In The News

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), August 4, 2009

ACTIVE grandmother Shirley Kingston has recently won a Nintendo Wii Console and Wii Fit game after her fitness regime was awarded by the Active Newcastle Competition. JOE BARTON asks her about swimming, her prize and her new found fame.

Is this the first time you've been in the newspaper?

I have been in the paper before, but that was quite a lot of years back. We did have our photo taken to go with the story, which I think was printed in The Journal, but this is the first time since then. It is funny being famous! Recently, an old friend of mine sent me a card after he saw the story, and it said that he'd never met a 'Page Three girl' before!

Have you always been a keen swimmer?

Yes, I've been swimming since the age of seven, but I had a lapse for a while and didn't swim as much. Then, in 1988, I started working parttime, so I could swim more often. How much do you exercise?

Well, I've been in hospital recently, so not so much lately. But usually, I swim about four times a week with friends at Outer West Swimming Pool.

What gets you motivated?

I just really enjoy the swimming - it's a nice atmosphere - and they're a great crowd of people at the baths. Both the staff and the swimmers there are really lovely, and since the story has been printed in the newspaper, they've sent me an awful lot of cards!

Are your family supportive of your fitness regime?

Oh yes, and they've all been having a laugh about it since they've seen me in the newspaper!

What was it like being the first winner of the Active Newcastle competition?

I didn't believe it at first. In fact, I'd forgotten that I'd registered for it, so it was a real surprise. Then they announced the winner, and horror of horrors, there was a picture of me! What advice would you give to people about taking up regular exercise such as swimming?

I think the best way to go about it is to take it gently at first. Another important thing is to just try and keep it up once you've started.

Have you been using your Wii Fit prize?

Well, as I've been in hospital and on holiday recently, I haven't got round to using it yet, but I am going to. I've heard that you can use the Wii Fit to measure your Body Mass Index and weight. I think that I might use it to keep track of my weight.

CAPTION(S):

ACTIVE GRAN: Shirley Kingston