ALL Joe Tassiker wanted for his birthday was to dive into a great big pool and swim a few lengths - not much to ask but when you're 90 years old, it's not so easy.

Finding someone to take him to Leyland Leisure Centre was the hard part as June McNamee, warden of the sheltered housing in Kingsfold Drive, Penwortham, near Preston, where he lives, explained.

"We talked about having a party," she said: "But all he wanted was to go diving. I didn't believe him at first, and then nobody would take him on. I think they all thought he would drown."

Eventually June's son Keith who celebrated his 16th birthday the following day, agreed to go.

June said: "Joe did a perfect dive, the dive was wonderful but afterwards he didn't realise how much his strength had gone. He just about made a width before he started going under."

But Joe thoroughly enjoyed it, June said: "He was really chuffed that he'd done it."

Joe said afterwards: "It was a bit of a gamble going in. I found it hard to swim, it took me all my time to keep on top. I kept going under and I was in the deep end so I thought I'd better just do a few yards, then get out."

Joe, a retired joiner, last went swimming in the Mediterranean when he was on holiday in Malta some 15 years ago. But the last time he swam in a pool in England it cost just four pence in old money!

His birthday treat didn't finish on the pool though because there was a surprise party arranged for him attended by his daughter from South Africa and niece from London.

Now Joe's busy planning his next daring feat - when he hits the 100 mark, he plans to go up in a hot-air balloon!

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