Happy 100th Joan!
Centenerian celebrates pumping weights in pool
Friday, 14th August — By Daisy Clague
Joan Brooks with aquaaerobics teacher Pana Kilikita at the Laboratory health club in Mill Hill
AS she approaches her 100th birthday on Saturday, Joan Brooks’ secret to a long life is that she never stops moving – and enjoys a glass or two of wine with dinner.
The 99-year-old from South Hampstead has travelled to 108 countries, loves theatre and opera and still takes a twice- weekly aqua-aerobics class at her sports club in Mill Hill.
The New Journal joined her for a weight- pumping dip this week ahead of the big day.
“I love being in the water and the people there are so friendly,” Joan said.
“I guess my positive outlook has helped me through the years. I am the oldest person in the class. I usually do 35 minutes in the class and it helps keep me moving. I’ve been doing the aqua- aerobics for about 30 years. I do like swimming. I have arthritis in my knees but can do anything in the water.”
Her friend David Morris, who met Joan through the class and shares her love of opera, told how she always has a smile on her face and never complains.
“She is simply extraordinary,” he said.
Joan was born in Liverpool in 1926, where she remembers hiding from bombs in a corrugated iron shelter in the back garden during the Second World War.
She went on to study pharmacy at Manchester University, and moved to London in 1950 to work as a pharmacist at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Between 1952 and 1954, she travelled the world by boat, and has visited an astonishing 108 countries over the course of her long life including Japan, which was her favourite.
“To live this long I have enjoyed plenty of sport, good theatre, positivity and a glass of wine,” Joan said.
“I enjoyed my work and did tennis, squash and badminton, played bridge. I never smoked, though my sister and dad did.”
Later in her career, she owned pharmacies in East Finchley and Notting Hill, and also worked at the Ministry of Agriculture on animal health, ensuring the quality and safety of animal medications.
“It was interesting and different to human medicines,” she added.
Instead of retiring, Joan carried on working as a consultant, including for Pfizer the pharmaceutical company.
Perhaps her decision never to marry – although she almost did, twice, but opted to go to New Zealand instead – is another factor in her impressive longevity.
Today, Joan lives independently, and only stopped driving at 96, when she gave her car to the caretaker in her block of flats who now drives her to the Mill Hill gym twice a week.
At 4ft 10, she cuts a diminutive figure but is no less legendary for it, and everyone at the club – from cafe staff to lifeguards – knows her.
Joan’s 100th birthday is on August 15, when she will celebrate with a drinks party in South Hampstead.
