Ex-soldier called ‘tubby’ at school is as active as ever ahead of 90th birthday and says ‘it’s never too late to start’

A former soldier who was nicknamed “tubby” at school and was never chosen to play sports is now as active as ever as he approaches his 90th birthday, playing golf three times a week and going to the gym twice a week, and has said “it’s never too late to start”.

Douglas Robertson, 89, from Weybridge, Surrey, said he has always led an active lifestyle as he does not want to be overweight. However, he only started playing golf in his 40s and did not seriously start going to the gym until after he retired at the age of 65.

During a typical week, Douglas spends Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings playing golf and, in between this, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings Douglas heads to his local gym at The River Bourne Club, in Chertsey, where he uses strength and cardio machines.

While Douglas does not view himself as a mentor, he believes “everybody can do it” and he said he will continue with his fitness until “the last day of (his) life”.

“My aim is to keep this going for as long as I can (because), at my age, one has no idea when it’s suddenly going to come to a halt,” Douglas said.

“I just want to keep on as I am now – try and maintain whatever fitness and health I have got – and I shall go on making myself do it.”

Douglas explained that fitness has “always been there” throughout his life and he has “always kept (himself) fit”, particularly as he spent more than 30 years in the Army.

“When I was at school – you might be surprised, looking at the slim figure before you today – my nickname at school was ‘tubby’,” Douglas said.

“I was tubby, and I couldn’t sprint, and I couldn’t run, therefore, I wasn’t a great footballer or cricketer, but I had stamina, so I did a lot of cross country running and swimming and water polo and cycling – those were my sports, I could do all of those quite happily.

After joining the Army in his 20s, Douglas spent 33 years in a Scottish infantry regiment before working briefly in the City of London Corporation’s Remembrancer’s Office, where one of his responsibilities was to organise ceremonial events, including state banquets and eating functions.

After this, he was “poached” and worked for the Caravan Club for 13 years before finally retiring at the age of 65 – and this is when his real fitness journey started.

Douglas, who lives alone, now plays 18 holes three times a week at Burhill Golf Club – on the outskirts of Surrey’s Walton-on-Thames – and, when possible, he carries his clubs from hole to hole.

Douglas said he maintains his fitness for his physical health, particularly as his 90th birthday is coming up in October, and for his mental wellbeing – but most importantly, because he “enjoys doing it” and he “always feels very, very high and good” after his gym sessions.

“I do it because I’ve got to where I am physically, and in physical health I don’t take any medications at all,” Douglas explained.

“I’ve got my own knees and shoulders and hips, and I want it to stay that way.

When he is not exercising, Douglas enjoys singing, gardening and cooking, and he explained that he always has fish, chicken and lots of fruits and vegetables at home.

Douglas said there is never a day when he feels he should just rest and relax and “stay in bed”, as he is extremely motivated, but he does not “make a fetish about it”.

For those wanting to improve their health and fitness, even in their later years, Douglas said “it’s never too late to start”.

“Everybody can do it,” he said.

“You’ve got to try, you’ve got to put something into it; it won’t happen by itself, but it’s never too late to start.

“If you haven’t done any exercise for the last 20 years, you can still get out and take a walk, a brisk walk, and then start walking around the golf course, or going to a gym, getting some exercise, (or using) exercise bands and doing some exercise at home – but do something otherwise you will disintegrate.

“Muscles do atrophy, by nature, as we get older… you can’t stop it, but you can delay it and slow it down by taking regular exercise. That’s the advice I would give.

“Never think that it’s too late to start; start as early as you can, but it’s never too late.”