Member spotlight on Peter Platt

Meet Peter Platt, a longstanding member who regularly attends Swinton & Pendlebury Leisure Centre. Peter is a karate expert, has been an instructor for over 50 years and won the national title of Lightweight Karate champion of England in 1984.

Peter tells us a bit about what his health means to him and his background in karate, and how he feels that his dedication to a fit and active lifestyle has helped him face health challenges as he gets older.

‘As a 79 year old, I unfortunately suffered with Covid and was hospitalised with pneumonia. Afterwards, I found I needed to get back gradually to my intensive fitness training. I started with short walks to help to restore my lung strength which eventually enabled me to move forward to swimming, cycling and a return to karate. Exercise is a miracle cure for me and has always helped physically and mentally.

Aiming to be active every day gives me strength, balance and flexibility – which I felt my body was losing due to the severity of the pneumonia, sepsis and Covid 19.

My health is everything to me. A small increase in physical activity, especially something like cycling [which offers a low impact cardiovascular workout] can improve your health and quality of life dramatically, as I feel it has for me’.

Garry Bateman, Head of Leisure described Peter as ‘a real personality and liked by all, he’s inspiring to everyone’.

Great to have you as part of the SCL gym community Peter!