The acronym stands for Mature, Affluent, Pioneering People and has been coined to describe a growing social group of active, fun-loving fifty- and sixty-somethings.

Far from suffering empty nest syndrome, mappies are keen to embrace new projects when their children leave home. They are au fait with the latest technology, love travelling to farflung places and are happy to splash out on some of life’s luxuries.

In Sweden, where the term originated, mappies have their own magazine which defines them as older people “who have time and money and want to spend them”.