I am not really taken with special ‘days’ for celebrating causes, even though I have worked my way through some in the past. Their contrived, presentational nature contains too much regimental stiffness for my taste.

Thus speaks the founder of Ban Bullying at Work Day, supporter of Workers Memorial Day, and participant in numerous May Day Marches straggling across London. Memories of inaudible speeches in driving rain trigger my Pavlov’s dog’s reactions.

I thought I had left all that behind long ago but Older People’s Day is with us and I have to cheer! Please note, it’s the contrivance, not the cause, that cools my ardour.

To have a ‘day’, the cause should really have a campaigning reason. UK Older People’s day on the other hand, is an artefact of Government.

Direct Gov, the Government’s website tells us that it coincides with UN International Day for Older People. Under the banner of Full of Life “events are being held in local communities throughout the UK bringing people of all ages together.” Point made, I think.

But then it is all harmless stuff. TAEN will do what we can to make it a success, even though the ‘jump in the line’, orchestrated nature palls somewhat.

This in a sense is the problem. Older People’s Day is so undeniably about image, one wonders whether there will be any fire in the belly speeches, any passion and commitment from the grass roots.

For sure, we will have everyone from Anne Widdecombe to Joan Bakewell making comments and you can guess roughly what they are likely to say. “Let us give thanks and praise to older people for their achievements,” and so on. It’s not so much that I disagree with the message as that I wonder whether this is what it should be about – and who owns it.

Who disagrees? We in TAEN don’t really see the older workers (whose fortunes we follow with such interest) as ‘old’. This is possibly because we count ourselves among their number. But if old we be, then old we celebrate!

So today I throw my hand in with the home made jam judges and exercise class awards givers, and offer my plaudits to workers who keep going, because they need to and want to, and in so doing do great things that benefit the world around them.

But how does it feel then, being an older worker?  Speaking personally, fine thank you and far better than it felt in 1962 when I started out. In those days I cycled the five miles to work and back. Today the distance is further, the job more interesting, I can do a lot more – that’s the main difference.

So one keeps going. Pretty important in my book. Here’s one ‘older worker’ who doesn’t feel especially old. My chronological age I own up to without embarrassment, but why should it define me?

“Wonderful old gent” did I hear? Bah humbug! People don’t do things to set examples – work, exercise or whatever. They do them because they love them, want to do them, need to do them. Don’t give us patronising bunkum!

So with work; give a person a job and they can earn a living. Give a person a job they love, and they can go on working for ever – well, almost.

Britain’s oldest boss, Phyllis Self, is still working  a six-day week at the age of 101, dealing with all correspondence, payroll and personnel matters at the garden centre business she founded 40 years ago.  I would guess that her energy and interest was nurtured many years before when somehow, a combination of factors made her interested in her work.

And older workers can rise to the pinnacles of excellence. In January 2009, 57-year-old US Airways captain Chesley Sullenberger safely landed a jet in the Hudson River, saving the lives of 155 passengers and crew.  His lifetime training and experience allowed him to pull off a feat that would have defeated many pilots. Experience can save lives!

So much for my paen to the achievements of older workers. Back to my beef about ‘days’.  I offer this thought; to be a real ‘day’, older people should not only celebrate but protest. They have plenty to protest about: pensions, for a start.

The idea of older people lining up in tea dances and allotment projects around the country, smiling happily for the cameras and uttering not a word about the scandalous, miserable levels of state pensions, jars my senses.

And if 50 plus people choose to throw their lot in with the older older people and make a fuss, I could give them a few ideas too. Well I would do, wouldn’t I? A lifetime’s habits die hard.

Just a little point – this business about compulsory retirement at 65, is about saving our dignity, don’t you know? Yes, that really is one of the reasons put forward by British industry to justify mandatory retirement. Pretty dignified for those who wanted to carry on, but are consigned to retirement on a low income – don’t you think?

I go with Dylan Thomas on this one – let’s use it Older People’s Day to “Rage, rage against the dying of the light!” There sure is plenty of indignity to rage against. Well, here is your opportunity – next year see you at the barricades!