A Maghull woman is proving that age is just a number as she continues to impress instructors at Sefton’s Active Ageing sessions – at 100 years old!

Alma Jones, who celebrated her landmark birthday on Tuesday March 12, is a familiar face at her local Active Ageing Falls Prevention class and she insists keeping active is key to her longevity.

Bootle born Alma regularly joins other elderly residents at St Andrews Church, Maghull for the weekly classes where skilled instructors help Over 65s to develop muscle strength and improve balance, with the aim of preventing potentially serious falls or accidents.

As well as attending the sessions, Alma, a mother of two, admitted to keeping a very active lifestyle from an early age – including rock-climbing, fell walking, hockey and tennis – is the secret to reaching 100!

Alma said: “Not only are the Active Ageing classes fantastic for keeping well and building up your muscle strength, they’re also a great opportunity for people to make friends and have a chat between exercises!

“I love coming to the class. I have always been very active and throughout my life I’ve done lots of exciting things like rock-climbing and made sure I always kept fit by swimming, cycling and general good living.

“I still swam right up until my nineties and played sports too. Now I enjoy this Active Ageing class and I can assure you, you know which muscles you use at the end of it!

“We balance, stretch and make sure we keep as fit as possible in the class. I’d encourage anybody to come to one of our classes as it’s not only a fantastic way to keep fit, but it’s also very beneficial for making friends.”

At a recent Active Ageing class Alma was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a cake from instructors and her fellow members sang happy birthday to her.

She followed up by celebrating her landmark birthday surrounded by family and friends at her home.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Alma is a fantastic lady and she has proven that you can still lead an active and healthy lifestyle, even at the age of 100!

“Our Active Ageing teams, are committed to helping anyone who is unsteady on their feet or wants to gain more confidence walking through their free twelve week courses.”

Active Ageing is a Free 12-week programme designed to help with the prevention of falls for those aged 65 and over and who live within the South Sefton area.

Tracey Forshaw, assistant chief nurse at NHS South Sefton CCG, who fund the course, said: “It was great to meet Alma recently and to see how a class that we support has made such a difference to her lifestyle.

"She looks great for her age and it’s lovely to see first-hand how this has helped one of our Sefton residents. As well as keeping you fit the class is a great way to meet other people and build up a bit of a network so is vitally important.”

The programme includes a range of exercises aimed at focusing on improving strength and balance to help reduce the risk of a further fall occurring.

For more information about the Active Ageing programme, which is funded by NHS South Sefton CCG, and other available courses, please call 0151 934 2352.