Let's hear it for these sparky veterans

Another, despite having had heart attacks, diabetes and a stroke, toils all the way to London with his invalid wife to campaign for Parliament to allow controversial experiments which could find cures for the illnesses of others.

And a group of "silver surfers" so impress the town's MP with their determination not to allow their advancing years to prevent them from keeping up with the computer age that he is backing their appeal for more modern technology.

Bexhill is much maligned for its high average age; its perceived "age imbalance."

Comedians who ridicule it as "God's waiting room" should take careful note.

Don't mix it with a determined pensioner. You could come off second best. These people are not quitters. They are fighters.

The fact that animal sanctuary founder Barby Keel has been nominated for the annual Animal Action Awards run by The People newspaper will delight all those who know this tough lady and admire her achievements.

Barby says she owes the sanctuary's success today to her "motley crew" of volunteers and says she tires more easily now.

Barby is entitled to feel tired. She's 73, has fought off cancer and has been a slave to her cause for years.

And if anyone thinks that because she cares passionately for animals she is a "softie" they should hear the comments the Observer can't use when we ask her for a quote when she is fighting some battle on the sanctuary's behalf!

Not only has Patrick Rooney cared for a sick wife for many years, he is battling a daunting array of health problems of his own. Yet this plucky couple struggled all the way from Bexhill to Westminster to campaign last week in support of the Human Fertility and Embryology Bill. It is highly contentious legislation, throwing up big ethical issues. Even if the law on medical research with human embryos is relaxed, any benefits for medical science will be too late for those of Patrick and Alma's generation.

They made last week's sacrifice for others, not for themselves.

As for the jolly crowd at the Senior Citizens' Club computer group, they don't know the meaning of "can't."

It's their "can-do" attitude of mind which together with skilled training propels novices with no knowledge of computers through to confidence and proficiency.