It was a bit like the charge of the Light Brigade - minibuses to the right of me, community coaches to the left of me, a veritable army of determined senior citizens.

All were heading for the Brighthelm Centre.

Under the less-than-beautiful acronym BGOP (Better Government for Older People) a crowded meeting gave a very warm and interested welcome to some exciting ideas which may lead to the very large group of older people in Brighton and Hove having a substantial say in matters which are of great concern to them.

Some time ago a steering group was set up, chaired by Sheila Schaffer, to try to ensure decisions directly affecting this large group of people were not taken without some prior form of consultation or that, almost more annoying, a kind of mock consultation took place after the decision had been taken.

A group of interested movers and shakers had visited Denmark where such organisations as BGOP are commonplace and plans are now afoot to have a directly-elected council of older people who would liaise with the city council about matters of concern to them.

Those attending the inaugural meeting came from a wide range of interests and backgrounds and were very keen to have their voices heard on a number of issues. They got their opportunity when a very interested experiment took place.

A group of ladies, all of whom came from the third-age group, took part in a short playlet which traced the life of someone retiring from a busy life and showed what lay ahead for someone who had made no arrangements for retirement.

The farewell gift, the "don't forget to come and have tea" (instantly forgotten), charity work, ill health, admission to hospital and unplanned discharge all figured in the work.

It was then performed a second time and the audience was encouraged to shout out 'Stop' when they saw a situation in which a little forethought or planning by authority, or indeed by the victim herself, could have made life a great deal better.

The actors could hardly get a complete sentence out as the audience made their views known!

It became very clear there are many quite simple things which are not costly in monetary terms which could be of help to the elderly.

Simplifying forms, sending out retirement packs with the first notification of your pension to tell you where to go for various kinds of help, a little training before you take on charity work, I could go on and on.

The air was full of good ideas, all of which were noted for future presentation to the relevant bodies.

It showed, if proof were needed, that the grey vote is of enormous importance to the country and perhaps even more so, to the city of Brighton and Hove.

There is a vast pool of experience there, much of it untapped and, as the age profile of the country gets older, this hidden energy will become of even more importance.

Brighton and Hove is in the forefront of this move to involve older people in improving their circumstances.

I just hope it does not become another 'focus group' - all talk and no action. If the inaugural meeting was any guide, it doesn't seem likely!