I am sure that there were many, not least those of an age in excess of those described at Psalms 90:10, who found it pleasing and uplifting to read the words of the Very Rev Dr James Simpson in his contribution to the November issue of the Life and Work (‘Life is still good’). He has clearly retained both his sense of humour and the ability to look on the bright side of life .

It is part of the vagaries of life how the growing old process affects us individually. I will try harder to treat it in a similar spirit to that shown by Dr Simpson. He has shown a different approach from that of Francis Bacon, who once observed: ‘I will never be an old man. To me old age is always 15 years older than I am .’

I wish Dr Simpson well and I hope that ‘Life is still good’ for him for many years to come.

Ian W Thomson, Lenzie