AGE is a funny old thing, excuse the pun.

President Biden has announced that at 81 he is withdrawing from the presidential race, but clearly some people are able to perform well into their late 80s. Just look at the likes of Dame Mary Berry and Sir Paul McCartney.

Physical and mental health are obviously major factors in our ability to carry on performing as we get older, as well as some lucky genes.

It is clear, however, that age does not have to be a defining factor in our aspirations and achievements – old or young.

Consider the poise and aplomb that a 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo showed playing on the European football big stage (I believe there was an even younger player who turned out for another side but unfortunately it is still too raw to mention them), whilst Portugal’s Pepe at 41 ran rings around some of the youngsters.

There is a 58-year age gap between our youngest MP at 22 and the oldest member; what an amazingly different perspective they will be able to bring to the House and surely it has to be good for democracy that all ages of the population are represented.

Perhaps the best that most of us can do is to not let our age define us. If we want to do something and we have the general wherewithal to try, then let’s go for it.

I have to say, though, that some of those older performers also have the advantage of not having to do a lot of the grunt work that makes up most peoples’ lives. I’m sure with an entourage I could do a lot more. Well, perhaps not.

My late mother-in-law used to say that every age has its compensations and although some of us may decry getting old, it is as they say, better than the alternative.

There is a saying that if you’re good enough you are old enough. I might add although you might be old you may well still be good!

SHARON KIDSON

BUSINESS CONSULTANT