I hope my retirement journey gives some hope to others
RUNNING AND SKIING GRAN SHOWS LIFE IS NOT ABOUT PUZZLE MAGS AND CUPPAS
A FORMER teacher who initially thought retirement was a mistake has had a new lease of life since taking up a series of challenges - including distance running and skiing.
Initially, when Jill Walton left her 35-year teaching career she found she was still used to her days being dictated by the school bell.
“I retired ahead of the school holiday, which was fine – but as soon as everyone started going back to school again, it hit me and I thought ‘oh no, I’ve made a mistake,” she told the Mercury.
She recently appeared on a podcast with TV and radio presenter Angelica Bell, called Rewirement, about challenging the stereotype that retirement is all puzzle magazines and cups of tea. For Jill, it has been quite the opposite. The 67-year-old, from Glen Parva, stays active by running, swimming and skiing – and is, she says, “living the dream”.
Having always had an interest in languages, after retiring Jill travelled to Austria to learn German.
“I think you need to keep your brain going,” she said.
With the retirement money gifted to her by former colleagues, she bought herself a puppy, who is now her running companion.
A grandmother to two grandsons, she became a passionate runner and although today she no longer competes in marathons, she continues to run each day.
Despite her regular runs, she found she still had energy to spare so, at the age of 59, Jill decided it was time she learned how to ski.
“My philosophy for retirement is threefold – you need something to keep your brain going, something that keeps you active and give back to the community,” she said.
“My generation was lucky in that we had the full benefits of the NHS and free education, so I want to be able to give back.”
In between running, skiing and occasionally swimming, Jill also volunteers at a lunch club and is a secretary of the local baptist church.
Running circles around many of her contemporaries, Jill said she is often asked about her lifestyle.
“For me, 67 is just a number but when I turned 40, someone told me that from that point onwards, you either go one way, or you go the other – and that terrified me,” she said.
“I’m lucky because my husband is as mad as I am – he is nearly 70 and he still runs.”
Although she often misses her old students, her retirement has offered her the time to explore hobbies, make new friends and give her time to do things she could not before.
“I’ve realised how lucky I am,” she said.
With no plans to slow down any time soon, Jill and her husband Ron look forward to booking their next skiing trip after the lockdown.
“I hope my retirement journey gives some hope to others who are worried.”