I think longevity is related to a combination of lifestyle and genetics.

I was also a "war baby" and remember rationing of sweets and things like chocolate and bananas. I have to say though that, when sweets stopped being rationed, I ate more rubbish than my grandchildren do now! I also drank fizzy crap like Tizer (remember that one?). But, yes, I also had cod liver oil and malt (just before Dick Barton came on the radio), plus the small bottle of morning milk at school.

As for playing out, we seemed to spend all our spare time as kids roaming around the fields, running, jumping - far more than many of today's children seem to do. My mum died at the age of 90 - dad at the age of 93 - and, going back into my family tree, there seem to have been quite a few 19th century ancestors who had 12 or 13 children and then lived to a ripe old age. But, to be honest, who wants to live for ever? Both parents had lost the will to live towards the end and just wanted it all to be over.

I hope to conk out completely while playing guitar on stage in front of an appreciative audience, malt whisky and Havana cigar to hand (I haven't smoked for years, btw), and with an adoring and rather gorgeous lady in attendance.

What do you mean: "dirty old man?" Aren't I allowed just one fantasy? :-)