JOYCE NICHOLLS, CHINGFORD.

KEEP FIT TEACHER SINCE 1960.

I teach four classes every week these days, the biggest one being twenty to twenty five strong. All women! I remember one man started at my class in Theydon Bois. He didn't last..... But one class which has stood the test of time is my over 60's class on a Thursday. I have a very loyal group, four of whom are in their 90's! They all come to me at a church hall, and we do some seated, and standing movements to keep them fit and agile.

It was in 1956 that I started going to keep fit classes, under the banner of the Keep Fit Association. My teacher at the time suggested I should be a teacher as well, so I took the plunge and trained up in about 1960. We always had a lot of fun, including performing with the Eastern Counties Region at the annual events at the Albert Hall. I remember choreographing one performance with forty women in the group, to the 'March Militaire' by Schubert. One year, we went to Denmark and represented the England KFA, but I stayed well clear of the choreography for that one!! By the way, absolutely no men were involved!

Anatomy and movement had always interested me, and back in the '40's, while my future husband was away at Sheffield University, I trained as a Physiotherapist, qualifying in 1948 at the London Hospital in Whitechapel, one week before the National Health Service started. It was a predominantly Jewish area at the time, and I recall lots of, shall we say, rotund Jewish ladies with dodgy joints, who enjoyed the massage techniques we used, but weren't so keen to do the follow up remedial exercises!

I worked part time work in Pre-natal Preparation, while having three of my own babies, then went full time at Whipps Cross maternity in 1981. Then, in 1992, aged sixty five, I tried to retire, but realised I was still enjoying the work, so went back part time for another five years until I wasn't allowed to work any longer because of age regulations. During that time I ran one particular post-natal physio group class, which stayed together and formed the Keep Fit class, in the photo, which is still running every Wednesday!

I don't have any plans to stop teaching, as it helps me keep fit and well. Mind you, I am often told 'You can't stop teaching, where would we be without you?'

The exercise keeps my brain fit as well, I'm absolutely sure of that. After I've had a couple of hours walk in the morning with my husband (he's not too keen on exercise, but he knows it does him good), I do a Sudoku puzzle and a crossword or two. Years ago I responded to a Mensa test in the newspaper, and got accepted! Fortunately, it's not a test of memory, but it's all about logic. I still get the Mensa Newsletters, but don't usually bother to read them. Actually I don't really have time, what with a woman's work at home, three children and seven grandchildren to keep up with, and trying to keep pace with modern technology. I generally get to bed about midnight, and after seven hours sleep, I have another full day to deal with.

All three of my children have been involved in the health sector in their work, as a Paediatrician, a GP, and a PE teacher respectively. I'm not sure if it's my influence or not! My son, the GP, has now retired at the age of sixty. Now that makes me feel a bit odd!

(P.S. Joyce has, this year, been awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of her service to Keep Fit in Essex and is looking forward to meeting The Queen at the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace)