{"id":459399,"date":"2025-09-29T03:15:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T03:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/459399\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T03:15:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T03:15:27","slug":"super-spry-seniors-help-launch-book-on-ageing-better-the-devonport-flagstaff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/459399\/","title":{"rendered":"Super-spry seniors help launch book on ageing better \u2013 The Devonport Flagstaff"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t29 September, 2025
\n\t\t\t\tSuper-spry seniors help launch book on ageing better<\/p>\n

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Inspirational\u2026 author Leigh Elder (82) with former national tennis champ Margaret Borland (99) and former top running coach Arch Jelley (103)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eighty-two-year-old Devonport resident Leigh Elder is an exemplar of active living, but says he is \u201conly a kid\u201d compared with some of the inspiring seniors at his book launch.
Among them was Arch Jelley, 103, master running coach to Olympic gold medallists Peter Snell and John Walker. The story of the Auckland \u201csuper ager\u201d who still walks kilometres a day is one of several Elder tells in his latest book Don\u2019t Act Your Age \u2013 Living younger can be age defying.
Another who attended was former national tennis champion Margaret Borland, aged 99, who came from Dunedin for the launch held at the William Sanders Retirement Village last Friday.
Like Jelley, Borland keeps spry with regular squats. She also gardens and plays golf and bridge. Both were happy to support the book\u2019s health advocacy message, including practical tips on improving fitness and eating. These were shared with around 70 village residents and guests, over low-GI mini scones and muffins. \u201cSwap out half the white flour with rolled oats,\u201d says Elder, who got the chef to make them specially.<\/p>\n

He namechecks other inspirations among fellow residents at Ryman, where he and wife Kate have lived for five years. There\u2019s 100-year-old June Watson, a former singer and dancer who swims in the village pool and 96-year-old Vic Murrray, who still strides off to his Ngataringa garden plot. \u201cOne of the great things in my life has been meeting those people and hearing their stories,\u201d Elder says. \u201cI take from them that it\u2019s possible to reach super-age and still be active and alert.\u201d
It\u2019s the term he uses for \u201csomeone north of 90, who\u2019s fit and well and really engaged\u201d.
As much as he believes in making good lifestyle choices, he also knows health can be a genetic lottery. He recommends people improve their odds and make the most of what they\u2019ve got, while they\u2019re able.
This can be as simple as following his BAFFS principles \u2013 standing for Balance, Agility, Flexibility, Fitness and Strength.<\/p>\n

Seeing how energetic super-agers also have terrific interest in people and retain a glint in the eye, has helped Elder round out his own thinking. \u201cThe Japanese call it ikigai \u2013 it means finding your purpose.\u201d
In writing his book, he drew on having founded an \u201cEat for Keeps\u201d programme for diabetes and weight control, working on it with GPs and corporates, and his experience of writing two previous books. He knows much of the advice isn\u2019t rocket science, but says getting the message through that relatively simple changes can reap big dividends needs to be spelled out. \u201cI challenged myself to live like someone 20 years younger \u2013 it\u2019s been the best thing I\u2019ve ever done,\u201d he says.
The former sports all-rounder and PE teacher, who has also had stints as a rest-home owner and a life coach, had a health wake-up call around 15 years ago, with a bowel cancer scare and high blood pressure. It got him thinking more about what could be ahead. At the time, he and Kate were \u201cliving life to the full\u201d in Mt Maunganui, playing tennis and golf and socialising.
The location has changed, but the couple still enjoy those pursuits, plus daily walks up Maungauika. \u201cThe payoff is at the top.\u201d<\/p>\n