Most 73-year-olds would have hung up their trainers a long time ago, but not Derek James.

He is taking on his fourth consecutive London Marathon in aid of Richard House Children’s Hospice, where he volunteers as a gardener.

“This will be my eighth marathon in total, and I did my first in 1985,” he said.

“A few years ago, Richard House were holding a pasta party for their marathon runners and I though, ‘I want to be a part of that’.

“So the next year I signed up for a place with them, and I enjoyed it and got a good time for my age so I decided to do it again.”

Derek, who lives in Silvertown, has been training regularly, including taking part in one run a week with the Barking Road Runners.

The former Pretoria Boys’ School and Eastlea Community School teacher said he was aiming for a time of around four hours.

“It might be closer to 4:30” he admitted.

“My best time was 3:04, but that was a long time ago.”

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/derekjames to sponsor Derek.