Woman, 90, still enjoys getting out for a swim

If Margaret Noble could get to the pool every day of the week, she would.          And no, she’s not an athlete in training. She’s a senior citizen who believes in staying active.

Five years ago Noble was featured in The Western Star just after she turned 85. In the article she spoke of her love of swimming that started when she was a young girl.

Wednesday was Noble’s 90th birthday and she’s still swimming. 

“I think everybody should exercise as long as they can,” said Noble.

“I like to swim, I always did do it and I still like it.”

Once or twice a week, whenever Noble can get a ride with friends or neighbours, she’ll head to the Arts and Culture pool for the 90-minute noon swim.

Noble stays for the full time and is often the last one out of the pool.

“It’s just the time in the day I like to swim, I would prefer to exercise,” she said.

And it’s also a time to socialize with the regulars.

Noble likes the fact that swimming is something she can do year-round as opposed to walking, which is made difficult this time of year by all the snow.

Besides swimming, Noble credits stair-climbing with keeping her fit.

“I’ve got a two-storey house, so I have to climb those stairs how many times a day,” she said with a little laugh. “And if you just lived in a one-story you wouldn’t get that exercise, you wouldn’t be used to that would you.”

When asked if she encourages other seniors to stay active, Noble simply said “well I sure do.”

Her advice: “Keep active as long as you can.”

Noble celebrated her birthday Feb. 4 at a party with 115 family and friends.

All five of her children, daughters Gloria Stacey and Doreen Dawe and sons Dennis, Eugene and Donald, came home to celebrate with her.

Stacey, who now lives in Kingston, Ont., said her siblings are pleased their mother keeps active.

“That’s why she’s still here and that’s why she’s still in the shape she’s in,” said Stacey.

She said it’s interesting to note that all five children have had cancer, but not their mom.

And Noble’s enthusiasm for exercise has rubbed off on her children. Stacey and Dawe both swim, Eugene is a runner, Dennis skates and plays hockey and Donald snowboards.

Stacey said her mother still travels, by plane, train, boat and bus, to visit her family.

In August, when travelling to Ontario, she got a half-price ticket because she was an escort for Dawe.

“At 89, who gets a half-price ticket to escort their daughter at that age,” said Stacey.

“There’s a lot of history in reverse.”

The Western Star