News
June 2007
Grey Power on the horizon for Sir Paul McCartney
Sir Paul McCartney recently added the title of pensioner to his collection as he turned 65. In doing so he has been hailed as one of the new faces of grey power, the term being used to describe this ever more influential group.
As former Member of the Scottish Parliament, John Swinburne, aged 76, said: 'My belief is that the over-65s do not realise their own power. It's amazing the number of people I've met during the past four or five years who are well past retiral age and still giving a tremendous contribution to society."
Swinburne founded the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party and took his seat in the Scottish Parliament aged 72, being the first legislator to represent grey power.
More UK pensioners are using the internet, including the 79 year old YouTube superstar, Peter Oakley, whose videos are viewed by millions around the world.
UK pensioners are also spending more and taking more holidays. An estimated 4.8 million trips were made to continental Europe last year by the over 65s.