This, the final programme in the Change Your Life series involves three people who have chosen to change their way of life to achieve fulfilment. Sue Mills was the sales director of Century Radio based in Gateshead. Finding the job stressful and professional commitments preventing her from seeing her two sons, she now lives in Northumberland in the village of Allendale, where she is a professional dog-walker. Wendy Kinder left a London banking career to return to North East roots and devote...

This, the final programme in the Change Your Life series involves three people who have chosen to change their way of life to achieve fulfilment. Sue Mills was the sales director of Century Radio based in Gateshead. Finding the job stressful and professional commitments preventing her from seeing her two sons, she now lives in Northumberland in the village of Allendale, where she is a professional dog-walker. Wendy Kinder left a London banking career to return to North East roots and devote her life to Buddhism. Anthony Scratchley, a former investment banker, moved to Newcastle to restore a real tennis court. He now lives a quieter life in Cullercoats and continues to indulge his passion for the arcane world of real tennis. Title: Change Your Life! A woman walks towards the camera along a riverside track, with three dogs on leads. The commentary states that until three years ago Sue Mills was a sales director with a commercial radio company. Her new career as a professional dog walker replaces a career of unbearable pressure. The change also followed a family tragedy. Sue collects her two sons from a school in Allendale, Northumberland where she now lives with her husband and family. She was born in the area and has now returned to it, she enters her stone cottage with her two sons. At home she talks about her career starting with a job she had working for the Newcastle newspaper the Evening Chronicle. Title: Sue Mills Following a move to Metro Radio in Newcastle she found she felt at home and enjoyed the work. Then she moved to Century Radio at Gateshead as sales director. Views follow of the office workers at Century Radio, followed by one of the announcers. She found Century Radio an exciting workplace but with constant pressure to meet targets. She sits down in the kitchen with her two sons to have a drink and snack. She continues off camera saying how demands at Century Radio resulted in not seeing her sons at important times of the day, such as heading off to school or at bedtime. On camera she continues talking about the job and then the realisation of what she was missing. A family tragedy also occurred with the loss of her sister Sally, a photograph shows them both. Sue explains how close they were, and that they grew up together in Newcastle. Sally left to travel but was taken ill in the Far East in Java and within in a few days she had died. Sue talks about the aftermath of Sally’s passing and realised that fulfilment lay with her family not in her job. A photograph shows Sue with her husband who, after the initial shock at his wife’s resignation, fully supports her. Her children Jo and Dan, seen eating at the table express their approval of being able to see more of their mother. A view follows of Sue walking over a footbridge in the countryside with dogs ahead of her. She first saw a notice in the local Post Office requesting the services of a dog walker and business has grown from there. She takes a break on a stone seat as the dogs she is looking after surround her. She still works freelance in sales and marketing but is firm in the belief that leaving the high pressure role she once had, was the right thing to do. A candle is lit and gong is struck and a woman sits cross legged position on a large cushion with her hands together as in prayer. She recites a prayer or chant, although not in English. The commentary introduces Wendy Kinder and reveals she is a Buddhist. A former investment banker in London she moved to the north east where she now writes about Buddhism. A photograph shows her as young girl carrying a puppy as she talks of her early life aspirations which were quite conventional. Title: Wendy Kinder At home she continues her story on camera. One early aspiration which was to be a chartered accountant which she achieved, then had a career in London which dominated her life. A photograph of her and her husband on their wedding follows, but the commentary states it only lasted two years. Wendy continues on camera and explains that she was devastated after the break. It came to a point where she acknowledged that everything she had achieved up until that point was now meaningless. The programme moves outside where Wendy attends to a small garden. The commentary goes on to say that she resigned from her job.While she prunes a plant, off camera she talks of how she realised that her life so far was not fulfilling. She wanted to live life more fully and her faith was going to be a key to this new way of life. One aspiration was to go trekking in the Himalayas, a photograph shows her among the mountain peaks along with other travellers. A photograph shows a man she fell in love with, of Nepalese and Himalayan descent but this union also failed. After giving up work she moved to County Durham, living with her mother and stepfather in Great Lumley. The programme shows her leaving her house which she rents and is not far from her parents. The commentary says that she hopes to start work part time on a