This programme is part of a series looking at people who have opted for a career change in order find a more fulfilling way of living. This programme features Roy Dixon. As a soil consultant he built top golf courses all over Europe, but he now wants to concentrate on what he calls his "big project". A machine he used to get stones out of the ground he reckons could be adapted to blow up land-mines in war and conflicts. With his wife Catherine they moved to Hexhamshire to develop...

This programme is part of a series looking at people who have opted for a career change in order find a more fulfilling way of living. This programme features Roy Dixon. As a soil consultant he built top golf courses all over Europe, but he now wants to concentrate on what he calls his "big project". A machine he used to get stones out of the ground he reckons could be adapted to blow up land-mines in war and conflicts. With his wife Catherine they moved to Hexhamshire to develop the machine which he hopes will help rid the world of the scourge of land-mines. As a GP in Redcar, Dr Susi Strang enjoyed the trust and affection of her patients. However, she moved on to another career and together with her husband - Californian Craig Wood now runs a life-coaching business in Skelton. Title: Change Your Life! The film opens as a golfer takes a shot. Roy Dixon and his wife are at a local golf course. His work as a soil consultant in the building of golf courses has taken him all over Europe. He now wants to put some of his knowledge in finding a new way of dealing with land mines. The film shows a typical land mine, the commentary states that there are 100 million of them scattered throughout 70 different countries. The film shows the explosion of a land mine. The film also shows the type of tractor driven apparatus that Roy deployed when removing stones from golf courses during construction. Roy’s vision to adapt one of these machines to destroy land mines. Roy works at a computer in his office. Roy and his wife have moved to deepest Northumberland to pursue this project. They rent a farmhouse at Heathery Burn west of Blanchland. Roy and his wife collect wood from a nearby plantation. He describes what it’s like to live in such a remote spot. Title: Roy Dixon Title: Catherine Dixon Catherine acknowledges the remoteness of where they live, but she likes the peace location brings. Old photographs show Roy on a Wall’s ice cream vendors tricycle, another photograph shows him with an ice cream van. He grew up in the countryside near Hexham. Eventually he worked on the golf course at Slaley Hall near Hexham. Old photographs show how he started his business in earnest at Slaley Hall and became well known as a soil consultant in the golf course industry. Catherine had three children by a previous marriage, a photograph shows them sitting on a couch. She also had a career in the beauty business, as photographs show. The next photograph shows her wedding with Roy. At home she talks of her role in Roy’s business. Roy talks about an affliction he had when younger, which was a bad stammer which has gradually improved. The film shows them standing on a stone bridge over a stream on the golf course at Slaley. Roy explains that the recession and non-payments for work done effectively closed his business as a soil consultant. A photograph of an African aid ship changed Roy’s outlook on life, as Catherine recalls. The film shows a Mercy Ship which travels to countries around the world delivering much needed medical help. They both worked for this charity abroad following training in America. A trip to Cambodia ultimately decided their future. The film shows a young man walking with a crutch, as he only had one leg. It was seeing the injuries from land mines in Cambodia that Roy decided to devote his time to develop a machine that will destroy them. The film shows a news clip of Princess Diana visiting a mine clearance location. A rough diagram of the machine Roy wants to develop will remove obscuring vegetation and the mine, in one go. The diagram also shows how a hopper which will allow seeding and fertilising may also be attached to Roy’s machine. All of Roy’s development of the machine is awaiting funding. The film then shows the couple on a quad bike driving up a stony track. Both Catherine and Roy have strong religious values which guide them through the pursuit of their goal. The film then shows Roy coaching Catherine at golf as the item finishes. Title: End of Part One Title: Change Your Life! – Part Two The second part of the programme shows a man counting some bank notes in his hand. This part of the film gives advice on how to manage the transition from one lifestyle to another. This is often accompanied by a reduction in income, so advice given helps to manage this important aspect of life change. Selling unwanted items at a car boot sale may generate some income, or you can give items to a charity shop if you just want rid of items no longer needed. Recycling collection points are also a good way to dispose of other recyclable items. A mechanical shovel levels waste items on a landfill site. Mention is made of communication and how to do that economically by telephone or computer. The film also gives guidance on switching electrical appliances off rather than leaving them on stand-by and using low energy light bulbs. Advice is given on cooking and using water responsibly, followed by tips on general cleaning of the home. A woman and a man along with their dog walk along a suburban street. The commentary introduces her as Susi Strang a former family doctor recently married to Californian Craig Wood. They run a life coaching business in Skelton near Guisborough in North Yorkshire. Photographs show her with her parents, she talks about them as she sits at home. Title: Susi Strang She talks of her father changing career and she says that gave her the impetus to change her own career. Photographs show her with her first husband also a doctor. Another photo shows Susi at work in a hospital in a remote part of Papua New Guinea. She talks about that experience and that her first daughter was born there. She then became a doctor in Redcar for seventeen years. Divorce created a crisis time in her life as a single parent and a doctor, leading to alcoholism. She goes on to say her leaving her career as a doctor shocked her patients, as they had great trust and belief in her and missed her presence. She believes that the change in her career helps people more ways than just being a doctor. The film shows her husband Craig Wood running a life coaching class for a group of men. They are all standing, and one has his eyes closed as he listens to Craig talking to him. This is part of a class in neurolinguistic programming. The man, now in a state of hypnosis slowly leans backwards and is prevented from falling by others around him. Craig continues to talk to him. A woman helps place the man’s feet on a chair while his shoulders and head rests on another. Back in her living room Suzi explains how NLP works, she says it’s a pathway to personal excellence. The film shows another group sitting in chairs with open files in front of them, Craig takes them through the session. Off camera Susi explains that NLP helps a person be the best that they can be. The film shows Susi talking with one of her clients, Sue Tapster who had a mastectomy in1996. The commentary goes on to say that she met Susi at a breast cancer support group meeting. Sue subsequently has had one to one sessions with Susi which has had a big impact on her life. Title: Sue Tapster Sue explains how Susi has helped her, mainly by turning the illness into a positive experience. Susi speaking at home tells of the privilege she feels in helping people in this way. The film moves on to her husband Craig, the film shows him in session. Off camera he talks of the job that he was doing in California is pretty much the same he is doing now, and he has become acclimatised to life in North East England. The film shows Susi and Craig sitting at home, as Craig talks about his move to Skelton and his new life. Title: Craig Wood Susi talks about the early ‘discovery’ of Craig and what attracted her to him. Craig is committed to his new life in Skelton and his partnership, personal and business with Susi. The film shows the couple walking down a street past shops and other businesses. Susi also talks of her commitment as the film ends. Over the credits the commentary highlights items in the next programme. Credits: Location, Direction & Photography – Simon Elphinstone Sound – Paul Graham Editor – Edmund Quigley Sound Post Production – Charles Heath Music – McGregor Cook Graphics – Jon King Executive Producer - Jane Bolesworth Producer – Oliver Martlew TTTV – A Tyne Tees Television Production © Tyne Tees Television MMI