One of our key objectives for our editorship of the new online Generations Review is to promote a dynamic and up-to-date exchange of ideas, research and news between all BSG members. Ageing research, education and practice is in constant flux and our aim is to ensure that Generations Review both reflects current developments and captures a sense of the multi-dimensional and multi-professional context in which we live and work: a snapshot of many different aspects of the ageing world. We are delighted that so many members of BSG share our vision and enthusiasm by contributing to our newsletter. The diversity and inter-disciplinarity at the heart of BSG is again reflected in this edition.

News and reviews within any Society always involves times of celebration and times of sadness. We have reports on many exciting developments in the ageing world. BSG members have been engaged in work to improve the lives of older people with the development of a new website (Samuel Nyman and Lucy Yardley), a new BSG book ‘Ageing in Society’ (Sheila Peace, John Bond and colleagues), by becoming a Member of Parliament in Singapore (Kalyani Mehta), and setting out a vision for the future of the BSG within the Strategic Plan (Kate Davidson). We also have reports on some engaging research disseminated at recent conferences: a BSG event in Scotland (Susan Tester) and an ESRC / AHRC Cultures of Consumption workshop (Ian Rees Jones and Paul Higgs). We also remember the very sad and sudden loss of one of our colleagues, Mike Hepworth, who gave so much to ageing research throughout his life. We thank Bill Bytheway and Julia Johnson for such poignant tributes that reflect Mike as both a great academic and a delightful man. These tributes combine public and personal dimensions that were so central to Mike’s work.

The research section in this issue begins with an important opportunity for BSG members to forge new and fruitful links with researchers elsewhere. Information is provided about each of the 11 preparatory networks funded under the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme. Anyone interested in joining one of the networks is encouraged to contact the co-ordinator listed. An important function of the newsletter is to highlight research in progress. Gillian Bridge and colleagues report their experiences from a pilot project investigating the development of cultures in old age with data gathered from conversations between older people. Their article gives an intriguing insight into the methodological and ethical challenges of this approach. The next article continues the theme of cultures in old age. Here Paul Higgs and colleagues report on trends in older people’s engagement with consumer society, drawing on data from the Family Expenditure Survey in Great Britain. Finally, we are delighted to include another impressive crop of abstracts from recently completed doctoral theses. The diversity of topics and disciplines represented here is yet more evidence that gerontology is thriving.

A key function of our vision for Generations Review is to provide a forum for debate about ideas across the spectrum of ageing research, education and practice. It is in the sections of ‘education and careers’ and ‘policy and practice’ that this issue contains some thought provoking ideas which we hope will stimulate responses from our readers; at least give you something to think about. Gordon Lishman first argues that we need to start a debate about the future of long term care; and Mo Ray and Pat Chambers argue for the importance of developing gerontological social work. What better place than here to start debating these important issues. We look forward to receiving your responses to these articles and to hearing these issues aired at our next annual conference in Sheffield.

We have information about future conferences and seminars that will be of interest to BSG members. This includes invitations from Murna Downs to the next BSG conference Realities of Ageing: Research into Action to be held at Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, 6-8 September 2007, and from the co-chairs, Karen Baker and Kelly Fitzgerald, to the next annual event of NOGs to be held at Keele in May. We are especially looking forward to hearing about the NOGs event and the work of research students in our July issue of Generations Review.

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 help in the development of this newsletter we would be happy to hear from you, so please feel free to send any ideas or comments to info@britishgerontology.org

We look forward to hearing from you soon

Wendy Martin, Sally Richards and Christina Victor.
Co-Editors.
University of Reading.