local company’s human resources department. She walks along a path alongside a hedgerow with a view of the countryside beyond. She calls at her mother’s home as off screen she talks of feeling welcomed in the village, which has also been home for her family who have lived in the village for many years. At home on camera her mother talks of how the job in London had affected her daughter, and how dismayed she was when Wendy decided to leave work. Title: Betty Trotter – Wendy’s Mother A photograph follows of Wendy in the Himalayas. Wendy’s mother was also concerned when Wendy became a Buddhist. Title: John Trotter – Wendy’s Step-Father He talks of the positive aspects of Wendy’s travels. Both agree that if what she has changed in her life makes her happy, then they are happy for her. Back in Wendy’s home where she chants, the commentary describes the line of Buddhist faith she follows which has Japanese origins. At home she talks about her faith and what it teaches her. Outside she takes a break by sitting on a carved wooden seat which has view across a valley, while off camera she continues talking about her beliefs. Photographs show her standing next to fountain which is modelled on Universal Studios globe, as the commentary states that Wendy has written a film script set in Tibet, from which she’s praying or possibly expecting a Hollywood film to be made. The expectation is based on Wendy’s belief that everyone should fulfil their potential. She explains this over film clips of Buddhist carvings and a temple, and finally a photograph of the Himalayan mountains. Title: End of Part One Title: Change Your Life! – Part Two The programme opens on some street railings and a building in the middle distance with high windows and a partially glazed roof. The commentary directs you to Matthew Bank in the Jesmond area of Newcastle where you will see an imposing Victorian building although many people don’t know its function. The programme shows the exterior of the building in bright sunshine. Moving inside there are views of the high windows and glazed roof, but also what appears to be a net as used for playing tennis. The building houses a real tennis court, the front cover of a book appears with a title in French which reads, ‘De la paume au tennis’ – Guy Bonhomme. The commentary states that this version of tennis must not be confused with the later game of lawn tennis. An old painting shows a game of real tennis in progress. The commentary states that the game goes back to medieval France. On the Jesmond court a man practices, he is Anthony Scratchley who has a passion for the game and until recently was the Jesmond’s club professional. He was also a high earning financier. A photograph shows him speaking to a client. With his success at the job came intense pressure. On screen Anthony talks about a typical high pressure day. Title: Anthony Scratchley Another photograph shows him at his office desk, as he continues his description of his working life. Having thought about making a big change for many years he left work, but with a high price as it cost him his marriage. The film moves to the coast which shows Anthony out walking with his new partner Rosalind Bailey a well-known Tyneside actor and house restorer. After a medical examination it was found Anthony had a major heart problem. On camera he talks about the affect this also had on his life as a failure during part of the operation led to another procedure which included an implant which will remain in position for the remainder of his life. The film shows Anthony playing on court. It was the game which brought him to the north east. The film shows photographs of the poor state of the court and other woodwork in parts of the building. Anthony decided to renovate the court which included the limestone floor of the courts being ground flat. A photograph shows the process taking place. Title: Rosalind Bailey Rosalind outlines the hard work Anthony needed to do to rescue the court. Title: Peter Patterson – Jesmond Real Tennis Club Peter talks about the court and the building. He wants to widen the game’s popularity and encourage new membership at the club. He also thinks the game is the best there is. He says it has been described as a mixture of cricket, tennis, squash and chess. The game has also been accused of being only for an elite section of the population. On screen Anthony explains that with its French origins it’s highest popularity was in France and in the 16th century over 2000 courts were available, plenty of access for many people not just the nobility. Anthony and Rosalind walk along the beach, as off camera Anthony explains that he didn’t really think he would meet anyone else after his marriage failed. Rosalind also had lived on her own for many years after a failed marriage when she was very young, and came to a similar conclusion as Anthony. Anthony is also happy with his move north and has no regrets at all having left his former career. The programme ends with quotes from previous contributors and their thoughts which may provide encouragement to those who want to move on to a new beginning. Credits: Location Direction & Photography – Simon Elphinstone – Phil Spencer Sound: Paul Graham Editor: Edmund Quigley Sound Post Production: Charles Heath Graphics: Jon King Music: McGregor Cook Unit Manager: Christine Stewart-Tilling Executive Producer: Jane Bolesworth Producer: Oliver Martlew A Tyne Tees Television Production © Tyne Tees Television MMI