A great-grandmother has shocked her family by ”doing a David Dimbleby” and getting her first tattoo – aged 83.
Sprightly Renee Parker had the words ‘Carpe Diem’ – Latin for ‘seize the day’ – inked on her left foot.
The grandmother-of-three says her family begged her not to get the tattoo but she ignored their pleas.
She visited her local tattoo parlour for the inking and says she barely felt any pain during the hour long session.
Renee, of Saltash, Cornwall, is the latest OAP to get some body art in the wake of BBC newsreader David Dimbleby’s scorpion tattoo.
Dimbleby fulfilled his lifelong ambition by having his first etching in his mid-70s.
Renee, who has three grandchildren and two great grandkids, said: “Some people think I’m mad. Some people think it’s disgusting – my daughter thinks it’s dreadful.
“The men seem to approve but the ladies don’t. You could feel it but I wouldn’t say it was painful.
“10 out of 10 for him [David Dimbleby] for doing it – I don’t know anybody else who has got one so late in life.
“I do worry about some young ladies with tattoos on their arms and shoulders.
“They’re very hard to cover and could affect their chances at job interviews – or how will they wear a nice ball gown or a wedding dress.
“If you’re older you’re not going to be worried about job interviews but it’s important for younger people to consider that.”
Renee says daughter Janet and son John tried to talk her out of the tattoo but the yoga-loving granny ignored them.
Trevor Rodd, who owns Tamar Tattoo Studio, reckons Renee is the oldest person he’s ever had in his shop.
He said: “It’s very rare that we see people over 55. I told her because she is an older person and it was going on her foot there are dangers.
“The skin can lose its density and elasticity, and the colour can spread. It can also be quite painful.
“Renee was gung-ho and she was up for it – I think she’s marvellous. She wasn’t really bothered or affected by the pain.”
Question Time frontman Dimbleby, 75, got the tattoo he always wanted while making the maritime series, Britain and the Sea.
He chose the scorpion because of his star sign Scorpio and said it was “sitting on my shoulder ready to attack my enemies”.
But the broadcaster’s choice of a scorpion on his shoulder raised eyebrows when it later emerged the design is a warning sign in the gay community for having HIV.
