YOU are never too old to juggle. At least that's what Arnold Hulme believes.

A member of the Chelmsford Juggling Club for 20 years, Arnold has just celebrated his 86th birthday, and is now possibly the oldest active juggler in the country.

He has lived in Chelmsford since the age of five, and has been at the same address in Widford Road, purchased for the princely sum of £2,120, since he married sweetheart Theresa in 1958.

The octogenarian sensation has impressed fellow members by juggling four balls at once, up to three rings, and even clubs.

The Chronicle visited the club and spoke to Arnold about why he chose to start juggling.

Thirty years ago he discovered the Alexander Technique for yoga posture.

Juggling was a natural consequence, and he said it stops him from slouching over like a lot of elderly people at his age, and gives him a great deal of enjoyment.

Dave Kent, a member of the Chelmsford Juggling Club since 1993, said: "He stands like a regimental soldier."

Arnold's impressive feats don't stop there, as he also regularly practices Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art for defence and health.

He said that although he juggles every week at the club, he doesn't practice much at home – although he is positive he could manage five balls if he practiced enough.

Arnold, who has two children and four grandchildren, said: "I always aim to improve, or else you stagnate.

"Juggling is the best method of monitoring tension in an activity and it's also a fun way to exercise.

"I have made great friends at the club and I always look forward to Thursdays there.

"We average only seven or eight people at sessions, but we would like many more.

"I would say to anybody thinking of taking it up: give it a try, you will pick it up and it can be great fun.

"Juggling and the Alexander technique really improve your posture too."

Arnold was an air gunner during the Second World War and was commended for his part in sabotaging German radars in an airborne mission.

By 1950 he was ready to become a pilot, but after 16 months of pilot training a motorcycle crash just two weeks before he was due to "take wings" left him in hospital and rehabilitation centres for 18 months.

Arnold was left with no choice, but to take medical discharge, and he then spent the next 37 years working at Marconi's, before retiring aged 63.

Although he now loves teaching juggling to visitors at the club, his focus is on keeping up posture and health, than rivalling the impressive talents of other club members.

Members ages range from 15 to Arnold at 86.

Tools of their trade include balls, rings, clubs, diablos, and unicycles, and they get together to showcase their unique talents every Thursday between 8 and 10pm at the Salvation Army Centre.

Teenager Max Pickford, 16, of Chelmsford, one of the youngest at the club, has been training to use a unicycle for three years and can even play his guitar while riding, something Arnold doesn't plan on trying any time soon.

Some Chelmsford Juggling Club members have gone on to national and international fame, crediting the club for its ability to house some of the finest show talents in the country.

The founders of a state of the art international juggling group 'Feeding the Fish', who use electronic juggling equipment to dazzle audiences, are original members of the Chelmsford Juggling group.

Simon Mylius and Howie Bailey, both from Chelmsford, and Chris Sly, from Wickham Bishops, were all members of the Chelmsford Juggling Club prior to the founding of the group in 1996, and their unique hi-tech equipment has even been used in stadium tours with boy band Take That.

Legendary juggler Mark Robertson had an outstanding show career, appearing on TV shows and touring the world, and was brought to the club by his nephew Kim Farrell, a regular at the club, on several occasions.

The club moved to the Salvation Army Centre around three months ago to give members more space and better facilities.

Arnold sums it all up: "I'd recommend it to anyone my age for posture. I'll do it as long as I can."