THE International Day of the Older Person was marked by a special meeting of the Bolton Over 50s Federation.

Speakers and entertainment were lined up at the Friends Meeting House in Silverwell Street, in Bolton town centre.

Two people from South Africa and one from Rochester, New York, joined locals to hear speeches from former consultant in communicable diseases for Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, Dr Robert Aston, Julia Ryan of the University of Salford School of Nursing, and Bolton Over 50s chairman Zonya Marsh, before entertainment was provided by female acapella group The Chantelles.

Dr Aston's advice about retiring was: "It is really important to have interests and not just interests like the golf course.

"You go there to get away from the work, but when you retire, many people find the relaxation is no longer relaxation because you have got away from the work.

"Before you retire, build up interests that are all consuming, rather than pleasant, so they can become a passion."

Julia Ryan told the group about becoming involved in research on aging and illness, and Zonya Marsh talked about her pride in being an older person.

She said: "As children in the war, we were being deprived of the food we had enjoyed before, but in effect that proved an excellent and healthier diet.

"Through all the hurdles that life threw at us, we have survived to become older people and may justifiably be proud of that because between us we have a plethora of memories and advice to offer."