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For Dr Clive Girdler, the right time was in 2019 when he secured an early retirement deal with his then employer.

Post-retirement, Dr Girdler still loves travel - but only if it involves one of his 11 motorbikes.

Since quitting the workplace, Dr Girdler has involved himself with his parish council, become a trustee of the village hall and created a four-acre woodland for wildlife to thrive.

"Retirement is absolutely fantastic," says Dr Girdler, who lives near King's Lynn in Norfolk and whose previous job involved extensive international travel.

Asked whether such activities might be surrogates for paid work, Dr Girdler laughs.