Tourerfogey wrote:Am I the omly one to find this really scarey and quite sobering? OK so he's a few years older than me but essentially still of 'my generation' - and so many people who fall into that category have died over recent years . . .
I completely concur with your observation. I first started out in life as a 'Trainee Actuary' with a large insurance group, essentially a bookie compiling odds on living or dying - known affectionately in the trade as 'mortal curves'. Upon such data are Annuities and Life policies determined.
I became depressed after a year sitting in an eyrie, on the top of an old brownstone block in the city, with 3, it seemed old boys, all over 50 pondering how many per 1,000 capita were going to die from Amyloidosis following a visit to Southend Kursall without a hat on.
So I sought fresh pastures to earn a '
living', but the sobering experience of toting death has always been a statistical fascination. I now find myself looking back more and more on late friends & family, my age
(or younger), with a shiver. I sometimes feel like a 38 knot destroyer, powering between huge columns of water as near misses from 16" shells occur all around me.
From those early days of research I do recall that genes, lifestyle and in particular childhood nutrition played a large part in longevity. Actors and entertainers were considered 'high risk', due to the inconsistency of their life pattern and mental stress as a corollary. Sir(s) John Mills and Gielgud, George Burns etc, were all abreast of 100, but generally and following Vilfredo Pareto's 80/20 rule, they are notable exceptions. 'Onslow' made the average
(67.9 years) for his generation and occupation.
Presently in the UK only 2% make three figures, 22 per cent of men in England and Wales die before the age of 65
(compared to 13 per cent of women); and 42 per cent die before 75 (compared to 26 per cent of women). Average life expectancy is 80.4, 78 for men and 82 for women.
And a happy Xmas to all our readers...
