75 year old Scotsman John McDermid is the ultimate Urban Legend. He has been a league soccer player both in Scotland and South Africa, a ballroom dancer, walker, cyclist, hiker, and now bowls player, which he jokes is a sport with the highest mortality rate due to the high number of deaths of its players!

“I have had a lifetime of activity, and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” says John. “Sports and activities have given me the best memories and allowed me to meet some of the greatest people, and I know will continue to do so.”

John played soccer for Gourock Athletics in Scotland, where his team won the league championships 3 years in a row. “Many people can say that they have played soccer, but I can honestly say that I was a true soccer player!” beams John. At 35, John and his then young family moved out to South Africa, where he started playing soccer for the Fish Hoek Athletics 2nd and 3rd soccer teams. He played with these teams for 15 years before finally retiring at the age of 50. “I retired from soccer when I was 50 years old,” explains John. “They introduced ladies teams into the mix, and there was no way I could aggressively play against any of those lovely ladies, so I thought that was probably the best time for me to throw in the towel.”

John then turned his hand to other activities to keep him fit and busy. He took up walking and hiking with his wife Anne, enjoying iconic walks such as The Otter Trail, The Whale Trail and even the Big Walk. John and Anne are also very well known on the ballroom dancing front, especially for their rendition of the famous Twist, which has won them many contests.

This year (2016) John has tried his hand at Bowls and hasn’t looked back. As with all of his other sporting adventures, John has taken to bowls like a duck to water. “The ladies on the greens tell me they are partial to the little bum wiggle I do when I play,” shyly smiles John. “Either way I just enjoy myself and love getting out there to play a game.”

You are an inspiration John, Keep Going!!!