Mention the words ‘magnificent seven’ and many readers, certainly the older ones, will think of Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen.

Younger readers, of course, are more likely to think of the 2016 remake of the film which stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke.

There are other possibilities that come to mind when the phrase magnificent seven is bandied about.

Some readers may refer to the seven wonders of the world while Gloucester rugby fans of a certain vintage will almost certainly recall legendary openside flanker Dick Smith, who truly was a magnificent seven back in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

For Indiajane Jeffery, her magnificent seven is more recent, the past seven years in fact – seven years that have seen her take up the sport of rowing, a sport that she fell in love with from the first moment she climbed into a boat and one that she is incredibly passionate about to this day.

The 48-year-old is a member of Gloucester Rowing Club and a former vice-captain but her involvement in rowing goes far deeper than competing in Open and Masters events, impressive though that undoubtedly is.

That’s because Indiajane wants to spread the word about the sport of rowing as far and as wide as possible and is determined to make it something that is accessible to each and every person in the county and beyond.

And, more than that, she is prepared to back up her words with deeds.

So much so that she has set up Just Row Gloucestershire, an organisation that is applying for charitable status and one that will allow more and more people from a myriad of backgrounds to take up the sport.

“I started rowing in my early 40s but initially there were a lot of barriers to me getting into the sport,” she explained. “My driving force is to provide opportunity for everyone.

“Unless you were a young, white, middle class male there were limited opportunities in rowing.”

Indiajane was living in London at the time with her husband George and their three children – they live in Cheltenham these days – but despite her early difficulties she most certainly wasn’t the sort of person to be put off by what she thought was something akin to a closed shop.

Quite the opposite, in fact, because it made her all the more determined to pursue her dream.

“I was very driven, very determined,” she said. “I’d always been into sport when I was younger. I’m very competitive, I used to skydive, kickbox, trampoline and climb.

“I stopped when the kids were younger but I’d always wanted to row.”

And row she most certainly does after overcoming those early teething problems.

“It was really difficult for older women to take up the sport and be taken seriously,” she said, “I was told I was too old to row, I was told I couldn’t do it.”

That’s where Just Row Gloucestershire, based at Gloucester Boathouse Ltd and which is currently operating under the umbrella of Gloucester Rowing Club until it achieves charitable status – “The club have been really supportive,” added Indiajane – comes in.

And the great thing about it is that it’s not just there to support middle-aged women like Indiajane, it is there for anyone who wants to learn to row.

“Just Row Gloucestershire has been set up to promote and encourage non-competitive rowing at Gloucester Rowing Club for those in the community who might be described as disadvantaged in some way,” explained Indiajane, who coaches at both Gloucester Rowing Club and Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

“Mainstream recreational and competitive rowing is very well catered for but adaptive and community-based rowing is not. We aim to fill that gap and in some cases provide a gateway into mainstream rowing.

“Currently, the significant benefits recreational and therapeutic rowing bring are not available or not accessible to a large proportion of the local community for reasons which include physical, mental, emotional, financial or social capacity.

“These sections of the community will include all ages who have an impairment or disability, suffering or recovering from illness including cancer, heart problems, depression, social and financial deprivation, ethnic minority disadvantages, disadvantaged young adults and physical rehabilitation.

“Our aim is to enable anyone who wishes to enhance their lives by sport and thereby improve their health can do so via recreational rowing in a happy, safe, supportive and enjoyable environment; improving social engagement, health – mental and physical – fitness, confidence, team ethos and encouraging lifelong friendships.

“We have set a target for three organisations to be rowing out of the club by the end of this summer with the aim of doubling that number by next summer including those with a physical disability.”

And it seems that her message is being received loud and clear because Just Row Gloucestershire already have NHS and MacMillan on board and are also in talks with Youth Gloucester and Help 4 Heroes.

They also have a group of local GPs taking part in a taster day on Wednesday 26th June.

“We will teach them the basics of rowing as well as inform them of the benefits of rowing for mental and physical wellbeing,” said Indiajane. “These GPs can then go on to prescribe rowing to the local community through the NHS.”

So what are the benefits of rowing?

“There are so many,” said Indiajane. “The obvious – weight loss, health and exercise – but also it’s incredibly good for mental strength, confidence and team building.

“You have to be in sync with everybody else in the boat, it’s great for forging friendships.

“You have to trust the other people in the boat.

“Physically, it’s great for your body as you are capable of using 85 per cent of your muscles but because you are moving laterally in a seat there is no pressure on your knees as in many other sports.”

And if you haven’t tried it, Indiajane, who wishes she’d taken up the sport at a much earlier age, urges you to do so.

For more information, email Indiajane at indiajane@justrowgloucestershire.co.uk