Driving licence at 70?

[colinm]

Nope! He was 70 in nov 23, and this was first time license suspended.

Sorry but I'm still trying to work out what you are saying.
You said the licnce was taken away "a few years ago", but was the original licnce returned, or was a new licnce returned, if a new licnce was issued in august 2021, then it would run for three years until august 2024, this would override any need to surrender the licnce at 70, if the returned licnce was issued before august 2021 then it seems a bit odd, but sometimes the DVLA seem to do 'odd' things.