Older age can be one of the happiest times of your life, according to research by friendly society The Oddfellows, which has a strong presence in Sussex.

Some 80% of Oddfellows members described themselves as happy or very happy, while 82% said they felt they had a valuable role within the local community.

By comparison, only 69% of non-members described themselves as happy or very happy, and 71% said they felt they had a valuable role within the local community.

Also, tellingly, those in their 70s are significantly happier than those in their 60s within the sample.

The key cause of this discontent appears to be a disparity between the dream of a golden retirement and the reality of being thrust into a new and surprisingly-frightening phase of life where many of the familiar and comforting social benefits of a working lifestyle get suddenly and cruelly removed.

This can leave newly-retired people marooned, lacking a plan, a social support structure and the meaningful social interaction they took for granted when they were working. And this is especially so if their families, as is increasingly the case, do not live nearby.

Oddfellows spokesperson Dawn Walters says: “People simply look forward to having a lot more time on our hands, but that can translate into loneliness, a lack of purpose and a longing for social interaction.”

For more information on The Oddfellows, visit oddfellows.co.uk.