Golden oldies step forward to shrug off tired old stereotypes

She was among those who attended the Live Safely and Well at Home Information Fair at Kidlington’s Exeter Hall, Oxford Road on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old Cleveland Close, Kidlington resident said: “It was very good, there were all sorts of things, there was drawing and zumba dancing and everybody had a lunch together.”

The 10am to 3pm event included a health walk and live music.

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Older People’s Day was held on Wednesday and events will continue until next Wednesday.

They include a session to get advice and information at Northway Community Centre, Dora Carr Close, Oxford, from 10am to 4pm on Monday.

For more information, call 0345 450 1276 or visit tinyurl.com/mjlugex

YOGA has proved just the tonic for pensioner Cliff Rodda, above, who said it helped him overcome a severe bout of pneumonia.
Retired carpenter Mr Rodda said the ancient eastern exercise – recommended by his GP – has helped his breathing and flexibilty. He lay down on his bed one day in 2012 feeling slightly unwell and woke up 10 days later in hospital.
Mr Rodda had been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and a severe infection in his gall bladder.
Doctors at Oxford’s John Radcliffe hospital were so worried they contacted Mr Rodda’s nearest relatives in Cornwall.
After an operation to remove his gall bladder and back at home in Partridge Close, Wantage, he said: “I wasn’t mobile at all.
“It took me a long time to recover and when I did go out months later it was in a wheelchair.”
On his doctor’s recommendation, he started going to Wantage Health and Wellbeing Centre on Stirlings Close in January this year.
He started going to sitting-down yoga classes, and said: “I haven't looked back once, it's been absolutely brilliant.
“It’s my breathing they have really helped, being able to relax and take deep breaths and hold it.
“I’ve got a lot more mobility. I still use a walking frame but I get out a lot more.”
The father-of-four and grandfather-of-13 now goes to the centre twice a week for exercise classes and quizzes as well as yoga.
He added: “I feel like the baby of the group, as I'm a young 71.
“My health has improved so much, and I put that down to the movement from the yoga classes.
“I get so much out of speaking to the others at the centre, as well as the yoga class, which has enabled me to exercise and get my mobility back.”
Centre manager Jane Doyle said: “It's amazing to see the benefits are our service and particularly the seated yoga has brought to the Mr Rodda.”
The health and wellbeing centre is funded by Oxfordshire County Council.
Cabinet member for adult social care Judith Heathcoat said: “There are a wealth of activities available at our Health and Wellbeing Centres, which are all set up to help people live as independently as possible by encouraging them to stay healthy and engaged.
“By attending these centres people can interact with each other and make friends too which is so positive and helps with any feelings of isolation or loneliness.”
“It is wonderful to hear how attending Wantage Health and Wellbeing Centre has helped Mr Rodda get his mobility back.”

AT 92, Ruth Quarterman, above, jumped at the opportunity to show off her basketball skills.
She and other residents at St John’s care home in St Mary’s Road, East Oxford, competed at an older people’s Olympics on Wednesday. After shooting hoops they also played catch and tested their aim with bean bag target practice.
Care home managers organised the games as part of national Older People’s Day on Wednesday.
Mrs Quarterman said: “I really liked the opportunity for showing off.”
Later they took part in singing and joined in a belly dancing demonstration.

STRICTLY Come Dancing might be back on our screens but these elderly folk weren’t just sitting down in front of their TVs.
Age UK Oxfordshire organised a conga at Abingdon Health and Wellbeing Centre.
With about 30 people taking part, the collective age of the conga line was 1,886.
Laura Freeth, above front, a community information networker for Age UK Oxfordshire, said it was organised as part of National Older People’s Day to raise awareness for the charity.
She said: “The oldest person taking part was 94. They loved it. There were a lot of people reminiscing about the last time they did a conga.
“We did have some music on but most people just sang as they went around.”

A sweet celebration

COMEDIAN Jenny Eclair, above, headlined a second day of celebrating older people in Oxford yesterday.
She perform her new show, Eclairious – about the ageing process – at George Street’s Old Fire Station following a day of free events at the Town Hall. Both events were organised by Oxford University research fellow Judith Holder, who wrote and produced BBC Two’s Grumpy Old Women. She said: “The over-50s are going back to college, writing bucket lists, doing Zumba, and expressing their own individuality with brilliantly non-beige clothes and hair colours that scream ‘don’t underestimate me’.”

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