V showbiz journalist Donald Zec has found the secret to the art of growing old gracefully — by turning to art.
The veteran reporter, who enjoyed a long career interviewing stars such as Humphrey Bogart and Marilyn Monroe, took up painting to cope with bereavement when his wife died in 2006.
Now a selection of his works is being exhibited and auctioned to raise funds for the charity Age UK.
The 98-year-old, who worked for the Mirror for 40 years, said: “Losing a beloved partner induces a grief which is hard to bear. And with that grieving comes the loneliness, despair, and very often a sense of what’s left, why should I bother?”
He said his painting had given him a sense of purpose.
“I enjoy bad health and I am on first-name terms with my urologist, cardiologist and opthalmologist, all of whom work hand-in-glove for my survival,” he said.
When it comes to thinking about death, Mr Zec said it was simple: “I don’t give the old rascal a thought. I am inspired by the words of the great actor/comedian George Burns who said: ‘You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old’.”
Mr Zec, who was awarded an OBE in 1970 for services to journalism, said he could have surrendered to grief after the death of his wife but he is “grateful for the life I’ve been given”.
In October 2012, he won the Oldie magazine’s British Artists Award for artists over the age of 60.
A year later, his portrait of his paternal grandfather was presented at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, jointly winning the Hugh Casson Prize for Drawing.
Sue Baker of Age UK said the charity hoped the money raised would provide older and younger generations with a chance to come together through mutually beneficial activities and events.
“We want people from all economic and cultural backgrounds to benefit from contact with each other.”
Meg Simmonds, who works for Eon Productions, helped to curate the exhibition with Mr Zec.
She said: “Working with him has been an inspiration.
“He has embraced change, learnt from his experiences and kept a sense of humour.”
The exhibition and auction — which includes self-portraits and an image of a rabbi and pupil — was due to take place at Chelsea Old Town Hall on Wednesday.