91Èȱ¬

It is 75 years since the Nylon stocking was launched and changed the world of fashion for ever. But no sooner had this new product arrived, than the war hit and all production had to be diverted to the war effort. Nylon stockings became a rare commodity and women took to drawing a line up the back of their legs to pretend that they were wearing nylons. So why were they so in demand? Over the decades they have survived the arrival of tights, the mini-skirt and jeans so what is their enduring appeal? Eleri Lynn – who has written a book about the history of underwear – will be telling Sheila all about Nylon stockings.

According to recent surveys, we are feeling more lonely. An increasing number of people have no one to turn to in a crisis and fewer of us know our neighbours. On Friday 12th December, 91Èȱ¬ North will explore the huge spectrum of in the UK, with a day of programmes across radio, TV and online. Woman’s Hour will also be taking part by looking at loneliness in old age. According to research from AgeUK, well over one million elderly people in this country describe themselves as lonely often or all of the time and many more consider their pet, or even the television, to be their most important form of company. Sheila McClennon will be discussing new research on loneliness and the elderly with Professor Christina Victor from Brunel University and 83 year old Kate Torkington talks about how she keeps loneliness at bay.

On the 12 December, the High Court hears a legal challenge by the charity against the way legal aid regulations continue to restrict access to legal advice and representation for those affected by domestic violence. The legal charity is also publishing research they say documents how access to safety and justice is being denied to the women the Government sought to protect when family law was removed from the scope of legal aid back in 2013. Director Emma Scott speaks exclusively to Woman’s Hour.

The British Pregnancy Advice Service [bpas] has just launched the Back-Off campaign in which they are calling for ‘buffer zones’ to be set up around abortion clinics and advice centres. According to the Chief Executive of bpas – Ann Furedi – anti-abortion protestors are intensifying their activities by displaying large banners of dismembered foetuses and harassing women entering the clinics by taking their photograph and shouting abuse such as ‘you’re going to murder your baby’. Earlier this week, a video of a pregnant woman challenging protesters from anti-abortion campaign group Abort67 went viral. The London co-ordinator of Abort67 – Ruth Rawlins - says that the Back-Off campaign is an attempt to limit their right to free speech. She claims that the cameras worn by members of Abort67 are filming what goes on outside abortion clinics to prevent false allegations by clinic staff that they upsetting women. Ruth Rawlins and Ann Furedi join Sheila McClennon to discuss the Back-Off campaign. 

This Sunday it is the 91Èȱ¬ Sports Personality of the Year. There are four sportswomen on the shortlist of 12. Caroline Barker, presenter of Sportsworld on the 91Èȱ¬ World Service, joins Sheila to gauge their chance of success.