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I refuse to miss daily exercises, says 103-year-old

Richard Daniel,in Ellinghamand
Zoe Applegate,Norfolk
News imageQays Najm/BBC Ron Letheren has white hair and is looking directly and slightly down at the camera. He is wearing a checked blazer, navy jumper, light blue tie and cream shirt. He is sitting in an armchair.Qays Najm/BBC
Ron Letheren, who is celebrating his 103rd birthday, says he refuses to take a day off from exercising

A retired school inspector says his discipline and determination to exercise each day has allowed him to remain living in his own house as he celebrates his 103rd birthday.

Ron Letheren settled in Ellingham, on the Norfolk-Suffolk border near Bungay, about 40 years ago with his late wife, after teaching across Essex and being headmaster of two schools.

The centenarian, who ended his career as a senior education inspector for the Inner London Education Authority at County Hall, said he also took a "good lot of pride" in completing "complicated" online puzzles each day.

The former military officer, who served in WW2, said about his exercise routine: "I won't miss it, no matter how I feel."

News imageQays Najm/BBC A black and white photo of Ron Letheren as a young man with thick, high hair. He is wearing a military uniform and is sitting close to a young woman with curled hair. She is wearing a collared dress with a brooch. They look serious.Qays Najm/BBC
Letheren, pictured with his late wife, served in the armed forces as an officer before taking up teaching

Letheren said he spent 20 minutes carrying out stretching and strengthening exercises as soon as he woke up each morning.

"I do quite exacting physical jerks and I strengthen my legs with one of these elastic things and pump them," said Letheren.

"I do 60 of everything - I try to wiggle my toes and lift my feet off the bed lying on my back."

He also credited using the stairs as an important part of being able to live independently at home - although joked they were harder to climb up than step down.

"It demands a personal discipline to overcome - it is a painful thing to do, but it can be done if you're determined enough," said Letheren.

News imageQays Najm/BBC A black and white photo with Letheren as a toddler sitting on a beach against a rock wall, with a woman hugging him. She is wearing a hat and white patterned dress. They are both smiling widely at the camera.Qays Najm/BBC
Letheren, photographed as a toddler with his mother, taught in schools across Essex

He taught at schools in Pilgrims Hatch, in Brentwood, Stifford Clays in Grays and Tilbury, in Essex, before becoming a primary school inspector in Hackney and then a district inspector in Islington.

After moving to Norfolk, he became the chair of governors at Ellingham Primary School and sang in the local church choir, and until recently read lessons there.

Letheren said that at the age of 103 his mental agility was as important as his physical fitness and he spent "a lot of time hacking" his way through online puzzles.

"The brain is like other parts of your body - it needs use to survive," he said.

"Never take a backward step - you hold on to what you've got."

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