Britain’s oldest paperboy still delivering at 85
THE man thought to be Britain’s oldest “paperboy” has turned 85.
Colin Peaker has been delivering newspapers around the streets of Wakefield in West Yorkshire for 23 years.
Former barber and councillor Mr Peaker arrives at Preens newsagents each morning before 6am to await delivery of the day’s papers. And his 85th birthday on June 10 was no different.
“It was just a normal day. If we get the papers delivered on time I can be away from here about 6.20am and back home for about 7.45am,” he explained.
“I said I was just going to do it for a month and see if I liked it. Now it’s 23 years later.
“It’s good exercise, you see a lot of people and find out what’s going on. That’s the main thing – and it keeps my knees going.”
Mr Peaker said he has no plans to quit any time soon: “I’ll keep going as long as I can.”
Brian Smith, owner of Preens, said: “Colin is very well liked. He knows everybody and is a real authority on this area.”
Mr Peaker started work as a barber in 1947 and ran a shop in the city until 1993. He said: “I was the cheapest barber. I only charged 50p when I retired.”
He also represented the old ward of Northgate on the city council from 1964 until 1974, when it became Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council.