My work is much more fun than fun

Paul Ewart, an Oxford research physicist, recently won a landmark case. He wanted to be allowed to carry on working beyond the statutory university retirement age of 67. Ewart argued that, at 70, he still had important research work to do.

- Liz Hodgkinson

At his tribunal, the Professor swiftly demolished the standard objection that retirement refuseniks block the way for younger talent. He showed that, in academia at least, only two to four per cent more vacancies are created by the imposition of a statutory retirement age.

I’m with the Prof. If you do work that you enjoy, you never want to retire, as the buzz and excitement of interesting work cannot easily be replaced. Now in my mid-70s, I am truly grateful that I am still working and earning money, especially as my work has lasted longer than anything else in my life.