FOOLS rush in, they say, an edict that makes Ron and Freda Sonley the wisest of the wise. They waited 48 years to move in together, and a further two before marrying.

In that time, many wedding trends have come and gone. The near-compulsory church ceremony in the Fifties was dismissed out of hand by the free love generation of the Sixties.

Today tying the knot is back in fashion, although the ceremony is as likely to take place in a stately home as a church.

Ron and Freda were never swayed by social trends, however. They remained unmarried because, Freda said, "we were perfectly happy with the way things were". A wise outlook indeed.

They are not the only older North Yorkshire newlyweds. George and Ida Bye married this weekend after a holiday romance.

Both these stories shatter the negative stereotype of pensioners as grumpy, frail and introverted. Older people everywhere are beginning to rebel against such negative imagery.

Earlier this month, a report revealed that many Britons in their fifties were enjoying the happiest times of their lives.

They are fitter and wealthier than ever before. Coming from the baby-boomer generation that shaped the modern world, they are not about to stagnate by the fireside. These fifty-somethings have plans, and the spending power to wield influence.

Another report, out today, suggests that over-65s are fed-up of the way TV portrays pensioners as either miserable Victor Meldrews or sweet little old ladies.

Victor Meldrew is now dead, of course, so perhaps this is a timely moment for broadcasters to reconsider their approach to older people.

More complex, positive characters are needed to enliven drama, comedy and the soaps.

Older presenters are already popular with viewers, of course. We need only think of 65-year-old Michael Parkinson, the king of chat. And entertainer Bruce Forsyth, 72, is still a hit with the viewers if not with the blinkered ITV schedulers.

These positive role models should be cherished by television executives looking to woo viewers of all ages.