Exercise for mind and body

Guests at the Newport Dragons Re-engage activity group stretch their muscles and their grey matter

After a light fitness session and a cup of tea John, 82, takes over as quiz master, firing general knowledge questions at the 14-strong group before they start carpet bowls or boccia. 

He’s a dab hand at posing brain-teasers after appearing on two TV quiz shows in the 1990s. In one, First Letter First, which aired in the afternoons on BBC1, he reached the final but just missed out on the first prize – an all-expenses paid trip to America’s Silicon Valley.

John, a retired metallurgist, also appeared on BBC2’s Today’s the Day quiz show which was hosted by former newsreader Martin Lewis.

“On First Letter First you had to answer about 20 questions,” he said. “By taking the first letter from each answer you made words. It was great fun and I remember it well because the man who beat me was wearing an Ermintrude the Cow – from the Magic Roundabout – t-shirt.

“We didn’t know what the prizes were until the end of the show. I got an electronic languages translator but I must admit I would have enjoyed a trip to America.

“I started doing the quizzes after someone found out I had been on TV and they asked me to do some at the group meetings. They absolutely love them and it’s the first thing they ask when I arrive – ‘Can we have a quiz John?’ 

“I spend about three hours getting the questions together, usually trawling the internet for information. I like to make them interesting, not just routine. For example, my favourite question is: ‘When did Good Friday fall on a Boxing Day’. Nobody gets it right.” (Answer further on.)

John joined the activity group, which is based at Newport Dragons Rugby Club’s home ground in Rodney Parade, after a difficult time during the Covid pandemic when his wife of 54 years, Pat, died.

“It was at the start of the lockdown and of so of course it was very difficult. I didn’t see a soul for two years.

“In fact the first time I went out was to join the group, which was a tremendous relief. I had been so lonely it was just so nice to see and talk to people again. It was excellent. The atmosphere at the group is great, everyone is so welcoming. It’s absolutely wonderful to be a part of it and I’ve made some good friends there.”

John, who worked for British Steel in Llanwern for 34 years, keeps up-to-date with current affairs but wouldn’t consider tackling another TV quiz show.

“My reactions have slowed somewhat,” he said. “I have the answers in my head but I wouldn’t be able to get the words out quickly enough.”

Quiz question answer: A horse called Good Friday fell in the Thorneycroft Chase at Wolverhampton race course on Boxing Day, 1899.