Honour for retiree who has gone the extra mile
UPON retirement, many people choose to take up a new language, perfect the art of baking, or travel the world.
Nigel Ford, a former window cleaner, has gone one better: seeking out and repairing centuries-old milestones across Norfolk.
Mr Ford, 69, has spent seven years restoring and reinstating 150 milestones, including digging up those buried during the Second World War in case of a Ger- man invasion. His efforts, and those of his wife Jennifer who he jokes “tolerates” his passion, have now been rewarded by Historic England with an Angel Award.
Supported by Lord Lloyd Webber’s foundation, the awards celebrate the efforts of people who devote their time and energy to “bringing irreplaceable historic places back to life”.
Mr Ford said he had been inspired to take on the ambitious milestone project after seeing one crumbling at the roadside and fearing his grandchildren would only be able to see them in museums by the time they got older.
The interest became a hobby after his retirement in 2010, and has since become virtually a full-time job.
Even the Prince of Wales helped, painting Roman numerals during restoration of the milestone at Anmer in 2013.
The winners of the “Historic England Followers’ and Telegraph Readers’ Favourite” award, brothers who rescued a derelict Victorian swimming pool to turn it into a BMX and skate park, will be interviewed in The Sunday Telegraph’s Lifestyle section.