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Published: 31 March 2011
by KARINA WHALLEY

SEVENTY-NINE-year-old Reverend Michael Dunne has become the proud winner of a new bike – and is raring to get pedalling.

The septuagenarian was announced as the winner at a prize draw at the Kentish Town Sports Centre in Prince of Wales Road on Saturday – after signing up as a member of the centre just an hour earlier.

“He had a little tear in his eye and was just over the moon,” said David White, general manager of the club. He added: “I encouraged him to buy a helmet as well as it’s a little concerning at his age.”

The centre at the Prince of Wales Baths was reopened after a £25million restoration last June, to include three pools and a gym.

Rev Dunne, from St Dominic’s church in Gospel Oak, was welcomed to the centre on one of its open days, just before winning the bike. 

He said to the staff: “You’re like my boys. You’ve looked after me so well and I get a bike at the end of the day too.”

The priest was able to choose any bike worth £500 from Evans Cycles.

He said: “I’m still astonished. I didn’t want a racing bike, just a good, solid bike which would take me around Regent’s Park as it’s level. There’s going to be no stopping me. You might find it odd, but I’m 80 in August. I walk every­where to visit people so I get lots of exercise. 

“But I don’t think I’ll be using the bike for doing my visit­ing rounds as it’ll get nicked.”