Figures just out show the wide age gap that still exists in France between retirement ages in different trades, despite reforms in 2003, 2008 and 2010 that tried to level the playing field.

Doctors, lawyers and similar professionals retire on average at 63.7 years, private company employees can expect to retire at 61.9 years, public sector employees who aren’t actually deskbound – a nurse; for instance – pack it in at 58.4 and train drivers (historically a very active and potentially dangerous job, but when did you last go to work on a steam loco?) can happily start a second career backed by a pension at 55.1.