Is age just a number? If you look around, you’ll find plenty of examples to suggest that might be true. We all know someone who looks incredible at 70, or still has the get up and go of a 20 year-old even though they’re 60. Perhaps that’s down to good health, great genes – or maybe, just a positive outlook on life.

We’ve been looking at some truly amazing people who’ve achieved great things – and they’ve done it while well past retirement age. Let their stories inspire you and remember; it’s never too late to try something new.

Pedal power

Image: Independent.co.uk

French cyclist Robert Marchand is still partial to a spin around the velodrome, even though he’s now reached the grand old age of 105. In fact he’s just set a new record for the farthest distance cycled in an hour after clocking up 22.547km (14 miles) – even though that’s for riders over 105!

Born in 1911, Robert who was a prisoner of war in World War II says he stays fit by spending an hour a day on his cycling home trainer. He also sticks to a diet that includes lots of fruit and vegetables, just a small amount of meat and not too much coffee.

He can’t compete with the likes of Bradley Wiggins who set the current men’s hour record of 54.526km in 2015, but says: “I am not here to be champion. I am here to prove that at 105 years old you can still ride a bike.”

A very mature student

Image: ageinternational.org.uk

They say you’re never too old to learn something new and Bertie Gladwin is certainly testament to that. He graduated from the University of Buckingham after tackling a Masters in Intelligence History – when he was only 90 years young!

Bertie, who describes himself as a ‘late starter’, left school at 14 and didn’t enter higher education until he was 60. After gaining a BA in Psychology and a BSc in Molecular Biology with the Open University, his wife persuaded him to round off his education with a master’s degree.

This time, Bertie actually went to lectures alongside all the other 20 year-olds. When asked about the experience he said: “It was fun. I enjoyed it – although the most difficult bit was getting to grips with the computer and the internet for my essays. I needed help with that.”

The sky’s the limit

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There are plenty of ways to celebrate turning 100, but you’d have to go a long way to top Georgina Harwood’s special day. The great-grandmother from Cape Town, South Africa marked her milestone birthday by jumping out of a plane and skydiving at 125mph.

Remarkably, this was the third jump Georgina has made – she first took the plunge at the sprightly age of 92. When asked about her experience, she said, “It was wonderful, exhilarating, and special.”

If you want to take a leaf out of Georgina’s book, her motto is, “Do it now! Whether it’s comfortable or uncomfortable, good or bad, relaxing or challenging – don’t delay.” Now the only question is how she’ll celebrate her next birthday!

Start up at 60

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A quiet retirement doesn’t suit everyone. Some people faced with shrinking pension pots choose to keep working in order to supplement their income, while for others, boredom leads them to seek out new challenges. That’s exactly what happened to entrepreneur Sam Taylor and his wife.

Six months into retirement, 63 year-old Sam missed the buzz of business and couldn’t hack the life of leisure he’d planned in southern Spain. His wife was producing textile art but had nowhere to sell it – so the couple had the brainwave of setting up an online retail site for Scottish artists. The Creative Arts Gallery was born.

Running your own business in retirement is not as unusual as you might think. The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise say that of the 4.17 million self-employed people in the UK, around 1.4 million are between 50 and 64, and 375,000 are 65-plus. As Sam says: “To us, age is no barrier at all. If you’re mentally alert and physically fit, there’s no reason why you can’t do it.”

Life in the fast lane

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Charles Eugster retired from his career as a dentist at the age of 75, only to become an athlete who trains three times a week. A rower, bodybuilder and sprinter, Charles says, “I’m not chasing youthfulness. I’m chasing health.”

His running achievements mean that at the age of 97, he held the indoor 200m and outdoor 400m sprint world records for men over 95. And just to keep himself on his toes, he also competes in the long jump. It’s no wonder he’s been dubbed ‘the world’s fittest OAP’.

As someone who didn’t really take up exercise until his mid-eighties, Charles now thinks it’s the key to a happy retirement and travels the world, giving talks about the benefits of staying fit and healthy in old age.

 

If you’ve done something amazing in your retirement, or have great plans for your later years, we’d love to hear all about it. And don’t forget, if you need any help with Financial Planning for your retirement or protecting everything for future generations, just give us a call on 02920 782 330. One of our friendly and knowledgeable team will be delighted to help you.

It’s now 70 years since the first baby boomers emerged kicking and screaming. There’s no doubt that their arrival has had a profound influence on society – and certainly shaped the world we live in today.

From the post-war gloom of the forties right through to the present day, the baby boomers have redefined each decade and firmly earned their place in history.

The birth of the boomers

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Whether it was the relief of World War II finally ending, or the fact that our menfolk returned home after many years fighting for King and country, there was a sharp rise in the number of babies born between 1946 and 1964. In the late forties, the number of births peaked at almost 900,000 a year. Welcome the baby boomer generation.

Unlike their parents and grandparents, this generation would not be constrained by traditional values and rules. They would grow up with the belief that anything was possible – and that they really could change the world.

The fabulous fifties

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The government built new schools to cater for the growing population and even introduced free milk for children whose health had suffered from years of rationing. Then, as austerity began to slowly disappear, the oldest of the baby boomers really found their feet. With more money and time on their hands, youngsters could follow the latest trends in fashion and music, with many influenced by the new rock and roll emerging from the USA. For the first time, the age between childhood and adulthood was officially recognised and the ‘teenager’ was born.

The swinging sixties

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With popular culture exploding and Beatlemania taking the country by storm, the baby boomers grabbed every new and exciting opportunity that came their way. With youth stations broadcasting on the radio and TVs appearing in homes around the country, the world really opened up for them. In this bright new age, the younger generation felt empowered to campaign for what they believed in, women saw the possibility of having a career rather than just aspiring to be a wife and mother, and as cars and holidays became more affordable, a greater importance was put on leisure time.

The summer of love

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After the hedonism of the sixties, the baby boomers showed their softer side in the 70s. Many grew their hair and embraced the hippy movement, spreading peace and love. There was a focus on exploring ways to live a more happy and fulfilled life; gay rights came to the fore and as a symbolic gesture of their liberation, women tossed their bras into the fire. Consumerism hit new levels and the boomer generation began to spend more money on dining out. Some were even brave enough to travel and explore foreign destinations.

The money mad eighties

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The baby boomers became accustomed to having more money at their disposal, thanks to rising salaries and the prevalence of dual income families. This meant they could spend more on luxury goods – and they did. Yuppies ruled with their fast cars, power dressing, oversized mobile phones and houses filled with shiny chrome. And when it came to technology, the boomers went mad for the latest digital watches and portable cassette players so they could be wired for sound.

The naughty nineties

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This is the decade where the baby boomers really began to make their mark. As well as riding high in the corporate world, they were establishing themselves in the most important arenas. Bill Clinton, who was born in 1946, moved into the White House as the first baby boomer president and nearer to home, Tony Blair took the UK into a new era of politics. Many boomers now had their own home, were financially secure and busy making plans for a comfortable retirement.

The new Millennium

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Even as the baby boomers approach their golden years, they’re still making waves. No longer content with sitting in front of the fire with a pipe and slippers, they’re redefining what retirement looks like. Whether it’s working into their 90s, getting the travel bug, embracing modern technology or even starting a new business, it seems there’s just no stopping the baby boomer generation.

 

If you’re proud to be a baby boomer, how do you think your generation has helped shape the world we live in today? We’d love to hear you views. And don’t forget, if you need any help with Financial Planning for your retirement or protecting everything for future generations, just give us a call on 02920 782 330. One of our friendly and knowledgeable team will be delighted to help you.