The United Kingdom has a rich history of vegetarianism and veganism, with pioneers of the UK movement residing in Manchester as early as the 18th century.
Salford’s first MP was notably a passionate vegetarian, as was suffragette Leonora Cohen. More recent advocates include British businessperson, Deborah Meaden, and racing car driver Sir Lewis Hamilton – both vegan.
It’s predicted that by 2025, a staggering one-quarter of the UK is going to be vegan1. People in later life are a major part of this recent boom. A recent British Social Attitudes Survey2 suggests that older adults are twice as likely as 18–24-year-olds to have embraced meat reduction.
Chief Executive of V for Life, the UK charity specifically supporting older vegans and vegetarians, said: “V for Life has been compiling a fascinating archive telling the stories of veg*ns. We will showcase this, initially online.
“Many members of the veg*n community have concerns around their ability to maintain their diets – which are central to their beliefs and identity – in later life. Research suggests that special diets are still not widely understood. Therefore, the opportunity to present their stories, at a time when the importance of personalised and dignified care is at the centre of social care agenda, is highly fitting.
“With the rich history along with the present-day popularity of meat-free diets, the exhibition will be highly relevant, giving a voice to vegans and vegetarians, past and present. We, like everyone, hold views and values that deserve to be respected.”
The exhibition is live at vforlife.org.uk/veggievoices.
Exhibition highlights:
- Care: Stories from different perspectives of life in care for older vegans and vegetarians.
- Rose Elliot: The celebrated cookery writer and V for Life patron on the rise of plant-based living.
- Leonora Cohen: A vegetarian suffragette with an inspiring legacy.
- Donald Watson: The pioneering founder of The Vegan Society.
- Joseph & Martha Brotherton: A nineteenth-century vegetarian power couple.
- Wendy Turner-Webster: Animal rights campaigner and writer Wendy tells VfL why veganism is so important to her.
- Centenarian sisters: In 1956, vegetarian sisters Caroline & Jane Badland celebrated an important milestone.
- Gary Webster: The actor explains how his outlook on life has changed since becoming vegan.
- Carol Royle: Star of stage and screen Carol tells us why living a vegan lifestyle is more important today than ever.
- A vegetarian record-breaker: ‘Big’ Bill Pickering, the vegetarian channel swimmer.
- Paul Youd: Octogenarian vegan athlete: “It’s never too late to go vegan.”
The exhibition will feature excerpts from interviews with celebrities including Peter Egan, Carol Royle, Benjamin Zephaniah, Gary Webster and Wendy Turner-Webster.
References
1 https://www.columbusglobal.com/en-gb/blog/the-rise-of-veganism-and-its-impact-on-food-supply-chains
2 https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/are-we-eating-less-meat-a-british-social-attitudes-report
