Listener Ellie Kemp wants to raise the subject of school Parent Teacher Associations and the difficulties they face in finding parents who have the time or the confidence to volunteer, particularly in rural areas, as well as the increasing reliance schools have on the money they raise. She is Chair of her son’s school PTA. What is the role of PTAs, what part do they play in children’s learning and what are the benefits for the volunteers and pupils? With Gill Sims, illustrator, blogger and author of the Why Mummy series and Tracey Handley, from the charity Parentkind

One listener asked us to discuss manners – she says her grandchildren seem to be growing up without learning any table manners and fewer and fewer grown-ups now hold a knife, fork and spoon properly. How much do manners matter? We hear from Gill Sims, author of the Why Mummy series.

Listener Paris Moore is training to compete in her first IronMan competition in Barcelona in October. She wants to raise questions about attitudes to women competing in endurance sports and to inspire other women who may be questioning their ability to train for similar events. She is joined by 13 x IronMan Champion Lucy Gossage who also works as an Oncologist.

Adapting to a new routine and pace of life after the death of a partner can be lonely and isolating. But, as one listener told us, getting out and about can also be life-changing. When 75 year old Bernard Bibby got in touch with us about his new passion for ballet, we sent reporter Tamsin Smith to his weekly class at the Bridge Academy of Performing Arts in Rochester to find him preparing to limber up at the barre.

Presented by: Jenni Murray

Interviewed guest: Ellie Kemp