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To be quite frank Madam yes you are! and should be looking forward to retiring gracefully with a basket of knitting and a bag of boiled sweets…

…Well Alan Paxford thinks quite differently. He’s an old fella with a proper moustache, who puts most of those young whippersnappers to shame. Not only a Serpentine Road regular who marshals on the Friday night skates (that’s the fast one!) but competes in speed marathons too with the Londonskaters Speed team!

Better put those knitting patterns away then!

Just over 10 years ago, when I was in my early 50’s, I became aware of people on inline skates and thought I would like to do that; it looked so graceful and just fun. However I immediately thought you’re too old for that, you’ll be ridiculous. Then just under 5 years ago, I decided that I was so old that I really didn’t care what people thought any more and I bought myself a pair of skates for Christmas.

It was one of the better things I have done in my life. I took some classes, which I think is essential, and found that the only person who seemed worried by my age was me! It was also even more fun than I imagined. Then I discovered the London skating community in Hyde Park and street skating; soon I was going every week and after about a year I was invited to become a Marshal on the London Friday Night Skate (www.lfns.co.uk). I also found that I wasn’t the only older skater out there. There are a lot of us. It’s actually a great form of exercise for the older person; it need only be as strenuous as you make it, and certainly increases your general fitness levels, without the potential damage to leg joints that can occur in jogging for instance.

Now I even go on skating holidays, doing the Friday Night Street Skates in Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and even the occasional race. The Berlin marathon has over 8,000 skaters taking part, of all abilities from elite to beginners, and skating is a great way to see other cities. Skating down the Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe, with thousands of other skaters, is something I shall never forget.

If you are at all interested, I would say do it. I have never regretted it!

Author: Alan Paxford
Don’t say that he’s old. Remember, he’s faster than you!