RECYCLING can be of value if done correctly and appropriately.

At the same time, it helps the environment and the society at large.

Such process is normally done on inanimate objects ­— waste products, etc ­— but what about people?

Within our human society there can be a tremendous amount of asset locked into our senior citizens.

Are they properly utilised? At the time of dire shortage, as it currently is in the health service, often retired individuals are recalled to help out’.

Their abilities and standards are fully accepted and appreciated and, in most instances, when brought back, they do the job very well ­— sometimes better than the colleagues who succeeded them.

They are more steady, more committed and perhaps better disciplined following their age-old customs and practice.

Not just in the field of medicine, such recycling or redeployment has been very effective in many other disciplines.

I am not suggesting a total abandonment of retirement as such, only the use of the expertise of the recently retired to keep the service running.

In this context, retirement, has already become flexible without a fixed age.

One’s ability and intelligence do not disappear on their 65th birthday!

Having made my point, the corollary is this may not be applicable in all areas ­— only to be used sensibly and appropriately.

Recently, well-know historian and journalist Prof David Starkey has commented on this very subject ­— whether retired people's intelligence, expertise and experience should be used to the benefit of the next generation in various walks of life.

In Starkey’s case, it is the lifetime experience and knowledge of history for the benefit of the next generation.

There used to be a time when the aged were respected and their opinions valued.

Today the overall attitude has changed ­— ageing and withering with intellectual deterioration have become synonymous.

The huge amount of wisdom and experience are no longer tapped for the benefit of the whole society.

Even in countries where the old were always respected and well regarded, the attitude is changing fast.

Ours is no longer an era in which life experience is much regarded; ageing is overwhelmingly bracketed with decline.

Yet, according to Starkey with whom I fully agree, many get better with ageing becoming more fully human!

People do no longer understand or value the beauty and resonance of late flowering!

I have always preached the benefit of the young mixing with the old to help and enrich each other.

This would also arrow the generation gap.

The sixth former can teach the elderly neighbour computer techniques whilst the old person can tell them about the war time days ­— a lesson in history.

Age not only knows ­— age can!