The oldest worker in Britain who still spends 32 hours every week at work has disclosed that he has no plan to stop working any time soon after spending just one day in retirement and he became restless.
Ivor Ward, from Rothley, Leicestershire, did attempt to retire when he was 79 but was ‘so restless’ after one day in retirement and he thereafter started job-hunting. He landed a new role at East Midlands Pharma near his home in Leicestershire.
Ward said: “I had one day in retirement and it sent me nuts, so I went back to work almost immediately.”
He now works four days, eight hours weekly as a production operative for EM Pharma and said carrying out his job is “like being at home with the family,”
According to Leicester Mercury, Ward’s role has again opened up his social life and the 98-year-old now enjoys partying at the weekend with his younger colleagues at work and off work where they “drink, dance and create fun times among themselves.”
Despite only working four days a week, he is still clocking up to 32 hours weekly, working from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and he was quoted as saying his days pass by at ‘lightning’ speed.
He said: “I do four days a week now. I do longer days on the four days. I work from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday. The day just goes by like lightning. It just generally keeps your mind busy and active.”
Ward, who has four great-great-grandchildren, began his career in the British Army as a Royal Engineer in 1943. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal before leaving the military at the end of the war and getting a job as a civil engineer.
He then moved to another firm as an operations manager before trying his hand as a professional poker player.
The man, who is also a pensioner and has lived alone for 30 years since his wife died at the age of 63, said he is happy to continue his working week.
He said:: “It’s great. In a way, coming to work is like coming home. I know everyone here. I know the families, there’s always someone to talk to. It’s a pleasure to come to work, otherwise I’d just be at home sitting and doing nothing, aging fast. Inside here, we always have a laugh.”
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