WHEN Marilyn Croft's working life as a secretary came to a close, putting her feet up and living on her memories was the furthest thing from her mind.

A youthful 66, Marilyn has the perfect example of turning idle hands to good use in her husband Norman, who spends his spare hours down on his allotment, collecting model trains and happily tinkering in the garage on old mowers.

And she herself is a paid-up member of Swansea's branch of the University Of The 3rd Age.

The group galvanises its 800-plus members to keep the grey matter working, to visit new places, try new things, and meet new people in the course of painting, learning languages, playing Scrabble, day- tripping, wine-tasting and singing.

She says u3a has been a boon to her since her retirement and it even helps keep her marriage in fine fettle, since she and her husband always have something new to chat about.

"It is about education, but also about having fun," she says.

"We have talks and events, either led by one of our members who has a field of expertise, or by a visitor who is an expert in a subject."

So anything from talks on the Clyne Valley Project to advances in genetics, to Welsh gothic literature, to the early life of Winston Churchill might be up for discussion.

"And we have all kinds of organised activities from digital media to ukulele playing to wine appreciation, says Marilyn.

"We have singing groups and Pantomagoria, who put on shows in January. I have done so much since I became a member."

Marilyn joined the group, which meets in the Grove Lecture Hall at Swansea University and at other venues across the Swansea Bay area, on recommendation. And she hasn't looked back since, she says.

"I am a doer, and about five years ago I mentioned to my optician that I was thinking of joining a philosophy group, an art group, or taking a university degree. She said 'don't do that, join the u3a.

"My husband is busy with his allotment and his trains and it works very well for us that we have our own interests rather than doing the same thing together, because it means we always have something to talk about."

Aside from getting its members out and about and learning new skills the ethos behind the group is a serious one — that of making the most of resources.

As a culture we are guilty of overlooking and under-using people from that more advanced age group who have the most experience, and it is a waste, agrees Marilyn.

"Of course it is a waste, on the basis that often we have been there, done that and we are happy to share what we have learned."

Membership of the Swansea branch is booming, though the boost in numbers of younger people — 40-plus — lately is a worrying sign of the times.

"There is no age limit at all to membership — the only criteria is that people must be retired or semi-retired. And because of the current situation we are seeing more people in their 40s joining us."

She says although people's time is at premium it is important not to lose sight of the need for 'me time' in amongst their parenting or their grand-parenting duties.

"It all depends upon attitude, but it is important not to lose sight of the fact that everyone needs to make time to do what they want to do — you are still a person first even when you are a parent or a grandparent."

For Marilyn that also means setting aside time to indulge one of her biggest passions — the Swans. A member of the Swansea Supporters Trust she travels all over the country to support her lads and she is revelling in their success at the moment of course.

Marilyn isn't the only one who is refusing to let a little silver in the hair put a dampener on their life.

Septuagenarian thrill-seeker Arthur Hendey is much more likely be found, in his regulation bandana, practising his ollies on his custom-made skateboard, than he is to be watching Cash In The Attic with a biscuit and a cuppa.

The self-proclaimed eccentric and one-time £10 Pom has tried his hand at songwriting, knocking up a musical, skating, stilt-walking, tag rugby and jiving.

"I was on Strictly Dance Fever on BBC. I think I was chosen because of my obvious freakiness. I don't do anything well. it's just that I love doing stuff. You meet like-minded people.

"I heard this bit of philosophy, I think it was Hawaiian. It was very simple. 'You eat life or life eats you', and I have tried to live by that."

And the pages of the Evening Post regularly trumpet tales of pensioners who put themselves out to raise cash for good causes.

Super Gran Eryl Jenkins, is a 71-year-old

fundraiser for Meningitis UK and she stepped out for last year's Swansea Bay 10k, after warming up with a five-mile walk and a cup of tea and walking home from St Helen's to Mumbles after the race.

Arthur says the gift of life is one to be savoured, whatever your age.

"There are times when I can't do anything at all. But when the sun is shining life is a miracle, so I do perhaps throw myself more into it more than most people would.

"Our boy, Dylan Thomas, was absolutely right when he said 'Do not go gentle into that good night'."

kate.clarke@swwmedia.co.uk