Too many people in the world say, “I wished I’d done that”. Not enough say, “I’m glad I did that”. Fortunately this lady is one of the latter.

Mary Robinson is one of those people who have never let the grass grow under her feet. In good times and bad she has made the most of her life.

She attributes her good health to a great mental attitude and physical fitness. She attends many classes in the locality of her, Javea, Spain, home.

Born in County Durham in 1920, one of two children, she spent a normal childhood attending, firstly, a Grammar School and then a College of Housecraft, later to teach.

Mary met her husband, Rob, when they were both very young and subsequently fell in love and married. Rob had an exciting life working for Iraq Petroleum Company, as a ship’s captain, sailing up and down the Persian Gulf transporting passengers and cargo. There was concern in those days securing married quarters. This proved no problem for Mary, who managed to find both a job and accommodation in Iraq, where she taught at a school, and was able to join Rob in the holidays.

When they wanted a change from The Middle East, Mary and Rob moved to Singapore where she spent ten years teaching in government schools. During this period she had two cookery books published and appeared on television.

One of the disadvantages of working in government schools meant staff was transferred, intermittently, around the area. Deciding, as Mary would, she had enough of that, she managed to secure a job in a convent of Irish Nuns where she taught and stayed for 14 years.  During that time she became an European Examiner for Cookery and Needlework.

Rob decided, when he retired, he would like a house and a garden. Already owning an apartment in Majorca it seemed an obvious move to come to mainland Spain, where they lived in a Villa, at Cap Marti, Javea. Unfortunately, husband Rob was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died seven weeks later.

Characteristically, Mary survived this sad time, has since travelled five times around the world, and been on the Trans Siberian Express. She has travelled to Cuba, Brazil and Argentina, India and Vietnam to name but a few countries!

On her 80th birthday she set off to Peru and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Her determination and love of life show empathically in her will to be healthy and keep fit, which she has achieved all her life. Now 90 she can get her legs, arms and all her body higher, lower, wider, or wherever is required, than all of us in the same Callanetics class. This is following a replacement hip a couple of years ago through no fault of her own, due to falling on a wet slippery floor, having no indication, or warning, in a local super market!

Mary has the best choice of leotards, earrings and colour coordination, wonderful hair and make up and is an example and an incentive to us all

In the words of Simon and Garfunkel, “Here`s to you Mrs Robinson!”

Jill Surtees for Third Age.