Poole woman celebrates 100th birthday with keep fit class

Kay Caunter turned 100 on Saturday, November 27 and was given a party days before by members of a fitness class she still attends.

For Kay, age is just a number. The Echo spoke with her in 2011 on her 90th birthday about her fitness exploits, where she proudly demonstrated her bike riding ability and even beat former Echo reporter Stephen Bailey at a game of table tennis.

• From the archives: Super Kay is the gran that can!

The centurion continued riding her bike to Talbot View Community Centre in Poole for her keep fit class until the age of 99, when a hip injury forced her to stop.

Kay Caunter pictured in 2011

Undeterred by the injury, super Kay still attends the over 50s keep fit club weekly and says she has no intention of stopping.

She told the Echo: “This keeps me going and I think it’s important to get out as much as you can. My secret is to not sit in a chair for longer than about an hour at a time. Get up, even if you just walk around the house.

“I do need support to walk around now but I still take part in the exercises. I tend to do more of the sitting exercises though.”

Kay was surprised by a visit from youngsters and staff from the Talbot View Pre School, also located within the centre, who presented her with a birthday banner and performed ‘Happy Birthday’ to the delight of the grandmother who sang along.

Kay Caunter celebrates her 100th birthday at Talbot View Community Centre in Poole

Touched by the effort everyone had gone to, an emotional Kay said: “It’s wonderful, I had no idea they were going to do this for. I thought they might say happy birthday but didn’t expect all this.

“I think it’s absolutely incredible, I can’t believe it really. Getting the kids to come in and sing, I’m just thrilled, I love the little ones.”

A special cake was made especially for Kay by a member of the club with icing depicting her cycling.

Except for the hip injury, the former midwife has no health issues and takes no medication – preferring chocolate and a glass of mulled wine every evening.

Kay Caunter and her daughter Caroline at Talbot View Community Centre in Poole

Kay was originally from Brighton but settled in Coy Pond Road, Poole, in 1963 with her husband and their two daughters. She has since gone on to welcome three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, including one born earlier this month and with a sixth on the way.

Kay concluded: “I try not to think about the future. I just take it one day at a time and try to enjoy it all.

“I really have had a wonderful life.”