My mother was a physiotherapist gave that up when she married Dad aged 20 had my brother and me in

My mother was a physiotherapist, gave that up when she married Dad, aged 20, had my brother and me in her early 20s, and then devoted herself to her family I don’t think she felt frustrated It was what women of her generation did. We all saw her role as being very valid.I’d known Bill for years; we had pizzas, went to rock concerts, but he wasn’t right. Then, a couple of years ago, I thought, “Let’s give it a whirl”. I was approaching 40, and apart from a lot of very good friends, had very little to show for my life That sounds very casual, but we did fall into it. While some from this ground-breaking generation may be following a similar path to their mothers’, there are many whose lives are radically different, not only from their mothers’, but also from each other’s.’I've lived for myself for 20 years. The next 20 will be devoted to Bill and Megan’Isabelle Davies, 40, freelance stage manager, is married to Bill, a freelance engineer Their first child, Megan, was born in January.

Couples now settle down later, if at all (twice as many people live alone compared with 30 years ago, according to a recent study by Mintel); they don’t necessarily get married; they are more likely to get divorced; they have children later (the number of first-time mothers over 35 has risen from 9,000 in 1953 to 15,000 in 1993); and they may even decide not to have children at all (according to the British Organisation of Non Parents, increasing numbers of women are choosing to remain happily childless).The first generation of women to benefit from the social revolution and to challenge traditional ideas of family life were the post-war baby boomers, women now in or approaching their 40s. “If he does that to me again, I’ll rip his hair out! I don’t have the privilege of having hair to grow deadlocks – so he can’t do it to me.”It’s a long time since I played in a quarter-final, so I am delighted to be back up here. “Ray was a terrific signing for us during his period here,” said Smith, who was assistant to Graeme Souness when Wilkins arrived for pounds 250,000 from Paris St-Germain in November 1987.
“I am sure he will be given a warm welcome by the Ibrox crowd. He is a great advert for the game and an example to any young player at a time when we probably need that.”Wilkins returns almost seven years after he left Scotland to go south to Queen’s Park Rangers. He made an emotional departure on 25 November 1989, after a 3-0 win over Dunfermline at Ibrox completed his two-year stay.Wilkins is relishing the prospect of another meeting with Paul Gascoigne – who is sporting yet another new hairstyle, dreadlocks – even though England present gave England past the runaround on their last meeting at Highbury in May.”I played against Gazza in the Paul Merson testimonial and he gave me a torrid time,” Wilkins said. Smith yesterday labelled Wilkins as the perfect role model for today’s professionals.

The former England midfielder, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Saturday, will be playing for Hibernian against the Scottish champions in their Coca-Cola Cup quarter-final. Ray Wilkins returns to Ibrox tonight with a tribute from Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, ringing in his ears. It represents a highly exciting venture for all involved.”Jackie Stewart and Ford are recognised throughout the world and, given the commitment of our organisations and our shared pioneering approach, I am confident of the team’s prospects.”. We are creating a team with Ford, HSBC and others, which ultimately will mount a determined challenge for the constructors’ and drivers’ world titles.”Sir William Purves, the group chairman of HSBC, said: “This sponsorship is a first for us and the international financial sector at large, in terms of its magnitude and duration. Hill can win it in Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix.Of the sponsorship deal, Stewart, who retired from racing after winning his third title in 1973, said: “I believe it is significant news for motor sport that such a relationship has been forged. We might not be able to afford the kind of money Damon Hill could demand as world champion”For a new team to start their first year with the No 1 on their car would certainly be wonderful. But more than that, Damon has tremendous skills and talents in developing motor cars and he knows the workings of a team.”The championship leader, to be released by Williams- Renault at the end of the season, will concentrate on job hunting when the title issue has been resolved.

“It would almost be a copybook fairy-tale for us.”Damon has many other offers coming from more well- established teams I am sure his head is turned by that as well as the money. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the owners of Midland Bank, are expected to be joined by other leading companies in backing Stewart-Ford, who will make their Formula One debut in the opening round in Melbourne next March.
Stewart-Ford, based at Milton Keynes, have yet to name their drivers and, along with a number of teams, are awaiting signs of Hill’s intentions.With the money now in place, Stewart, a three-times former world champion, reiterated that he would like to have Hill in the team “It would be a dream come true,” he said. Jackie Stewart put in place an important part of his new grand prix venture yesterday when he announced a five-year sponsorship deal worth pounds 25m which could have a bearing on Damon Hill’s future. The forward was fined the equivalent of six match fees by the club’s disciplinary committee after he was sent off for stamping during the Courage League match at Northampton.Wales prefer mobility, page 25. The proposed European Cup is still in doubt after ITV asked for a further 48 hours to consider issues raised at a meeting on Monday with officials from ERC Ltd, who run the competition for the Five Nations.The International Board’s emergency committee reportedly met on Monday to discuss the concerns of Louis Luyt, president of the South African RFU, that the Lions’ tour party to South Africa would be below strength because of the split between international players and the England management.The Bristol lock Phil Adams has became the first domestic player to be fined for breach of contract since the game went professional. Talks between the two sides were held earlier this week, raising hopes a compromise could be reached that would allow the clubs to remain in the RFU while having the independence to run their own competitions and finances.One of those competitions is likely to be a European tournament.

In Gloucester’s case, the indications are that they would only go with Epruc if every other First Division club.Members of Sale and Orrell were prominent in the recent threatened split in the RFU over the controversial BSkyB deal and the consequent threat to the Five Nations’ Championship, which has now been resolved. The fear among many northern clubs in the top two divisions is that being nearer the breadline than those in the vanguard of the Epruc movement, they would be abandoned sooner rather than later by their wealthy brethren.The 24 clubs in the top two divisions have until 11 October to decide, at which point Epruc has said its clubs will break away unless some solution has been found with Twickenham. It is time the ordinary players, members and supporters had a say in it.”People are sick of sharp- suited businessmen trying to run our game. We don’t believe that any more than a handful of clubs actually want to leave the RFU.”West are one of half a dozen First Division clubs owned by their membership, the others include Leicester – leading lights in Epruc through their president and chief executive, Peter Wheeler – Gloucester, Orrell, Sale and London Irish. Resistance to that motion is now expected.
Frank Gibbon, a former president of West, said: “A number of the club members are very upset I intend to mount opposition to these moves. They are to hold an EGM on 4 October at which they intend to propose to the membership that they approve a change of rules allowing them to sever links with Twickenham. The possibility of establishing feeder clubs, which has been employed successfully on the Continent, has not been ruled out, but there are no firm plans to introduce it in the foreseeable future.