Telford pensioner Stan is still pumping iron at 90
You are never too old to keep fit – just ask 90-year-old Stan Lendrem.
The pensioner is a regular at a Telford gym, where he can be seen pumping iron, running on the treadmill and on the rowing machine.
Stan has been a member of The Whitehouse gym for about eight years and is still an avid user after celebrating his 90th on April 6.
"I've always been fit, but for my age I'm extremely fit," said the grandfather, who lives on the edge of the Brooklands Estate in Wellington.
"The best exercise for me is walking," he added. "Four mornings a week I am out of the house by 7.30am. The other mornings I am on the treadmill in the gym.
"I go up the Silkin Way and across the fields – I probably do about three miles a day.
"At the gym I do 20 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the rowing machine, then mainly upper body strengthening weights, the back extension and leg extension machines.
"I spend about an hour in the gym then go for a swim for about half an hour to three quarters of an hour."
Stan is only just the oldest member at the gym – there is an 88-year-old called Ken who uses the facilities there as well.
"Ken is 88, he's an ex-air crew man so we have a good chat," said Stan, who served in the airforce, and then worked at the Air Ministry at High Ercall.
He then worked at GKN Sankey in Hadley where he worked until he retired.
"There's a nice group of us," added Stan.
"There's a lovely lady called Jackie who is the sweetheart of the crowd.
"The staff are very helpful – it's a really friendly atmosphere."
Even when he gets home the widow, who lost his wife Mary 13 years ago, has no time to put his feet up.
"I live on my own so I do all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing so there's not much time for sitting around," he said.
And his hobbies also keep him on his toes – he has been a keen bowler for 20 years and plays in the senior citizens league at the Sir John Bailey Club in Wellington.
Stan believes the secret to keeping fit is everything in moderation. "I don't smoke, I like a drink but I don't drink too much, I eat sensibly and I'm a family man," he said.
"I'm not a big eater, I like quite plain things like meat and two veg but I still enjoy fish and chips and bacon and egg."
Gym manager Mark Beamson said: "Stan really shows that exercise isn't about age – you have to keep doing it. He is a great example of what you can achieve if you keep going."
