Fabafterfifty - Fabwomen

We all know women who inspire us to take a look at our own lives. ‘Fabwomen’ is all about  introducing women who have not been afraid to try something new or different, and who’ve overcome their own fears or limitations and followed their dreams, whether stepping outside their comfort zone to take up new interests  or pursue a new career or relationship.

We hope our Fabwomen’s stories will motivate all of us to try at least one thing new!

If you have a friend, colleague or family member, whose experiences in their fifties could inspire others, why not nominate them for a future Fabwomen feature!


How did you celebrate your 50th birthday? Sharon cycled across India and Kenya’s next!

Article by Fabafterfifty Just to prove the point that women get bolder, not older over 50, Sharon decided to celebrate her 50th birthday by doing something entirely out of her comfort zone. With her children growing up and having more time on her hands, Sharon decided she would do something different to celebrate her milestone birthday, while helping others at the same time. Having already won the physical challenge of running a marathon, her plan (more…)

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Tricia and 27 women over 50 (all non-runners), training to run the marathon together

Article by Ceri Wheeldon When Tricia Ellis decided to run her first marathon, she decided she didn’t want to do it alone.  Always a keen runner (but never having run a marathon), Tricia thought it would be ideal if other 50 something ladies joined her in her challenge. Tricia had no idea, how placing a request for a running partner of the Blackpool Evening  Gazette  18 months ago, would change her life, or the lives of (more…)

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Christine, surviving breast cancer in her 50s led to a new life and inspired a new career

Article by Ceri Wheeldon Christine was dreading turning 50. In fact she had to be practically dragged to her 50th birthday. For Christine turning 50 seemed to be the first step in ‘getting old’.  She didn’t want to become the person she thought the over 50s were perceived to be or change the way she dressed to fit into what she believed the over 50 mould. Now, however, Christine, is happier than she has ever (more…)

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Ellie, emigrated to Australia in her 50s and started a new career in her 60s

Article by Ellie Wilkie Everyone said we must be mad! It was 1998 when my husband and I accidentally migrated to Australia. One cold dark Scottish winter afternoon we received a phone call offering my husband a semi ex-pat package to Perth, Western Australia. We expected to be there for maybe a year on a temporary work visa. We were unusual in the oil industry in that we had never lived overseas. We were in (more…)

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Jan, moving from corporate life to a new career in comedy and poetry

Article by Ceri Wheeldon How easy is it to reinvent your career in your fifties? Jan Jack, our latest ‘fabwoman’ has done just that! How have you changed your career since turning 50? I’d spent my whole life as a secretary, and at the age of 47 performed my first stand up gig.  It was the start of a complete change of direction.  A year later, whilst still a secretary, I opened my own comedy (more…)

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Christyne, going from strength to strength since being featured as a ‘Fabwoman’

Guest Article by Christyne Since our original feature on Christyne in our ‘Fabwomen’ section, her life has had plenty of reasons for celebration! A great role model for anyone wanting to be Fab After 50! I was featured in your very interesting online magazine Fabafterfifty on the 22nd May under title of Fab Women. This is a update for Fabafterfifty on what I have done since then… After appearing in the Independent Newspaper colour magazine which was due to (more…)

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Machita shares her experience as a mother of autistic children as they reach adulthood.

Article by Ceri Wheeldon While some mothers dread the day their children fly the nest and leave home, there are others who know that life for them, and their , will not be quite so straightforward. Similarly , where for most families, Christmas is a time for coming together, socialising, and breaking the daily routine, there are families where any change in routine can bring about problems. Christmas and children with autism Machita has twin (more…)

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‘Gap Years are wasted on the young’ says Jo as she shares her Gap Year experience

Article by Jo Carroll It was a chance headline in The Guardian, one wet August morning, that got me thinking. Yes, I decided, gap years are wasted on the young. At the time the leap from that to doing it myself, on my own, in my mid-50s, seemed logical. What was to stop me? My daughters had flown; my husband and parents had died; work – well, thirty years in Child Protection is long enough (more…)

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Mariam, overcoming illness and becoming a published author in her 50s

Article by Ceri Wheeldon When Mariam Kobras turned 50, and found she had time to herself for the first time. Having been a typical stay at home ‘soccer mum’, Mariam’s children no longer needed her. So what were her options? There was an empty auditorium at the school Mariam’s husband taught at. Mariam suggested to the headteacher that perhaps she could teach a theatre class – she was given the keys and told she could (more…)

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Lillian, Celebrated her 60th Birthday with a Parachute Jump

Article by Fabafterfifty. Following a health scare Lillian decided to celebrate her landmark birthday in a very special way, and raised money for a good cause at the same time! Can you tell us a little about yourself? I was 60 on the 3rd August, I am married to Dave and have two adult children aged 42 and 37, and a Grandson of 21. I retired from fulltime Teaching in 2009 after a long term (more…)

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