Pat for The Inheritance / Channel 4
Age: 75
From: Yorkshire
Occupation: Chess Teacher
Why did you apply to take part?
“I’m at an age where you don’t get opportunities like this. It’s more of a personal challenge, to see if I could get a place in the game, and I’m delighted I did. It really is to say it doesn’t matter what age you are, you are still capable of doing a lot more than you think you are. That was the principal reason why.”
Tell us about yourself!
“I don’t like to just sit around and do nothing. I go to the gym, I play chess, I teach guided meditation, I’m a ghost writer, so I’m constantly doing something and then I’ve got my grandchildren too. I’ve been married for 52 years. I’m also a cancer survivor, so is my husband, so there’s a lot I’ve seen and a lot I’ve done. I think what I would bring is wisdom, in a sense. I’m now at a point where I know what I want to do. Fulfilment and feeling proud that you’ve done something is more important to me than the financial side of this. It’s purely about the experience and being able to say I did that. Hopefully other people who are older will say great, so can I!”
Are you good at influencing others?
“At this stage in life and with my varied career experience, yes. I teach guided meditation; I’ve stood up in front of audiences all over and I’ve been mayor of a town. You’ve got to be able to influence people. You don’t get those positions without that skill. I can influence people, but I would only influence people that want to be influenced. I look for people that would be like-minded and think I can support and help here. To me, that’s part of influencing.”
What would you spend the money on?
“I’ve not thought that far ahead but I’m sure the grandchildren have! Now I think about it, if I did win some money, which would be wonderful, I think I would buy myself a car.”
The Inheritance begins tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
