The Office of National Statistics report that the area in the West Midlands where people can most expect to reach the age of 75 is South Shropshire. I am not surprised knowing it well :D

Quality of life is of far more importance than longevity,to end up vegetating in a old folks home is my worst nightmare,i watched my in laws go down that road.

OK, this is clearly a function of South Shropshire's relatively elderly and relatively affluent population compared to other areas of the West Midlands (even with downtown Craven Arms included).

This is a link to a report on this on the BBC site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7425242.stm#rates