Director of Public Health for Worcestershire, Lisa McNally recently met Betty Webb MBE at a local Memory and Friends Café in Wythall. Lisa was inspired by her story and held her up as a great example of living well later in life.
Betty Webb MBE supports the volunteers at the local Memory and Friends Café in Wythall chatting to the members which is an important contribution to their wellbeing. But she is more widely known for her service to the country during World War II as a code breaker at Bletchley Park. At the age of 100 and one of the last surviving veterans, she’s a great example that age doesn’t have to be a barrier to living well.
Our Public Health Team has been looking into how we can all keep ourselves fit and well as we get older. Keeping fit is a popular topic on social media but when we reach certain age, lots of people think staying fit and active is a thing of the past. But this is not the case.
And while it’s never too soon to start being active, it’s never too late either.
Latest research shows that our bodies start to change and show signs of ageing from our mid-30s and we can benefit from regular exercise. From our 50s we really notice a change in muscle mass and should include more strength and balance exercises. However as we get older still, continuing to move, do strength and balance exercises and eat healthily have all been proven to benefit overall wellbeing and encourage mobility into much later life.
After meeting Betty at the Wythall Memory and Friends Café in November 2023, Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health said: “ Betty is an inspiration. Her life is quite remarkable. She had fantastic stories to share from her involvement in the war effort in the 1940s and every decade since. I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon meeting Betty and everyone at the café. It was wonderful to see so many people get together to make a community work and support each other.
So to help us all be more like Betty and the volunteers at Wythall Memory and Friends Café, the County Council, together with Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire has put together a range of exercises that can be done at home, at all ages.
This is available on our website together with a bunch of places where you can join others to enjoy maintaining your health and fitness: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/livingwellforlonger
There is also some helpful information if you want to know more about protecting your health, improving your fitness and making sure you stay active for as long as possible. The café meets on the first Wednesday of the month 1 pm – 3 pm for a light lunch and the third Wednesday in the month 2 pm – 4 pm for tea and cakes. There is varied entertainment at both sessions.