A man believed to be one of the world’s oldest paper boys has who has worked nonstop for 70 years has finally decided to retire.
Joe Wardman, 82, took over the family business, Wardmans Newsagents, with his mother following his father’s death in 1964, running it until his retirement in 2011.
His father, Richard, co-founded the newsagents in Barrow Cumbria in 1922.
Joe began delivering papers to homes and businesses in 1954, at the age of 11, while still in school.
Even after retiring, Joe continued delivering papers voluntarily, handing over his final delivery to staff at the town’s White Lion pub on September 21.
Joe Wardman (pictured), 82, outside his shop Wardmans Newsagents, in 2005 celebrating his 50th anniversary of delivering the North-West Evening Mail
Joe delivered his last papers to the White Lion pub on September 21
Joe outside Wardmans Newsagents in Cumbria which he took over after the death of his father
Speaking on his decison to retire Joe said:Â ‘I’d done my 70 years and I thought there’s nothing else I can achieve with it now.
‘Part of the decision was because of all the recent storms, heavy rain and winds, but I’m still fit and involved in all my work in town.
‘It’s proved to be a good decision too because the young lad who has taken over is doing a really good job.
‘He does the round on an electric bike so he’s in his glory.’
Joe began delivering when his older brother was called up for National Service in 1951.
But his job became more permanent three years later, and he then worked amidst the backdrop of the famous 1959 printer’s strikes, which lasted seven weeks.
He remembered when there were two daily editions of his local paper, the North-West Evening, which cost just 1p per issue.
He said: ‘I used to deliver to the navy and remember the HMS Dreadnought submarine being built.
Joe’s father, Richard ‘Dick’ Wardman (pictured) on one of his carrier bikes with his second son Terry
Joe began delivering papers to homes and businesses in 1954, at the age of 11, while still in school
Joe said he finally decided to retire as there was nothing left for him to achieve in the industry
‘I used to deliver to the crew on the Larne Ferry when there was no proper health and safety. That involved me climbing up a ladder onto the ship with people watching me.
‘I’d look down at the water petrified and think ‘Jesus!’ and they’d pull me on board.
He added: ‘There was the Queen’s Coronation in 1953, all the Royal Visits to Barrow, the first Britons to conquer Everest, the famous Lady in the Lake case – all kinds.
‘In the 1960s, there was a real increase in readers as absolutely everyone wanted to read about The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.’
Joe saw the effect television had on print news but said local and national printed papers were still a must-read for many in the community.
He added: ‘I love the paper, the town and the people in it – I guess that’s why I’m a workaholic.
‘And I used to also glance at all the nationals – I especially liked the sports sections.’
‘Over the years I’ve climbed through windows when people have been locked out, put eye drops in for pensioners when they’ve been on their own, climbed into cellars to put a shilling in gas metres.
‘I love my customers and I’ve always spoken to them like they’re one of my family.’
