Preparations for the big day are well underway

I write having just come back to my desk from the Laithwaites trade tasting in our Gallery Room at Vinopolis, which I must say seemed to go very well. Apart from the great wines there was a good calibre of trade in the room, which in part has prompted me to write this blog. Whilst there I took the opportunity to catch up with one of my ‘Strip team’ members.

Much of our conversation was based around comparing notes on training or perhaps in my case complete lack of it, which he highlighted as I was tucking in to the chorizo and parma ham on the buffet. We also discussed the efforts being undertaken by our other colleagues, which include a regular two hour Ergo session ( a rowing machine – we used these at school and I swore after I left I would not use one again) and a serious amount of free weights. Over the top I would say and we agreed that these guys need exposing!

By way of making myself feel better I proudly told my colleague that like Mrs Ellwood I was taking solace in the fact that some girls like men with a slightly portly look. Talking of Mrs Ellwood that reminds me of a recent conversation we had. Over a very nice dinner we were discussing, as one does, techniques that you might use for the an event like this. All was going very well until she asked me if I was going to “put something down there”. Well this rather took me back, I mean we have been happily married for 10 years, been together for 13 and now have two children. It is all a bit late to be telling me these things now don’t you think?

Well it is going to be a very fun night and Everyman is a great cause to be raising money for. I have two friends who were affected by Male cancer and both were successfully cured. Rest assured if the show doesn’t blow you away the venue will!

Rupert Ellwood
Managing Director (and part time Semillon)
Vinopolis

Love Your Greens - How Broccoli and other Brassicas can help in the fight against Cancer

Love Your Greens is proud to be supporting the Semillons.

Love your Greens is a newly launched campaign funded by the Brassica Growers Association to raise awareness of vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and swede – all members of the brassica family – and their health benefits. Broccoli, in particular, is thought to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Prof Colin Cooper, Head of the Everyman Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) says: “Our understanding of how diet might affect cancer risk is rapidly growing and there are now several lines of evidence suggesting eating brassica vegetables, in particular broccoli, could reduce prostate cancer risk. Further research is needed to confirm the studies, in the meantime eating a healthy balanced diet, which includes brassicas, will have benefits to health.”

Look out for delicious (and healthy) broccoli canapés on the night!

For further information: Madeleine@pamlloyd.com

My Experiences with Prostate Cancer by Steven Spurrier

I don’t know if Prostate Cancer, or any cancer for that matter, is genetic, but it seems to be so in my family. Both my grandfather (in his 70s) and my father (in his 50s) had the operation, as I did in my early 60s. Several friends of mine, including Clive Coates MW, the well-known wine writer, seemed to be going through examinations and tests around the same time. Clive had his operation the same month as me (in December, his surgeon being appropriately named Mr Christmas), while one of my contemporaries from school opted for “watchful waiting”. Very sadly, he died from cancer of the prostate last year.

I certainly did not expect to be diagnosed with cancer of the prostate, despite the family history. One never does for this kind of thing happens to other people. It was only after a check-up for cholesterol – happy my levels are kept restrained by copious quantities of red wine – that my GP told me that my PSA was rising. Not dangerous by any means, but rising. A series of tests revealed that I actually was affected by cancer, not badly at all, really just a speck, but something to pay attention to. Finally, after three different consultations across the country, I opted for the operation to be undertaken by a specialist surgeon in this field at the Harley Street Clinic.

For some weeks prior to the operation, I received much information on prostate cancer in general and the possible after-effects of the operation, one of which was the potential loss of sexual potency. Without going into details, my strong conclusion, even during the months following the operation and particularly recently with the loss of my old friend from school, was that the operation was the sensible, actually the only possible choice. But to make the choice, I needed information, and this could only be provided by research. That is why the research centres such as Everyman are of such vital importance.

Everyman is Europe’s only dedicated male cancer research centre and one of the most successful cancer research organisations in Europe. Here are a few facts on the Everyman Campaign Charity.

• Prostate cancer kills one man an hour in the UK with 35,000 men diagnosed each year.
• Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer in men.
• Testicular cancer affects men between the ages of 15 and 44, but is now 99% curable if caught early enough.
• Since 1975 the incidence of testicular cancer has more than doubled, the reasons for this not yet being known, hence the need for continuing research.

By supporting the Everyman Campaign Charity you will be doing good in a very positive manner. By attending this evening organised by Christelle Guibert from Decanter Magazine and Rebecca Fraser from Louis Latour Agencies, you will be assured of a marvellously memorable evening. What better reasons could you wish for?