June’s still fighting fit aged 80

6:09am Wednesday 28th May 2008

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At 80 she is as fit as a fiddle - so much that grandmother June Knight has become the fitness guru to hundreds of senior citizens.

Her keep fit classes are so popular that every Monday to Friday she is spreading the fitness gospel.

Last month the Daily Echo told how 90-year-old Wynn Brown is doing aerobic classes at the Hampshire Tennis and Health Club in West End.

Now we have found another amazing story that shows age need be no barrier to leading a full and active life.

June, who qualified as a sport therapist when she was 63, said: "Age is just a number. It means nothing. I shall keep on teaching keep fit until it retires me.

"I cannot see me ever giving it up."

That will be music to the ears of fitness fans who flock to her classes across Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford.

The Echo joined one of June's work outs which was going at a rip-roaring pace at the Ritchie Hall in Hursley Road, Chandler's Ford.

From the stage June, who uses her free bus pass to travel from session to session, leads the exercises accompanied by a musical medley which can include classical rock, chart busting hits from the Bee Gees and Abba, wartime singalong favourites and some stirring marches.

Mavis Moore, from Chandler's Ford, who at 64 is one of the youngest in the class, said: "June is amazing. I am sometimes more worn out than she is."

Seventy-eight-year-old Benita Whatley, of Chandler's Ford, who has been attending the classes since she retired 18 years ago, said: "I don't know what we would do without her. She puts so much fun into the keep fit routines.

"She is always trying new ideas and every week there is something different."

Shirley Cleaver, 73, who also lives in Chandler's Ford, said: "I have been coming to these classes for about 14 years and it is just awesome. June is wonderful."

In between running keep fit classes in halls, June is also a regular visitor to care homes where she supervises armchair aerobics.

June, who lives in Eastleigh admits that she is a fitness fanatic and says: "I am never still!"

Do you know an energetic octogenarian or a nifty 90-year-old? Contact Duncan Eaton on 023 8061 4271 or e-mail duncan.eaton@dailyecho.co.uk.