having started this thread I need to report that we were without gas for 5 days in early December, no heating, no hot water and no gas hob.
We were more than capable of coping with it. The occupiers of all 10 houses involved were offered heaters and electric hobs, no matter what our ages and we declined both. We have a wood stove in a large central brick fireplace, the joy of really old houses and the stack soon heated up and the stove kept the whole house warm and with an oven, slow cooker, microwave and electric cooker, we needed no help with cooking and we visited the local sports centre regularly for showers and hairwashes.
Franbern, in your situation I too would make sure I was on the relevant register, I think anyone of any age who has health or welfare problems should be on this register. But age alone should not be a reason to be on it, you should need to have a reason to be on it.
I am, however off it now. I was told it was a mistake and people over 60 were not automatically put on it.