We have recently returned from our annual conference in Sheffield feeling energized from hearing all the latest new research, policy and practice from our BSG colleagues and friends from other disciplines. The conference continues to have the exciting mix of a cutting edge forum in which new ideas and research can be shared, whilst at the same retaining the feeling of a supportive, friendly and engaging environment to share these ideas. In particular, it is always a great pleasure to see new and emergent scholars share the platform with long standing and well established colleagues in ‘ageing’ studies. We are therefore delighted that this issue of Generations Review showcases and celebrates some of the highlights of our annual conference.

It has been a very busy few months for the BSG and BSG executive committee members and we are able to report on some of these exciting developments and changes in ‘news and reviews’. Reports by Kate Davidson, President, and Jenny Hislop, Honorary Secretary, bring us up-to-date with the work and changes within the BSG and the Executive Committee. One key development reported is the changing focus of NOGs, reflected in its new name BSG ERA (Emerging Researchers in Ageing), under the new leadership of Ian Sidney from Keele University. We wish Ian every success in his new role and extend our thanks to Kelly Fitzgerald and Karen Baker for their excellent leadership of NOGS that has, without doubt, increased the profile of students within BSG.

There is a real flavour of the BSG Sheffield conference reflected in the review and excellent photographs by Peter Bath. Many thanks to Peter for all his photography and allowing us to publish so many photos that can be shared amongst our colleagues. There is also a frank and interesting reflection on the merits of involving older people in our conference from Gail Mountain, who sets an important, if uncomfortable, question about how it is possible to effectively involve older people within the context of our academic and policy driven lives. There are also fascinating reviews from other recent conferences, ESA Glasgow (Emmanuelle Tulle) and IAGG St Petersburg, and it is evident that BSG members have been taking every opportunity to network, travel and disseminate our work in ageing.

The profile section this edition features Alan Walker, Professor of Social Policy and Social Gerontology, at Sheffield University. As this reveals Alan, like many of us, developed an interest in ageing from observing the lives of ‘real’ people. Alan is currently the Director of the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme, a cross-council research funding initiative, which readers of GR will certainly hear more about in future editions. His contribution to the development and leadership of social gerontology as an academic discipline is highlighted by his receipt of awards from both the BSG and the SPA (Social Policy Association).

The research section is dedicated to a key address and invited symposia from the BSG Sheffield conference and abstracts from recently completed doctoral work. First, Professor Neil Small writes a challenging paper about the philosophical basis of our meaning of ‘self’ and ‘care’ amongst people with dementia. The paper poses many questions that people who care for and know people with dementia will have undoubtedly considered. Second, there are 6 reviews from invited symposia at the conference. Symposia by their nature consider new and challenging ideas and we are delighted to have papers that consider a multiplicity of areas of research including technologies, anti-ageing, ageing and dying, studying retirement villages, and spirituality and dementia. The final symposium was a new venture for a BSG conference, a review of a book that included authors and reviewers, this time our very own BSG book Ageing in Society. Third, we publish the PhD abstracts of recently completed doctorates and congratulate the authors on their success. The research section therefore not only reflects the diversity and inter-disciplinarity at the heart of BSG but highlights the innovative and cutting edge nature of the BSG conference.

Mental health is often described as one of the ‘Cinderella’ areas of the health and social care services in the UK. In his review of the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life, Philip Hurst from Age Concern England, illustrates that this is even more evident for older people. This review highlights the neglect of the broad mental health of older people and reveals the extent that issues such as anxiety, depression and suicide have been largely over looked. Mental health in later life continues to be an area where there is a great deal to do in terms of both policy and practice to improve the quality of life of older people.

Finally, in the Education and Careers section Professor Peter Lansley (University of Reading) reports on the development and achievements of SPARC (Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity). This article reminds us of the complexities of developing structures, support and funding for early career researchers in order to increase our current and future research capacity in ageing. The achievements and successes of SPARC do however stand as a great testament to the importance of developing effective, participatory and optimistic models for the future.

We would like to thank all of our excellent contributors for their time, enthusiasm and willingness to provide material. We are also keen to hear from any of our BSG colleagues who would like to write about their own areas of interest. The dynamic and up-to-date nature of the newsletter is reliant on everyone’s efforts. Naturally all contributions reflect the author’s own views and not that of the Society.

If you would like to contribute to any part of this newsletter we would be very happy to hear from you, so please contact us at website@britishgerontology.org

We look forward to hearing from you soon