As you know, I’m always going on about injecting variety into our older lives and making sure we have sufficient rewards and high spots – and such moments certainly elevate our mood.

But when we add to that mix some real inspiration, our spirits can rise even more.  

That happened to me last week, when I went to see the musical Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, in London.

Loads of friends had told me how good it was but it surpassed my hopes by a mile. It was nothing short of sensational.

More than that, it was inspirational; inspirational because of all the artists on stage who have worked themselves into the ground to become the very best they can be. And their best was incredible.   

I also felt inspired by a television programme I caught on BBC iPlayer recently, all about the actor Sian Phillips, who is now 90. I was bowled over by it. She has the physical flexibility of a person half her age, her voice is as seductive and lyrical as ever and her mind is clearly still razor sharp. 

Now, these days, I often realise that I’m the oldest person in the room. I do my best to find this amusing.

But Sian Phillips is quite a lot older than me, and I was so inspired by her that she’s become my latest role model – and I plan to work hard at being as active, fit, and mentally capable as she is, if I’m lucky enough to reach the big nine-zero.

If I could also have her stunning, sunshine-yellow coat, her ability to apply lipstick perfectly, and her dishy physio to encourage my leg up behind my ear, that would be fantastic.  

I believe we need role models at every age.

You may remember some of yours from when you were younger. I certainly do. Mine were usually teachers.

One in particular had had a career in the theatre before retraining in education.

Getting to know her made me believe that all sorts of dreams and possibilities in life could be achievable. 

Then when I wanted to get a job in the television industry, I looked up to people like Valerie Singleton and Michael Aspel who had an ease about them and were so at home in the medium 

Later, when I became an agony aunt on a national newspaper, my role model was Claire Rayner.

Who else? She was amazing. And she had a huge heart.

She used to answer hundreds of letters a week from worried people, and I happen to know she often popped a five-pound note in the envelope if she knew they were struggling financially.

She was a class act. And whenever I was at a loss about anything, I used to ask myself “What would Claire Rayner do?” and that always helped me. 

But seeing Sian Phillips the other day made me realise that no matter how old we are, we can always be inspired by someone special. The other thing to remember is that, even if you don’t know it, you may well be a role model to younger people.  

Back in 2018, there was a survey of around 2000 folk of 65 and over. It found that 10 per cent of the respondents considered themselves to be boring. And 16 per cent believed they were “past it”. 

I hope no one reading this column shares those beliefs, but if you do, please try to reframe your thoughts about yourself, and maybe also to shake up your life to make it more stimulating.

Quite apart from anything else, it turns out that young people today don’t write us off, as we might imagine, instead they tend to think we’re rather marvellous.

In a poll of 18- to 39-year-olds, a massive 88pc of these young adults said they really valued older people and found them “interesting” and “wise”.

Indeed, two thirds of them said that their own grandparents were their role models. I find this quite touching. Does it make you stand up straighter, and smile and believe in yourself a bit more? It should. 

So why not give some thought to who you are and why younger people might admire and like you? And also, if you don’t have a current role model, get thinking about that too and pick one.

There are loads in the public eye such as David Attenborough, Paul McCartney, and all the theatrical dames – but you may know someone personally who, in their quiet and unassuming way, is also inspirational. Role models come in many different guises.  

Having Sian Phillips as my role model has made me look at life differently. And it has intensified my ambitions for myself and my future. So that’s me sorted.

But I’ll share her with you, if you like!