GUELPH – On his 100th birthday Davy Wilson led a room full of seniors in a lively exercise class at Guelph Lake Commons.
They stretched their muscles, laughed at his quips, and joined him in singing a few merry tunes during the June 7 class.
At one point during the class a participant exclaimed, “isn’t he marvelous!”
While showing group members how to flex their biceps, with the excitement of a young child Wilson exclaimed, “Put your hand on your biceps and feel them bulging up! Did you know you had those muscles?
“I used to have big biceps, but they’re gone,” he said with a laugh.
He slowly dropped his arms down to his sides and said “now, take a deep breath.”
A cheeky grin lit up his face before he added, “Oh, that smoke smells lovely,” referring sarcastically to the wildfire smoke blanketing much of Ontario last week.
Later on in the class, when he started singing “Daisy, Daisy” (part of the 1892 song Daisy Bell) almost everyone in the room joined in, singing “give me your answer, do!”
The class is organized by the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) and participants are all residents at the retirement home.
Wilson said though his body may be old, “I’ve got a young head on my shoulders.” And his body is holding up okay, considering – “no arthritis, no bad knees, no bad hips, just a big heart,” he chucked.
What’s the key to being healthy and fit at 100 years old? Wilson assures, contrary to popular opinion “it’s not genes.
“My dad died when he was 49 and I’m double his age now,” he noted.
He says the key is a combination of luck, exercise and diet.
While leading a seniors’ exercise class at Guelph Lake Commons in a wide-armed stretch, 100-year-old Davy Wilson joyfully sang the 1966 John Denver hit Leaving on a Jet Plane. Photo by Robin George
Exercise is nothing new to Wilson, who has experience with weight lifting, soccer, rugby, golf and lots of long walks.
For diet, “eat haggis” – he recommends, and skip dessert.
Wilson said he had an aneurysm 11 years ago, and a nurse told him, “If you hadn’t been so fit you wouldn’t have survived.”
“At 98, he was strong enough for a hip replacement!” said VON program supervisor Kelly Gee. “This guy is my inspiration.”
“I broke my femur,” Wilson said, and “usually old people don’t recover well from that break.”
Wilson said he practices physio exercises every morning, because if he didn’t, “I wouldn’t be walking.”
Many of the exercises Wilson shared during the class are inspired by what he has learned in physiotherapy since breaking his hip a few years ago.
Wilson completed two days of practical training, shadowed exercise leaders for about 20 classes and passed an evaluation before starting to lead the classes himself.
He ended the class on his birthday with simple words of wisdom for the participants: “be happy.”
For Wilson, happiness is about relationships.
“I count my wealth in my friends,” he told the Advertiser in an interview after the class.
A glimpse into some of Wilson’s friendships was on display as people took turns approaching him to offer their birthday wishes.
Many big hugs were shared, and one resident told Wilson “this is a special place because of you.”
Another resident, Anne Hood, said “we all enjoy talking to him.
“He’s added so much to the love and life of this place – he just added such a dimension,” she said.
“He has no idea how extraordinary he is.”
The fitness class is organized by the Victorian Order of Nurse. From left: Kelly Gee, Danielle Dawkins, Davy Wilson and Melissa Cowbrough. Photo by Robin George
Wilson described an exciting life of worldwide adventure – travelling to “Russia, China, all over Europe, the United States.” He said he’s “seen a lot, bad and good.”
Born in Scotland, Wilson moved to Canada with his three children in 1964.
“Now, my children are all well educated,” he said, “and that was my goal.”
He said though he’s a Scottish person, Canada is home. Wilson has lived at Guelph Lake Commons for seven years, and said it’s “a wonderful place for seniors.”
He plays pool twice every day and performs music monthly.
“I sing, play bagpipes and harmonica,” he said, and he rehearses every week. He also pipes on Remembrance Day and Robbie Burns day.
He used to play at weddings and funerals, but “not as much now because it’s a lot of work blowing pipes.”
The bagpipe song he likes playing most is Wings, because if its “beautiful melody.”
Wilson said his favourite music is classical, and his love for the genre really blossomed while he was in Germany during the Second World War.
That’s where he learned to play harmonica, too.
Wilson’s “memory is phenomenal,” Hood said especially “for songs, music, words, poetry.
“Growing old isn’t easy but some people know how to inspire others,” Hood said. “He knows how to make life wonderful, [and] we all benefit.”
While Wilson is an inspiration for many, he said his own inspiration comes from his girlfriend, Nadia Martin. They started dating about three years ago.
The relationship formed while Wilson taught Martin how to play pool, and it involves lots of laughter and good conversation, Martin said.
