Sunday 17 January 2010

liver and bacon after keep fit at 100

Diet the key for keep fit fan, 100

Friday, January 15 12:02 pm
Press Assoc.

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A refusal to eat junk food, that is the secret of Georgina Easter, who at the age of 100 has emerged as possibly Britain's oldest keep-fit fanatic. Skip related content
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Diet the key for keep fit fan, 100

Whether she's limbering up to the latest chart hits or stretching her legs on a wooden chair, Ms Easter rarely fails to miss one of her Keep-Fit For Mature Movers lessons in Derby.

Her secret to her youthful exuberance is a healthy diet, but even her fellow classmates, some 30 years her junior, are astounded how she keeps going despite reaching her century last month.

Derby Adult Learning Service, part of the city's council, organises the sessions at a church hall in the suburb of Chaddesden.

Officials at the service now want to know whether she is the oldest member of a keep-fit class in the country.

But for Miss Easter, who was born when Edward VII was still king and the Titanic was only being built, the keep-fit classes are just a bit of fun. She said: "What's my secret? Keep away from junk food. I also do a bit of gardening, I cook every day and I am going to have liver and onions ... when I get home.

"I enjoy the friendship of the classes. All the people who take part, we are all good friends. At the end of term we have a big get together and a meal. It's very enjoyable."

The council says the classes, which run in ten-week blocks, three times a year, are part of an effort to ensure the elderly in the area stay as independent as possible.

Ruth Skelton, in charge of adult services at the Council, said: "She's a brilliant example to all people her age and younger.

"It may well be that Georgina is the oldest keep-fit member in the county and we would be very interested to know whether she's the oldest person to go to keep-fit classes in the country."