I am reminded of a lady of about my age who was asked by an earnest, little granddaughter the other day 'Granny, can you remember the Stone Age?' Whilst that may be going a bit far, the older generation are able to give a sense of context as well as the wisdom of experience which can be invaluable.

You take all the experience and judgment of men over 50 out of the world and there wouldn't be enough left to run it.

We are happier in many ways when we are old than when we were young. The young sow wild oats. The old grow sage.

There is a trade off - as you grow older you gain wisdom but you lose spontaneity.

Learning acquired in youth arrests the evil of old age; and if you understand that old age has wisdom for its food, you will so conduct yourself in youth that your old age will not lack for nourishment.

With age does come experience and that can be a virtue if it is sensibly used. By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.