GRANDMOTHER Gill Smith and her friend Brian Hook are determined not to let their twilight years pass them by.

Together the pair play tennis, badminton and table tennis each week, as well as swimming, walking and cycling.

And they are urging other pensioners to get active, just in time for this year’s Older People’s Day on Saturday, October 1.

Mrs Smith, 75, said: “I always try to be as active as I can. We go swimming at Hinksey Outdoor Pool four or five times a week.

“We also play tennis two or three times a week, table tennis, badminton twice and then walk, cycle and enjoy painting.”

The super-gran from Headington also drives to Leicester each week in between the sport to pick three of her six grandchildren up from school.

She said: “I feel very lucky that I am fit enough to run around with them and do all these sports. I have always been quite active.”

Mrs Smith added: “My advice would always be to stay as active as you can. The more you keep doing, the more you can continue to do.”

Older People’s Day is now in its fifth year and involved more than 700,000 people across the country last year.

This year’s theme is ‘Getting and Staying Active Later in Life’ and Oxford City Council has organised free exercise classes to celebrate.

They include a 50+ spin at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre at 11am, a seated exercise class at Ferry Leisure Centre at 3pm and a health and fitness session at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre at 3pm.

City council board member for parks and sports Mark Lygo said: “It is important that older people keep fit and active. I am pleased that we are able to use this day to promote and raise awareness of the range of activities available across the city for older people to enjoy.”

Age UK Oxfordshire has also started a new gentle exercise class at Barton Pool on Wednesdays from 10.30am until 11.30am.

Other new classes run at Donnington Community Centre every Tuesday from 11.30-12.30am and Littlemore Community Centre every Friday from 11.15am to 12.15pm.

rpope@oxfordmail.co.uk l For more information about the activities on offer, visit oxford.gov.uk/ foreverfit, or contact sports development officer Courtney Warden on 01865 252729.

To find your nearest Age UK class call Brenda Longmuir on 07827 235428 or visit ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire