Still going swimmingly Scotland's population is living longer than ever.

Scotland's population is living longer than ever.

And these three plucky pensioners are prime examples of thoseenjoying life in their later years.

Over 80s like George Jack and Irene Watt have left behind knittingscarves and playing bingo.

Instead they are scooting around in their motors, surfing the net - and even learning to swim.

Aberdeen's own adventurer George Jack is weeks away from his 88thbirthday but still perfects his breaststroke and butterfly everyweek.

The retired painter hadn't been in the water for more than fourdecades when he joined a city swimming club at Linksfield Pool.

Bridge of Don great-grandfather George said: "When I was a younglad I used to go to the Bon Accord swimming club.

"Then when I went into the army I swam to keep fit.

"But when I came out of the army I didn't swim for 40 years, untilI joined the club."

And George did not take to it like a duck to water.

"When I first got into the pool I sank like a stone," saidGeorge. "I was useless until our coach stepped in and gave me moreconfidence. Now it's something I look forward to every week."

Classmate Betty Johnston was pushed into a stream as a child andhad been scared of water since. Bridge of Don Gran Betty, 77, said:"We used to go down to Persley and I remember once somebody pushed mein the water.

"I was petrified. But when I retired I decided to learn.

"When I first started I had armbands, a ring and everything. Butnow I feel more confident and would recommend it to anyone."

Another groovy granny keeping up with the times is 90-year-oldIrene Watt.

The oldest surviving member of her family, the Blackburn computerwhizz is using her PC to delve into her family history. Her relativesclubbed together to buy her a computer for her Christmas eight yearsago.

She has a special screen to enlarge the print and is happy tosurf for hours.

Irene said: "My family keep telling me I'm a groovy granny - Ido enjoy e-mailing and using the computer.

"I tell them it's nothing - it's just my body that is lettingme down."

The surfer suffered a setback to her family research two monthsago when her computer got wiped - but work is now back on track.

She said: "I am starting to build it up again. I have a lot ofthings stored in my head so it is not too much trouble."

And it isn't just North-east OAPs who are enjoying their old age.

Sheila Thomson may be 105 but she also is also believed to be theoldest driver in the UK.

The granny-racer makes the 15-mile round trip in her Peugeot 106from her home in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, to church inInvergowrie every Sunday.

She has been driving for more than 70 years but has never sat atest - she first got behind the wheel before tests wereintroduced.

lkernan@ajl.co.uk