Thousands of over sixties in Wales are experiencing the happiest phase of their life according to new research from older people’s charity, Royal Voluntary Service.

The study, released to launch GrandFest Cymru 2017, a one-day festival celebrating older people and their craft skills, finds 58 per cent of over 60s in Wales agree they are happier now than they have ever been and nearly two thirds (61 per cent) believe they are still in the prime of their life.

More than six in 10 of those surveyed in Wales agreed that one of the best things about getting older is having more time to do what they want. Other benefits include worrying less about things that aren’t important (41 per cent), no longer caring what people think (37 per cent) and being able to speak their mind (26 per cent).

GrandFest, taking place at St Fagans National Museum of History on Sunday July 9 (11am – 4pm), is a one day festival created for the older generation to share craft skills such as embroidery, quilting, wood turning and bread making through a series of master classes. Each of the classes will be led by a GrandMaker, aged 70 or over.

Among them will be Clive Lillow from Abergavenny who will lead a Masterclass in Bread Making, a skill which has been in his family since the 1800s.

Clive, 76, first became interested in practising the art as a young boy, when he would watch his great aunt working in her bakery in a small village in west Wales. He began to experiment making bread and it became a life-long passion. He now makes fresh bread every other day for him and his family to enjoy.

It’s the first time the GrandFest event has come to Wales.

David McCullough, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service said, “Older people can teach us a lot – not just about how to age well but also by passing on their skills. We are delighted to be bringing GrandFest to Wales. It is the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill or hobby from the original makers.”