SIR – Suddenly there seem to be an abundance of “golden oldies” on TV praising the joys of working into their seventies. Could it be anything to do with the Government’s plans to lift the retirement age?

Speaking as a 66-year-old ex-teacher, these people have had nearly 50 years to “put some wool on their backs”, and we should be giving the one million young ones a chance to get out of the the dole queue. Many of these unfortunates have families.

Surely folk can think of other things to occupy their minds as they get older? A steady walk or drive; an interesting book; an afternoon drink with a few friends; gardening; dancing; even the internet – “Happy is the man that seeketh knowledge”; in a nutshell, a thousand and one things.

Rodney Bickerdike, St Mary’s Walk, Harrogate