Suffolk war veteran and active cyclist turns 100
Norman Gregory cycles around 100 miles a week and is the ambassador of the county council's Love To Ride campaign
An avid cyclist, and Suffolk county council's Love to Ride campaign ambassador Norman Gregory celebrates his 100th birthday today.
A veteran of World War II, he cycled over 5000 miles last year and is the spearhead of the county's initiative to encourage more people to take up the hobby. He tells us that he's managed to cycle 350 miles this month alone.
He explains what motivates him to keep going, "Too much rest is rust. If you want to keep your mind active and your body active, you've got to do it for yourself, nobody else is going to do it for you, are they?"
He's been active all his life. “As a boy I was at Sudbury Grammar School and I lived at Shimpling. The grammar school and my home address were exactly 10 miles apart, so I was cycling 20 miles a day, five days a week. I was cycling 100 miles a week from a very young age."
In 1939, he completed a 28-day round trip up to John O Groats in Scotland. The day after he arrived, the Second World War began.
He joined the RAF in 1942 and was shot down during fighting over Dortmund. He spent a year as a prisoner of war before arriving back to the UK, with the help of American soldiers. In the many years since, he still hasn't shaken off the cycling bug.
Mr Gregory is one half of the Cockfield Normans, along with the 70-year old Norman Kelly, who support the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust each year through their cycling exploits.
Cllr Andrew Reid is Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Public Health, Public Protection and Communities. He says: “Congratulations to Norman on achieving this milestone, he truly is an inspiration to us all.
"Whether you move a little or a lot, being active can reduce your risk of major illnesses whilst also boosting your mood, self-esteem, energy, sleep quality and is a great way to stay active and discover more of our county."
Given his vast experience, what advice does Mr Gregory have for beginners who would now like to take up cycling?
"You've got to take these things gently to start with.
"There was a man who lived around a mile from where I lived and he thought, 'If that old bugger can do it then I can do it.' He bought a new bike but within three or four weeks, he threw it away.
"He tried to do too much, too quickly. Your muscles take time to learn something new", he says.
Mr Gregory is also the oldest member of the Royal Academy of Octogenarian Cyclists. Now that he's reached 100 years of age, is he going to continue cycling?
"Oh yes, absolutely. I'm not packing that up.", he says.