Sandra Howard: "Why I've gone for a tattoo at 73".

At the age of 73, novelist and wife to former Tory Minister Michael Howard, Sandra Howard  has chosen to get a tattoo. Sandra chose a two-inch butterfly on her left collar bone. She chose a butterfly because she thought it was a nice sort of light and happy thing and she chose her collar bone because she wanted somewhere prominent to test people's reactions to it. She says it's deliciously naughty- though her Tory grandee husband's not so sure. Her husband, Michael Howard, is not as open-minded about body art as she is. Sandra's butterfly is only temporary and will only last for a month at the most but it's purpose is to help her decide whether to go for something permanent.

Daily Mail Article

"I concede that, on the surface at least, I don't seem the 'type' to have a tattoo. But although they were previously considered rather low-rent, indelible inkings are experiencing resurgence- particularly among my generation. Lots of sophisticated older people are having them done."

"I'm 73 and when you pass a certain point you do feel inclined suddenly to do all the things you've always wanted but allowed some stricture or another to hold you back."

What do you think? Are you ever to old to get a tattoo?

Jurassic Coast Tattoo Convention

Today I visited the Allendale Centre in Wimborne for the second Jurassic Coast Tattoo Convention. Its' the largest Uk Christmas convention and the first one was so popular they decided to return. There was a huge buzz as hundreds of tattoo enthusiasts gathered under one roof. The event was set up by Kerry and Carl Collinson from Urban Image in Kinson.

More than 50 award- winning tattoo artists from all around the country came together including artists from Black Sheep Tattooists in Westborne, Just Add Ink in Poole and Urban Image.

Tattoo artists battled it out in different competitions over the weekend including best tribal design, best realism, best dot work and keeping to the theme of 'jurassic coast' the best dinosaur dress up. There was something for everyone including a festive fair which sold everything from a sparkly bauble to a real life cat skull. The family friendly event cost £7.50 for a day ticket or £15 for the weekend with children under 10 getting free entry.

The turn out was great and everywhere I looked throughout the day someone was getting inked. The buzz of the needles was non stop with every tattoo different to the next. It was a really welcoming and fun environment with many happy customers.

Video to follow.

VIDEO: 92-year-old woman gets tattoo in memory of her husband

Winifred Turner is believed to be the oldest lady in the UK to be tattooed. At the grand old age of 92 the West Moors resident got inked in memory of her husband Jim.

SLIDESHOW: White Flame Tattoo Studio

White Flame Tattoo Studio is a unique tattoo and body piercing studio in Winton, Bournemouth which offers a wide range of tattoo designs. 

It offers an inviting and relaxing environment to make your whole experience of getting a tattoo enjoyable and I definitely felt the friendliness of the studio when I went today to take some photos.They have a great team with tattoo artists Karl Stevens and Kerry Lavulo and I was lucky enough to meet Kerry today and watch her tattoo one of her clients.

Created with flickr slideshow.

Massive thanks to White Flame Tattoo Studio 

"I love it because it's with me always...time does not heal my broken heart but my heart tattoo is like my feeling is always there"

Meet Winifred… the oldest woman in Britain to be tattooed. At the grand old age of 92, the great grandmother has four tattoos on her arms and is still planning more. I went and visited her at her home in West Moors to discover why she chose to get tattoos so late in her life.

Winifred was sat in her chair busy knitting away when I entered the room to greet her. Armed with her knitting needles she instantly started telling me about her late husband, Jim, who passed away 3 years ago from a stroke. They were married for 69 years and the love Winifred still had for the man was evident.

"People like myself who have lost something special have them for sentimental acts, I have my memories and my tattoo is a constant reminder to my Jim's honour. I love it because it's with me always, time does not heal but my heart tattoo is like my feeling is there for always."

The inclination to get a tattoo was to commemorate Jim and to do this she got "Miss you, Win" and the date he died inked on her left-arm.

On her right arm she has three tattoos. Around her wrist she chose a bracelet to celebrate the birth of her great-grandchildren and two of her grandchildren, with each of their initials on it spelling out "GRANA". She also has her and Jim's initials intertwined inside two hearts. She also has a heart and rose design and she joked as she said "I don't even know why I got that one done, but it's there now."

                               

The pensioner was inspired by her grandson Alex, 30, to get her tattoos. He has tattoos himself and he said how he thinks it is amazing she has tattoos and that he is very proud of her.

"It was him! I was drawing here one day and I drew this heart and I put the name in it and he went 'you know nan, you could get that tattooed'."

The same man has done all four of Winifred's tattoos. 'Spider', as Winifred referred to him as, is from Urban Image in Kinson. Winifred and her grandson have formed a good relationship with the studio and says she would definitely go back there for her next one. She told me how everyone at the studio were taken a back by her age.

"I asked him 'How old is the oldest person you've tattooed?' and he asked me how old I was and I said 92 and he said 'Well you have out done the oldest we've tattooed by about 30 years.'"

Winifred who now walks with the aid of a stick, is adamant it doesn't hurt. "Painful? You can't even feel it. The needles aren't even like pricking yourself with a pin. No truly in Gods honour it doesn't hurt." and she is already planning her next one.

"It's very addictive. I do want another one, I just don't know where at the moment. I don't want any other tattoos on that arm (left-arm), because of Jim"

At the age of 92 it was fair to say Winifred definitely still has all her marbles and a great sense of humour. Throughout the interview she was making me laugh with her tales of her tattoo. The quote she left me with was one that I not only found amusing but also inspirational as it showed just because you are physically ageing it doesn't stop you from doing the things you want to do. 

"Not only at 92 did I have my first tattoo, I had my first roll up too!"

What a women! I hope I look as good as her at 92!

