They’re just unstoppable! (From Thisisdorset)

They’re just unstoppable!

11:02am Friday 12th January 2007 in

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RETIREMENT used to mean sitting in a comfy chair by the fire doing sedate things while the younger generation rushed about in a frenetic panic.

But watch out because the Unstoppables are coming, and they aren't letting a silly thing like old age get in their way.

Unstoppables is the name for a new social group emerging in Britain today - and Christchurch is the number one place in the country to find them, claims new research.

They are over-65s who simply refuse to stop partying, socialising, holidaying and generally having a fabulous and busy time.

And with one fifth of Christchurch's population being of retirement age, it is easy to see why the research by the Future Foundation points to the town as the new social group's spiritual home.

The New Forest is listed as the third most likely place in the UK to find the grey-haired super being, with Poole the eighth.

In Christchurch one need look no further than the Highcliffe Community Association to find more than 2,000 people of a "certain age" cramming their retirement with all manner of activities and excursions.

In addition to the more traditional OAP pursuits, association members throw themselves into a myriad of activities organised at Greystones such as yoga, music making, computer studies and using camcorders.

Pat McKean is 68 and admits that she hardly ever sits down and says that the description of an "unstoppable" sounds just like her.

She is membership secretary for the community association and past president, an officer in the sewing and dressmaking group, runs the crafts group, is a founder member for the quilting group, has embraced digital photography as her new passion and now always carries a camera, and is a member of the video group.

Pat also attends many social events at the Highcliffe Probus Club, enjoys foreign and British holidays, doing the gardening, helps out with membership at the New Forest Show, adores motoring and has also passed her advanced driving test.

"I have no idea where I get my energy from," she said. "But in the last year alone so many new groups have started up in Christchurch with countless opportunities locally.

"People in their 80s these days just don't see themselves as elderly. Maybe it's something to do about growing up in the Second World War - my earliest memories are of firing going on - that has made this generation so tough and active.

"Yes, we are refusing to grow old gracefully."

Teresa Riding, 76, is secretary at the community association, in addition to the many things competing in her life.

"I've got a good social life with lots of friends," said Teresa. "We have meals, drinks and musical evenings at each other's homes.

"Music is my biggest hobby and I am chairman of the organ and keyboard club at Greystones. I'm always going on holidays, although not so much foreign these days because I did all that when I was younger. I can't be bothered with big packing and Heathrow. Now it's time to see England.

"My energy is sustained by what I do although my husband, who's a bit older, does fade a little quicker than me.

"My mother never had this lifestyle at the same age. Her life was all housework and drudgery, although remember in those days the washing would take a whole day to do, and the ironing the next.

"I never saw my parents or grandparents dressed up enjoying things. If my mum came back now she would be amazed at the transformation of life - and she'd probably not know what to do with herself."