Joan Becomes Wrexham Gym’s Oldest Member at 99

A Wrexham woman is getting ready to celebrate her 99th birthday with a little help from her local gym.

Joan Capel, who celebrates her landmark birthday on January 19 2017, joined Total Fitness Wrexham just before Christmas in an attempt to improve the mobility in her knees after a bad fall a few years ago.

Her physiotherapist had recommended some strengthening exercises however Joan, who was a keen walker in her younger years, knew exactly what would help her.

After joining Total Fitness in Wrexham Joan now uses the gym’s warmer, shallower family pool to walk in – a low impact exercise that takes the pressure off her knees and improves her circulation.

Joan said: “Circulation is always a problem in my lower legs but after visiting the pool, I can feel the warmth of circulation again. This effect lasted two or three days before wearing off so I’m hoping with more visits, this feeling won’t wear off as quickly.”

Implementing a new fitness regime is not the only thing keeping Joan busy – she also volunteers at Erddig, with the most recent project being to help restore and clean a number of books at the charity.

However over the winter months Joan looked for even more activities to occupy her mind and, in her own words, win her fight against boredom.

“I recognise that if I let myself get bored, that’s when I’ll struggle to get out of bed and start to feel like I’ve got nothing to look forward to,” explains Joan.

“As long as you’ve got something to look forward to, it doesn’t much matter what it is. That’s my theory anyway and at the moment it’s working by coming to the pool.”

Joan is looking ahead to celebrating her century next year and is constantly encouraged by her fellow volunteers at Erddig.

“I promised I’m going to be here for my 100th birthday and I’m going to be – the volunteers at Erddig have been doing their best to hold me to it ever since!” says Joan.

Before Joan joined Total Fitness, the oldest member across the group of health clubs was a 97-year-old man who is a member at the Wilmslow site.

Hayley Thomas, General Manager of Total Fitness Wrexham, said: “As soon as Joan walked in and told us she’d like to join, I was blown away. She’s such as inspiration and shows that age is never a barrier when it comes to getting active with us.

“We have members varying from just three weeks old right up to Joan and the example she sets, with every age and ability in between. We welcome every fitness level and ability at Total Fitness and Joan is a shining example of that.”