A FORMER golfing star whose glittering amateur career was cut short by a cruel and debilitating illness has told how he has been given a new lease of life by regular sessions at his local gym.
Peter Deeble – who was struck down by a rare form of motor neurone disease in his thirties – says both his physical and mental well-being have been given a major boost by thrice-weekly sessions at the No Limits fitness centre in his home town of Alnwick, Northumberland.
Peter, 57, was one of the most gifted amateur golfers in Britain in the 1970s and early 80s, when his rivals and international team-mates included the likes of Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle.
After being picked for the Northumberland men’s team at the age of 16, he went on to twice become English Amateur Champion, in 1976 and 1980, and was Faldo’s room-mate in the 1975 home internationals at Portmarnock.
Peter, a member of the Foxton Hall club at Alnmouth, represented Great Britain & Ireland in the 1977 and 1981 Walker Cups in New York and California, helped England win the European Team Championship in 1977 and played for his country 67 times between 1975 and 1985. He has not played golf for almost 20 years, however, after being diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis – a rare neuromuscular disease which left him with great difficulty walking, affected his speech and made him prone to falling down.
Peter, who lives with his wife Aileen, 57, in Fairfields, Alnwick, gets around these days with the help of a mobility scooter and a wheeled frame. But he says his life has been changed for the better since he followed Aileen and became a member of the No Limits gym more than two years ago.
Under the guidance of owner Ian Simpson and personal trainer Rob Allen, he says he has been able to strengthen his muscles, improve his stability when walking, become more confident and do more around the house. Peter said: “It is fair to say that joining the gym has given me a new lease of life. The work we have done on weights and other machines has really helped improve my strength and stability, because before I used to fall over quite regularly, which hardly ever happens now.
“It makes me more confident as well, and the other benefit is that it gets me out of the house three times a week, meeting people at the gym and chatting to Ian and Rob. Just interacting with people again helps.
“I am not naive enough to think this will cure my condition, but I believe the gym work has helped stave off and slow down the worst effects of it. You always live in hope that there might be a cure round the corner and I want to be in the best possible shape to take it on if that happens.
“I found it really hard at first but, thanks to the encouragement and support from Ian and Rob, I am now moving twice as much weight as I was at first.”
Ian said: “Peter’s only regret is that he didn’t start gym work earlier. We believe it is slowing down the progress of his condition and making him a lot stronger. He is doing exercises he never dreamed he would be able to do in his life.
“It is rather humbling for us to watch and work with a man like Peter, who never gives up and has hardly uttered a bad word or complaint about anything in the two years he has been here.”
You always live in hope there might be a cure and I want to be in the best possible shape
