I AM glad that Chris Foote-Wood is enjoying a healthy fulfilling retirement (HAS, July 15). Long may it continue.But the truth is that for many retirees growing old is a bitter sweet experience.

The stark reality is that in athletic terms the bell has sounded for the final lap and, quite naturally, many of us would prefer to be crouched and ready at the starting line.

The key to a happy retirement is good health. I don’t miss the stress of work and it’s wonderful to be able to have the time to read and listen to music.

This brings me to the reason Chris wrote in the first place: Cilla Black, in his view an icon, and her difficulty in coming to terms with aging. Personally I find the idea of Cilla Black growing old as strangely comforting as it makes it unlikely that she’ll murder any more good songs. Before any HAS contributors write in protest, I would recommend listening to numbers by Elkie Brooks, Dusty Springfield, Barbara Dickson and others from that era. Now that was singing.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland