Oldest shop worker? It just ASDA be Tom, 92!
TOM Brogan may just be Greater Manchester’s oldest supermarket worker.
The 92-year-old is a popular face at Asda superstore in Wigan.
Customers plan their shopping trips around his shifts – just so they can chat.
Tom – Asda’s oldest member of staff – has been a porter at the store for three decades.
He has no plans to retire as he loves meeting new people and helping customers.
Sprightly Tom, who has two children, Elaine, 68, and Stuart, 62, seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, doesn’t let his age get in the way.
He’s often spotted loading shopping into the cars of cus- tomers half his age.
Tom says his job keeps him active and healthy – and insists he doesn’t feel his age.
“If I didn’t come to work here I would really miss everything about everyday working life,” he said.
“I would miss the chat with customers and catching up with them.
“I meet some very nice people. Every day is different – you meet different people, all with different stories.
“Sometimes they’re having a good time, sometimes bad. It’s just nice to talk to them. They come for a shop, of course, but they come for a chat too – this store is at the centre of the community here. “I have a wonderful life. I live on my own, but I’ve got a really good family round me – I’m always surrounded by grandkids. “I’m healthy and active – I don’t feel 92. I’ve just got myself a smartphone and I’m on Facebook too – although I haven’t used it much yet.” Tom’s colleagues threw a surprise party for his 92nd birthday on Tuesday. Tom said: “It was such a nice surprise to see what they’d done here for my birthday. I was chuffed to hear I am Asda’s oldest colleague.” Tom ran a shop and post office in Flint in Wales with his late wife, Joan, before moving back to his home town of Wigan in 1988. He joined Asda as a porter and retired in 1996 but continued to shop at the store. In 1997, colleagues asked Tom if he was interested in returning on a three-month temporary contract. He has stayed ever since, working three mornings a week. People trading manager, Mark Bell, said: “He’s a pleasure to work with and an inspirational character to have in the business.” Tom Brogan