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90-year-old truck driver has no plans to retire

Brian Wilson has never had an accident in all his years of driving.

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90-year-old truck driver Brian Wilson. (Scott Merrylees via SWNS)

By Ashley Pemberton via SWNS

Britain’s oldest truck driver who has been behind the wheel for nearly 70 years has no plans to retire – despite turning 90.

And the only reason Brian Wilson wasn’t delivering as usual on his 90th birthday last Thursday was because his truck is in the garage for repairs.

The sprightly father-of-four, who started driving trucks in 1953, regularly wakes up at 4 A.M. to be on the road by 5 A.M. and shows no signs of slowing down.

He said: "I'll keep going as long as I can. I'm that used to doing it, it's just a part of life. Sometimes I'm up at 4 A.M. to set off on the road for 5 A.M.

90 year old truck driver Brian Wilson. (Scott Merrylees via SWNS)

"I get all restless lounging about in the house if I'm off work. I just want to get back to work after a few days.

"I've got one other driver and he's driving the truck at the moment.

"In the old days I would do my own repairs and tinker with my wagons, now I take it to the garage to do it all.

"It should be out of the garage later this week and I'll be back on the road."

Brian, of Sheffield, South Yorks., started driving armored trucks during his national service in 1950 when he was stationed in Germany.

When he returned home after being demobbed, he started delivering gas for Esso in 1953.

He later started working for his father's haulage firm - E. Wilson & Sons - and eventually took it over when his father passed away in the 1970s and has ran it ever since.

Grandfather-of-one Brian has racked up millions of miles over the years, but now keeps to short trips of around 150 miles.

He added: "I only do about 130 miles these days, I won't go further than Birmingham or Newcastle.

"But back in the day I would go all over, I've driven all over the country."

90 year old truck driver Brian Wilson. (Scott Merrylees
via SWNS)
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Brian, who was born in 1932, started work at 14 in a garage before serving two years in the Royal Horse Guards.

He met his wife, Mavis, now 88, at a fairground when he was 15, and they married six years later.

They couple have been married 68 years and now have four children and a granddaughter.

Brian puts his longevity down to his healthy lifestyle. He was even playing cricket until he turned 60 - and only stopped when the club was disbanded.

He added: "I've been well looked after. I try to get about eight hours sleep a night, I don't drink so much any more.

"I just keep going. Every year, I have to go for a medical to get my driver’s licence renewed and every year I pass it.

"I've always kept myself fit, I love sport. I was playing cricket until I was 60. I only stopped because the team disbanded."

Amazingly, Brian has never had an accident in all his years of driving and the longest he spent off work was seven weeks when he broke his foot when he was 40.

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