Quadrophenia star Gary Shail is the latest person to come out in support of Pompey Sports & Education Foundation’s male health scheme.
The actor – who played the role of Spider in the cult British film from 1979 and now lives in Portsmouth – has backed the programme which has Blues legend Alan Knight as its ambassador.
With a few lifestyles excesses over the years, Shail and health do not appear to go hand-in-hand.
But the 51-year-old likes to keep physically and mentally active, despite laughing at the term ‘keeping fit’.
“I don’t go jogging or anything like that,” he told PSEF health trainer Paul Allen, who is running the scheme. “But I do like to take my dogs out along the beach twice a day.
“I’ve never really been ill in my life. I had to have a full MOT before I went to the United States last month and everything came back okay.
“I also feel mentally healthy and I like working to deadlines and schedules with my music.
“So I fully support Pompey’s male health programme and the work being done to raise awareness in the community.
“I love living here and will do anything I can to help connect with those harder-to-reach groups – but I won’t be running any marathons just yet!”
After appearing in Quadrophenia, Shail had a starring role as punky teenager Steve in children’s Saturday teatime classic ‘Metal Mickey’ (1980), played Oscar Drill in Rocky Horror follow-up ‘Shock Treatment’ (1981) and appeared as Guy Raines in ‘Johnny Jarvis’ (1983).
His other big-screen appearance was as the evil Billy White alongside Michael Caine in ‘Jack the Ripper’ (1988).
In 1995, Shail joined National Sound Source, a music production company specialising in music for television, film and advertising and in 2004 he relocated to Dubai to work on an album utilising the sounds and instruments of the region.
He continues to write, produce and record music in his Portsmouth recording studio and is currently working on a film about living in Portsmouth which stars local youngsters.
If you are male, aged 18 or over and would like to take part in a free health and fitness session, contact Paul Allen on 023 9272 8899 or email paulallen@psef.org.uk