Seven ways being more social than ever has helped me stay healthy at 92
For the first few decades of my life, I was quite a quiet person. But starting my own business – opening a model railway shop in King's Cross, which I ran for nearly 50 years – really brought me out of my shell.
But it is since my wife died in 2018 that I've become my most social. I nursed her through the last few years of her life and some of her final words to me were: 'Now I'm going, you can go out and enjoy yourself.' And that's what I've done.
I lead a very active life, certainly for my age – weekly jazz gigs, meals out with close friends and even yoga classes. It sounds like I'm boasting but nobody believes that I'm 92. Most people seem to think I'm in my late 70s or early 80s.
I credit this with the fact that I was a keen racing cyclist in my teens and early 20s. It was physically demanding and such a workout that I think it set me up to age well. My vision and reflexes are good and my hearing is still in decent nick. My leg is the only thing that gives me any bother and it limits me from walking too far.
But it doesn't stop me from seeing my friends daily. I love meeting new people and, I probably shouldn't say, but I do have a reputation as a ladies' man – most of my friends happen to be women. Here are some of the activities I do that are keeping me physically, and mentally, young for my age.
Driving to jazz gigs
I started listening to jazz when I was about 11 and I've enjoyed it ever since. I grew up surrounded by music as my family had a record business in Chapel Market, Islington. I listen to all sorts of jazz but Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald are my favourites.
I regularly go out to jazz gigs and often drive to get there (my optician said I've got 90 per cent of my vision and I hope to be driving for a few more years).
It's a social activity, as I usually bring along one of my friends, who lives in the same active retirement home that I do and also happens to be a fan of jazz. Or, I'll pick up my children or some cousins and take them out to the 606 Club in Chelsea on a Friday evening.
I also run a jazz appreciation group at my local u3a (a collection of interest groups that encourage older people to come together).
Attending life drawing classes
Around once a month, I go to a life drawing class. It really helps my focus – I have to concentrate pretty hard on what I'm doing.
There's around 15 to 20 of us and it's sociable because we often go to the pub afterwards.
I also paint in my spare time, a hobby I picked up after I retired. I was good as a child and, when I look back, I reckon I should have gone to art school but it didn't come up in those days.
Joining a book club
I joined a book club just over a year ago and I've enjoyed all of the books that we've read, including Small Worlds by Ghanaian-British author Caleb Azumah Nelson.
Knowing that you're going to be discussing a book makes you read a bit more deeply and look for more things, rather than just enjoying the book.
Going to a wine club
I also belong to a u3a wine appreciation group now, which has steered me into drinking the right wines and knowing when the wine is good and when it's not so good.
It sounds like I'm a terrible drinker and I do have wine almost every night but I do always limit myself to just the one glass – either red or white, depending on what I'm eating.
Attending yoga and exercises classes
I do a weekly in-person yoga class at the retirement home I live in. I don't know if it makes much difference for my physical health but I do enjoy it and find it relaxing. I also do an exercise class once a week which I'm perhaps not as good at.
Watching the cycling
I'm no longer cycling – I stopped in my mid-80s when my family became worried that if I got badly injured while out on the bike, I wouldn't be able to recover from it.
But both my son, daughter-in-law and their two daughters are all keen cyclists and I'm still very interested in following bike racing and enjoy sitting down to watch it with my family.
Organising a supper club
I run a singles supper club through my local u3a. There's a group of eight to 14 of us who go out for a meal together. Each week, we'll have either a Sunday lunch or evening meal together at a favourite local gastropub in East Dulwich. We've all become great friends.
Writing a jazz and art newsletter
I occasionally write a Substack newsletter. Around half of the newsletter is about jazz and the other half is about art.
I got the idea of that from my daughter, Sudi. I share it with friends and I've got about 40 or 50 people who read each one, which isn't too bad.
Going on cruises
I enjoyed the first cruise I went on so much that I immediately booked a second one and, since then, it's been two a year, which suits me. It's a nice, easy holiday which takes me to places where I wouldn't normally go. I've been to Norway, Venice and the Baltic countries.
This year I'm going to Madeira and the Azores, followed by a second jaunt on a Mediterranean cruise. I book the trips on my own but this year I am meeting up with one lady I met on a previous cruise.
It's very sociable and I'm looking forward to making new friends.
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