“Endorphins from exercise are my “happy pills”. I used to disparage the idea of ‘me time’, but I now think it’s very important. Having seen what Ady Watts had to offer, I soon saw the benefit of ‘whole body’ fitness. As you get older (I’m 76) you worry more about the loss of strength and mobility, because of the consequences.

Exercise has always been a part of my life. In my late teens I started cycling, but got to university to find there was no cycling club, so reverted to booze, fags etc. I then joined the Royal Air Force in ’74, where there were lots of free sporting opportunities and we were regularly tested on our fitness. Twenty two years later, when I left, I became an NHS Consultant, but with lots of pressure placed on us, I began to doubt my professional diagnoses and burnt out.

I was advised to start exercising again. So, back to cycling and my first encounter with the gym. I’ve always liked cycling because it’s one of the few sports you can do sitting down which suits my idea of training!

I really look forward to my sessions at the gym, not just for the exercise and laughs, but for that bit of ‘me time’ too. I just find it a happy place to be.

My motto these days is Monty Python’s “Always look on the bright side of life.”