Fitness expert tackles 90th birthday swim challenge

Ken Heathcote, pictured with Kay and his grandson Sam

I don't know about you but in my head, when I turn 90, I imagine leading a simple, quiet life.

Less active, slower and more sedentary, perhaps.

For Ken Heathcote, it's the complete opposite.

In fact, he thinks absolutely nothing of swimming 90 lengths in his local pool with his grandson Sam, before taking on the equivalent distance in an open reservoir.

Sam also played nine sets of tennis and lift 90,000 lb (40,823 kg) of weights in the gym in a single day.

But why? And why the number 90?

Because as Ken told me "it's just another day at the office".

I spoke to him as part of BBC North West Tonight's 25 in 25 series - a chance to shine a spotlight on interesting people and places in our region.

Ken is a proud Boltonian and a well-known figure in the UK fitness industry.

In the 1950s, he founded one of the country's first modern gyms, and played a key role in shaping the health and fitness movement.

Family and friends gathered to cheer Ken on for his challenge

Deeply passionate about his Greater Manchester home town, he dedicated his career to promoting health and wellbeing in Bolton and beyond.

It's something his good friend Lorraine Carey knows only too well.

"I met Ken 35 years ago when I walked into Bolton Health Studio and I thought 'wow, there was nothing else like it'," she said, after joining him for the swim.

"I mithered them to give me a job and the day they did changed my life.

"Ken's an inspiration to everyone. I love the man and to be here today doing the swims with him makes me feel so proud."

'I feel great'

They were tackling the Not Out At 90 challenge, which encourages people to incorporate the number 90 into their exercise, such as walking for 90 minutes or doing 90 press-ups.

"The point of it is that I'm 90 and I'm still batting," Ken said.

"I'm still doing it. I'm still raising money for charities, which I've been doing for 50 years now and I still feel great.

"I enjoy doing it, particularly when I finish it."

It's also Ken's secret to continuing to thrive and staying young at heart.

"It's means you can share your life with your grandson," he said.

"Is there anything better than that?"

Ken and Sam hope to raise £90,000 for various charities, as well as promoting their message of the importance of staying fit at any age.