'Keep walking': 100-year-old still does mile a day

100-year-old Pocklington man credits walking and optimism for long, active life

Peter Byers of Pocklington, East Yorkshire, has spent a century defying expectations by staying active well into his later years. Now 100, the former Royal Navy and Royal Corps of Signals serviceman walks a mile daily and still enjoys week-long fishing trips with his son. His philosophy remains simple: “Keep happy, keep walking and keep breathing.”

Byers’ daily routine includes a walk into town, a habit he says lets people know he’s still around. Though he owns a mobility scooter—kept charged but rarely used—he prefers to stay on his feet. “It helps me escape the four walls, meet people and keep my legs going,” he said. His mobility underscores a broader point: age alone should not limit medical treatment or daily activity.

Five years ago, Byers underwent heart surgery at Castle Hill Hospital near Hull to treat severe aortic stenosis. He recalled the conversation with his cardiology team: “It’s an iffy thing, but I said ‘go for it.’ And it’s done me the world of good.” The procedure revived his energy, allowing him to return to American square dancing and family outings. His family jokes that he’s become more active than they’d prefer. “They think I’m a nuisance,” he laughed. “I keep saying, ‘Let’s do this, let’s do that.’”

Cardiologist Dr. Manish Ramlall, a consultant intervention cardiologist at Castle Hill Hospital, emphasized that age doesn’t have to be a barrier to care. “Mr. Byers is a very well man, leading a very active life, and, for him, age is very much just a number.”

Byers’ adventurous past reflects his zest for life. Serving first in the Royal Navy and later in the Royal Corps of Signals, he traveled the world and indulged his love of fishing—from local waters to as far as Malaysia. “It’s a good life, and you’ve got to make the best of it,” he reflected. His 90th birthday card once advised “keep breathing,” a reminder he still lives by.

Now a century old, Byers continues to inspire with his daily walks, fishing trips, and unshakable positivity—proof that an active lifestyle can span generations.

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