Buster Martin
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| Buster Martin | |
 Buster Martin on his 100th birthday, near a Pimlico Plumbers van |
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| Born | September 1, 1906 (age 100) France |
|---|---|
| Residence | Lambeth, London |
| Known for | Oldest employee in the United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Van cleaner |
| Spouse | Iriana Martin (deceased) |
Buster Martin (born September 1, 1906) is believed to be the United Kingdom's oldest employee at the age of 100.[1] Martin works for Pimlico Plumbers in London as a van cleaner; he recently refused to take a day off on his 100th birthday.[2] Martin also received coverage in the media for fending off an attack from a group of youths in late February 2007;[3][4] his heroics were recently cited by the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell as "living proof of why people should not be written off once they pass retirement age". Martin stated that he will not retire from working.[5][6]
[edit] Biography
Buster Martin[7] was born in France, but came to England at three months old. Martin entered an orphanage after the death of his parents (of now-unknown causes), but was thrown out at the age of ten "for eating too much and growing too fast". He travelled to London, and found work running errands for stallholders in the Brixton market, the beginning of nearly 90 years of work.[3]
He met his future wife, Iriana, at the age of 13 (she was 12). They married a year later in France; the couple stayed together for 35 years, and had 17 children together.[8] He left the market at 14, and joined the British Army and Navy at 15, where he became a physical training instructor. He served in World War II, and left the Armed Forces in 1955 after reaching the rank of regimental sergeant major.[6] After "taking up a wide range of trades",[2] he returned to the market, where he worked until he was 97. After complaining of boredom, he then resumed work, starting at Pimlico Plumbers in London on a 20-hour week (three days a week) just before his 100th birthday.
On Martin's 100th birthday, Pimlico Plumbers insisted that he take the day off to celebrate. However, he turned up for work; his colleagues then threw him a surprise party at the company's headquarters and organised a tour of Chelsea F.C.'s Stamford Bridge ground.[2] Until last year, Martin had never taken a day off for sickness in his 90 years of work, until an ingrown toenail forced him to take a few months' leave of work.[5]
On February 22, 2007, while walking to a bus stop from a local pub, Martin was attacked by three youths from behind. Their assault sent him "crashing to the floor", but he managed to defend himself; he says he "hit one in the groin and kicked another one". The youths ran off; Martin staggered to King's College Hospital, where he was kept in overnight. He reported for work the next morning, but Pimlico Plumbers bosses refused to let him work.[3]
Martin plans to continue working at Pimlico Plumbers, and says he will "only give up when they put me in a wooden box".[5] He also offered his view on older workers: "Employers should pick people like us; we want to work and it puts money in our pockets and keeps us active".[6]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ 100 year old Buster at the head of Pimlico's float for the Lord Mayor's show. Lord Mayor's Show (2006-10-27). Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
- ^ a b c 100-year-old told 'take day off'. BBC News (2006-09-01). Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ a b c 100-year-old Buster fights off three muggers. The Daily Mail (2007-02-28). Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Karate kick Buster, 100, floors gang. Metro (2007-02-08). Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ a b c Martin, Nicole (2007-03-03). I'll work till I drop, says 'Mr Centenarian'. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ a b c Kirby, Terry (2007-03-03). The centenarian hailed by Ming for seeing off muggers. The Independent. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Martin has not disclosed his real first name; he says that "everyone's called me Buster, [for] as long as I can remember".
- ^ His eldest son is now 86, and he has lost count of the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
