Coronavirus in Scotland: 73-year-old granddad turns Edinburgh back garden into a gym

A SPRIGHTLY grandad has become an internet sensation after turning his back garden into a social distance gym during the coronavirus outbreak.

Keen to follow health advice but also to keep in shape, retired electrical engineer Tony Robertson, 73, strapped a resistance band to a tree to work up a sweat.

A video filmed of the grandfather-of-three by wife Lis, 70, at their Buckstone home has now been watched more than 10,000 times online.

“With all that’s going on in the world, we all need a little bit of light relief, a bit of fun to keep us going and Tony could be it,” said proud granddaughter-in-law Viki Mendelssohn, 49.

Tony’s exploits are all the more commendable given his double hip replacement, two new knees and ongoing treatment for prostate cancer.

“We’ve got a family WhatsApp group and obviously all the talk is about coronavirus,” added Viki. “He plays a lot of golf every day and loves getting out and about.

“He got really concerned about this self-isolation for over 70s and has just recently joined a gym and had been going every day.

“Then these directives came out and the mutterings about people who are vulnerable and he said if he can’t go to the gym, he’d do it in the garden.

“We thought nothing of it and Lis actually filmed it and sent it to us saying ‘look at the silly bugger in the back garden’ - we know what he’s like, he can’t sit still for five minutes.

“People need a bit of light-hearted relief and it’s also inspiring for older members of our community to see another person of their own age doing something in the garden.”

Now thousands have watched Tony the Tiger’s video online as his fan base expands.

“I’ve not got many followers and I don’t know what happened,” said Viki. “But all of a sudden, it just went mad.”

Spurred on, Tony is now planning to upload further routines with the help of his trusty camerawoman, Lis.

“I don’t know what other equipment he has but he said he’ll have a look in the garage,” laughed Viki.

And his exploits have drawn approval from high-profile supporters too. Tennis coach Judy Murray simply tweeted: “Brilliant.”