Matt's Crow Country: Time to go - but what if you don't want to?

I M SURE we all have days when retirement seems like an enticing prospect. Lie-ins when you please, unfettered access to daytime television, hours to spend discovering the mysteries of crown green bowls, the possibilities are endless. But when it gets

I'M SURE we all have days when retirement seems like an enticing prospect.

Lie-ins when you please, unfettered access to daytime television, hours to spend discovering the mysteries of crown green bowls, the possibilities are endless.

But when it gets to the point when it's time to call it a day, what happens if you're not ready to go just yet?

I imagine it must be frustrating to say the least if you are given your marching orders by your employer when you feel you've still got something to offer.

This is the situation faced by many people in the area, including Dr Dave Baigent, public services lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

Dr Baigent is being forced to leave his position, having reached 65 and fallen victim to the compulsory retirement age imposed by the university.

This news has been met with disappointment from his students, who have started a Facebook campaign to Save their Sir.

Dr Baigent himself has been quoted as saying that he believes the ARU's policy is rooted in a desire to get rid of older, more expensive, members of staff, though the university itself has refused to comment on this.

Whatever the reason, in these times of financial austerity, we as a society must ensure that back-door age discrimination is not tolerated.

People are living longer lives these days, and if they feel they are still able to contribute at their work places they shouldn't be stopped from doing that.

Despite the protests of the students, it seems unlikely that ARU will be reversing its decision to pension off Dr Baigent.

But we can only hope that our new fledgling government will come up with some legislation that will stop this scenario repeating itself in the future.