming an expert is good because it gives you something that other people want – your expertise. For him, being prepared, doing what you do to the best of your ability, recognising that everyone is lucky and being ready to accept what luck brings to you, is vital.
 

This was probably one of our most entertaining Foundation Day lectures and, in line with many other lectures we have had, was very inspiring. George Hook was very generous with his time and joined the audience at the reception.
 
Next year will be the 20th Anniversary of the foundation of St. Francis Hospice and we hope that we will repeat or even exceed the excellent attendance at our 6th Foundation Day Lecture in February 2009.

– Dr. Regina McQuillan, Medical Director

This article first appeared in the Spring 2008 edition of Hospice Connection, a St. Francis Hospice publication. It is reprinted with permission.