People

Is old age a time to become quieter and more dignified or to do exactly what you've always wanted to?

BBC Leicester's Bridget Blair went to meet some Leicestershire people who've chosen to grow old disgracefully...

Hello sailor!

Bill Smith lives near Thurnby. He's 79-years-old but he says he's not ready to give up dressing and acting as if he's much younger.

Five years ago he had his ear pierced and now wears an earring in his left ear. He says it's something he'd always wanted to do:

"My son's got one, my grandson's got one, so I thought why shouldn't I? And they all agree on it...

"I like jewellery, I do like jewellery, but I don't overdo it. I like a golden necklace, a bangle on the arm and I like my rings."

Come fly with me

Cyril Foulds from Rearsby is 81-years-old and recently decided to take up a risky new hobby.

When his wife died his children suggested he find a new interest to stop him from wallowing in grief, and told him not to worry about spending their inheritance.

So he thought it was a good time to take to the skies:

81-year-old Cyril Foulds

"I've always wanted to fly ever since I was a youngster and joined the RAF.

"I volunteered for air crew but the selection board suggested I wasn't tall enough to be a pilot and I wasn't educated enough to be a navigator."

So at the age of 79 he went to the Leicestershire Aero Club and asked to be taught how to fly.

18 months later he was awarded his pilots license - Cyril says it's wonderful to think back to the words of the RAF selection board now:

"They were wrong, they didn't know what they were talking about. I proved it to myself and that's the most important thing.

"And now the sky's the limit!"

Here's to you Mrs Robinson...

Kyra began dating younger men seven years ago. She says she didn't do it by design, but since then she's been out with men between 15 and 20 years younger than herself.

She's 50-years-old and is now in a relationship with a man who is 16 years her junior:

"There are men of this younger generation who are incredibly experienced emotionally and sexually, sometimes more than men who are older than them.

She says she sometimes finds that men her own age aren't very interested in sex, and that younger men are refreshing with their energy and enthusiasm:

"If you've ever wondered what it's like to go out with a younger man, it is absolutely fantastic. The sex is great!"

I did it my way

Morgan Perkins from Earl Shilton is in his mid 50s. He had a well-paying job as a sales manager, but seven years ago he decided to give it up to become a Frank Sinatra tribute act.

Ol' Blue Eyes himself

He had no experience of singing before he took it on as a career - he just decided to go for it after a friend told him he sounded like Sinatra on karaoke!

Morgan says he has no regrets:

"It's fabulous, it's a dream that I had and it's a dream that I live...

"I probably earn more at the moment than I used to in sales two or three nights a week, it's crazy isn't it? Somebody give me money to do something I love doing - how good is that?"