I was born in 1953. When i retired at 56, i took my private pension then at 65, i got my reduced state pension. I did query the reduction at the time and they said it was because of the private pension so just accepted i lose about 100 pound a month. My Brother, who saved nothing and no private pension now gets that 100 pound more than me. No one tells you that if you take on a private scheme, they reduce the state pension. I am not really missing much as the Local Government pension i have is more than the state one and retail price index linked.
I was surprised that after 26 years paying into the scheme, the pot was at half a million. Just before retiring early, the employer raised my wages 1500 pounds which effectively made my monthly pension higher for the rest of my life.
It was great to retire at 56 as i went out and did a few short term jobs in the local schools for about 6 months a year for 3 years.