So am I old or what?

Last year the Dept of Work and Pensions produced a report bringing together a number of surveys which basically says that most people think that old age starts at 63 with youth stopping at 45. An exception to this was people in their 80's who thought that old age started at 67. Well - I was 67 on bank holiday Monday. I don't feel any older. I don't feel old. Watching 69 year old Ken Clarke making most of his younger panellists look inexperienced on last week's Question Time also emphasised yet again just how irrelevant chronological age is. Other then when people take it seriously as sadly some employers still do. In our book and whenever I give talks on this issue I always mention Sydney Prior from B&Q who I am glad to report is still alive and working as a Meeter and Greeter now at the age of 95.

 

"Working with people of all ages gives youngsters the chance to learn a little from an old timer like myself, and they help to keep me young at heart," he explained. "I have no plans to retire any time soon."

   The world's Oldest Meeter-Greeter described his secret to staying young as plenty of socialising, lunches out and nights at the theatre.
   "I started at B&Q Wimbledon when I was 76 years of age, I'm now 95 and I'm in my twentieth year. When I started I thought I might be here 1 year or 2 at the most and here I am."

   Before joining B&Q he'd been a sales manager, a green grocer and served in the British army.

   The oldest meeter-greeter in the world started working when he was 14 and has never been without a job since.

   "When I was 76 and first started the job the manager took me on solely because he had a special job he wanted done and he couldn't get the youngsters to do it because they found it boring. I stuck it for three and half years before they transferred me to garden."

   After working for 81 years, Syd's taking it easy - he now only works one day a week. 

So - I think I have a good few years left!