"I haven't got a wife. I'm not on the pull and I haven't got a job interview"

Meet Royston…A 67-year-old with a passion for motorbikes, dogs and tattoos. I went and visited Royston last Thursday in his bedsit in Tunbridge Wells to talk to him about the stories behind his tattoos, the tattoos he's got and his plans regarding tattoos for the future. Also why he thinks old people get tattoos? 

Royston got his first tattoo while he was still at school at the age of 14. He laughed as he told me about the experience: "I fainted! I only had my name written on. I was at school and I came out of school and went to someone like Nobby the Tat or some other stupid name. It was in the 50s and it was a bet really. So I went and had it done and I came out and feel over. It was ever so funny."

What really stood out to me about Royston was how down to earth and matter of fact he was. The ink skulls that stamp the left side of his neck and cheek draw much attention to Royston. But whether the attention is good or bad Royston always expect comment.

"I think anything you do you should expect attention. If your walking around with a tattoo on your head your not gonna expect people to say nothing are ya."

From his tales and the ornaments and photos around his home you can tell Royston has already lived an exciting and fun-filled life full of different experiences. He spoke about his six years travelling in India, the time he meet the the Dalai Lama and his years as a Beatnik. His passion and nostalgia really shone threw and his on-look on life was something to admire.

Royston was happy to show me all his tattoos that decorated his body from the head down. The snake that marks the back of his cranium relates to the times he was the snake man in India (as does the snake that wraps around his right arm). During his time there he would carry antidote for people that had been bitten by snakes and would not be able to get to the hospital in time. He could not speak their language and so people would recognise he was the "snake man" from his tattoos. 

He spoke about the time he got the snake that wraps itself around his right triceps done. It was done in a hut. Lit by a single lightbulb and was done just by scratching in the colour with no lines: "It was remarkable. A real work of art". When Royston returned he got the lines put in: "I ruined it really. I don't know why I did it."

His other tattoos don't really have a meaning: "I got them just because I wanted them really. I'd walk in the shop, maybe just for a conversation, and I'll see something and think yeah I like that and I'll get it done."

"For me it’s like choosing a pair of jeans or a shirt... only a shirt wears out a tattoo doesn’t."

Royston lives on his own with his pet pug, Holly. He doesn't have a wife to say no and no restrictions from a job so as far as he is concerned he is free to do whatever he wants to do. In his own words "he's not young anymore" and doesn't have many responsibilities. 

"When you get older you don’t have as many responsibilities, doesn’t mean you’ve got to get a tattoo but doesn’t matter so much so you're a bit freer to do what you want."

He believes that we are now in a society that hasn’t got that bad stigma about tattoos like they used to have: "not that you live for what other people think, but it's easier now and I think I just happen to be older when people think abit freer about things." 

"Don’t get it done if you don’t want people to make comments. Do you do it to be noticed? That’s always a question isn’t it? Do older people do it more psychologically because they think they’re not noticed…I don’t think so."

A great guy and I am glad to have had the pleasure of meeting him. A real inspiration. 

Question Time: Why did Dimbleby get a tattoo? To fit in or stand out?

Question Time host David Dimbleby has got his first tattoo at the age of 75, which goes against everything the British middle class were ever taught. Good for him? Or what the hell was he thinking?

I think it is fair to say that Dimbleby has definitely broken the stereotype of getting a tattoo. Surely the idea to get a tattoo is when you're in your teens, drunk and high on the prospects of life in Ayia Napa, then regret it when your old, wrinkly, sitting in your orthopaedic chair with a camomile tea shuddering at the times you stayed out past dark, experienced hangovers and still had all your own teeth.  

But why did Dimbleby chose to have a tattoo done now at the grand old age of 75? Was it to break the agist stereotype? Was it a huge publicity stunt to draw attention to his new series? Or was it simply because he wanted one?

The 75- year-old told his reason to the Radio Times:

"I have always wanted a tattoo. I thought I might as well have it done now. It's a dream come true."

He explained that he chose the scorpion design because of his star sign, Scorpio, and declared that he liked the idea of having a scorpion 'sitting on my shoulder ready to attack my enemies.'

Dimbleby, who has been presenting the BBC's general election coverage since 1979, got the tattoo while making the maritime series Britain And The Sea. While filming he was given the chance to have a tattoo of his own after looking at how tattoos were introduced into the UK but he turned down the offer and had a mark put on his body in black pencil instead. However he soon changed his mind when he saw a preview of the film and decided to get an ink tattoo done.

The tattoo which he got done at Vagabond Tattoo Studio in East London took 30 minutes- an hour in all and he told the Radio Times that it wasn't painful.

See below for the publics reaction on David Dimbleby's scorpion tattoo on Twitter. 

Dimbleby follows the trend for older people to get tattoos set by Lady Steel who got a pink jaguar tattooed on her shoulder in 2012 as a 70th birthday present to herself. So why do we still associate tattoos with young people, the rebellious youths of today? 

After all, you're only old once.

Welcome

So I have finally taken the time to start a blog (and about time too)! I am a third year Multimedia Journalism student at Bournemouth University and as part of my degree I am producing a multimedia project and I have chosen to base mine on tattoos. 

Now, I will be totally honest with you... I don't have any tattoos myself and don't intend to get any, but I love art and have a really passion for creativity and design and find tattoos fascinating and believe they are a great way to showcase talent and reflect personalities! The imaginative the better so please send me photos of your tattoos and I will happily post them up to show them off to the world and showcase your creativity in its full glory!

I will also be producing a series of blog posts and features regarding tattoos including stories about the elderly getting tattoos which is the main focus point of my project so if you have any interesting stories or know anyone over the age of 70 still getting tattoos please get in touch, I would love to hear from you!

Watch this space and stay tuned in!