He added he liked being with “like-minded people” in a low pressure environment.

The weekly sessions involve an hour of light circuit training, using equipment including rowing machines and treadmills, followed by tea or coffee.

Nell, who goes to the sessions, said she had always been into fitness but had struggled after her cancer treatment.

“Anybody who’s had chemotherapy knows that you lose all your core strength and a lot of us have got nerve damage. I was falling about all over the place and tripping over,” she said.

“I tried the gym in recovery and beat myself up, desperately trying to get fit after chemo – this was perfect,”

“A lot of cancer support groups are wonderful and they work, but they can be very gloomy and I think this works for people who want to get on in a different way.”