Retired chaplain, 82, to attempt 200kg powerlift

2 hours ago

Maisie LillywhiteGloucestershire

News image — Before joining a class at the age of 70, Vernon Lidstone says he had never done anything fitness related

Vernon Lidstone A man in his 80s holds a pair of weights on his shoulders as he lifts them from their holders. He is wearing black shorts, a black T-shirt, and a black and red vest. He has receding grey hair. Ther are women stood to his side, clapping on in support and a man stood behind him is hovering his hands over his hips for support, if needed. — Before joining a class at the age of 70, Vernon Lidstone says he had never done anything fitness related

An 82-year-old retired prison chaplain is aiming to powerlift 200kg (441lbs) to raise money for his local church to get a new heating system.

Reverand Vernon Lidstone, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, says people are surprised when they find out he is a powerlifter, with his personal best standing at 182.5kg (402lbs).

He will try to beat that at Crazy Strength Gym in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday to raise the £40,000 required to replace the heating system at St Peter's Church in Framilode, Gloucestershire.

Lidstone said: "I started the ordinary fitness class at 70, and then I started powerlifting only a year ago, so it's possible for everybody."

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Lidstone was previously a chaplain for HMP Leyhill near Wotton-under-Edge, and the honorary assistant priest for Severnside South Benefice.

He said his fitness journey began 12 years ago, when he heard Patrick Ansley, a fitness instructor "who was really passionate about making seniors strong", on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I got in touch with him and, to cut a long story short, eventually he came over and [he now] conducts the fitness class in the church twice a week for seniors with this passion for making us strong."

Lidstone trains three times a week - twice in the church fitness class and once with Gloucester Powerlifters.

"They're a gang of powerlifters who have been wonderfully supportive," he said.

"They're all young. I'm definitely the oldest amongst them but they all encourage me and support me."

Vernon Lidstone The altar and font section at the front of a church, where there is an organ. There is a cross above the dome-shaped chancel, which is very colourful. The walls are white and red and there is a red rug in front of the alter and a red tablecloth on the table to the left of the image. — St Peter's Church in Framilode needs a new heating system

Lidstone is taking on the challenge after finding the vestry floor in the church was wet because the oil-fired boiler had stopped working.

It cannot be repaired so he hopes to raise enough to "make the church warm and much more energy efficient" by replacing the broken boiler with a clean air-source heat-pump system.

"The challenge symbolises staying active in later life, caring for the environment, and keeping faith at the heart of local life," he said, adding that the church had been "very supportive".

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