RETIRED teacher Tommy Fee may well be 76 years of age but that hasn’t stopped him from passing on his love of physical fitness to a generation of men young enough to be his sons or grandsons.
Tommy recently marked hosting his 1,000th men’s circuit training class in the Co Down town of Banbridge. What started out as a way to socialise with his pals at the local golf club more than 40 years ago has become a fitness class that has become a centre for good-natured male rivalry and bonding.
His group of fellow fitness fanatics so enjoy Tommy’s classes at the town’s Southern Regional College centre that they recently made a special presentation to the former PE teacher to mark the milestone.
The grandfather, who taught PE at St Patrick’s High School until he retired, practices what he preaches; he does three rounds of the circuits every week alongside the other men, was a founder member of the local squash club and recently chalked up his 100th 5km Park Run.
And while he has some serious sportsmen coming to his gym, Tommy always encourages the men to work to their own individual level.
“What I was taught in PE was that the measure of a good class was when the youngsters said afterwards, ‘We enjoyed that’,” says Tommy. “For me, it’s all about having fun and exercising at the same time as years ago keeping fit was done almost like a military style where people all had to do the same.
“But that put people off exercise. You have to create an atmosphere of fun with an element of competition too where people want to try and improve each week if they work in pairs.”
Although he has devoted his life to keeping himself fit and motivating students, Tommy says that the men-only class came about by accident rather than design.
“I moved to Banbridge from St Peter’s School [on west Belfast's Falls Road] in the early 1970s. I played a lot of golf and made a lot of friends as I was an active member of the local club.
“Around 1975 it was suggested that we should have a social activity that we could all go to besides the golf and it was agreed that we would exercise together once a week and I organised it.
“Later it was suggested that Seapatrick Football Club members would like to come along – that extended the life of the class for quite a few years. Then members of Banbridge Cycling Club became involved and that’s just the way it grew over the years. Different guys would recommend it to from different groups and others joined in so I just kept it going.”
Between 20 and 40 men regularly attend Tommy's circuits class, which are held over two sessions of 12 weeks.
Tommy’s circuit of 15 different exercise stations such as chin-ups, press ups, shuttle runs, step-ups, rope swings, skipping and ladder climbs gets the men’s heart rate up and increases the flow of endorphins. The number of repetitions they do is determined by a colour code to which the men work to – the ultra fit do what’s known as the ‘black’ circuit.
The men, aged from their early 30s to nearly 70, are encouraged to do three circuits over the hour.
“It’s a testing circuit. The men work to their own ability and are encouraged to do more the next week,” Tommy reveals.
He’s well aware that of the added benefits to the men’s mental health as well as physical health from the circuit class
“That’s a big part of it, there’s no doubt about it,” he agrees. “The guys would talk to me about needing to clear their heads. They often say that they didn’t want to come out but once they start exercising, they start to feel better.
“They all really enjoy it as the guys all know each other. There’s a lot of camaraderie and banter, and a wee bit of friendly competition, so it’s hard work but good fun as well. And of course it’s also helped me over the years. It gives me a reason to get up and get out in the morning. I really enjoy the craic. They’re all great lads.
“I’m very fortunate myself to still be able to still do it.”
