Hospital worker, 83, has no plans to slow down

Richard Brown regularly clocks up 20,000 steps during a shift

A hospital's oldest member of staff has said he has no plans to retire as his job helps him to keep fit.

Richard Brown, 83, has worked as an orderly - an assistant who helps medical staff - at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire for more than 20 years.

He said he regularly clocked up nearly 20,000 steps, about 10 miles, in a typical shift despite having a hip replacement.

"I enjoy the work and have no intention of sitting around at home all day watching TV," he said.

"I sometimes talk about retiring, but then I wonder what I'd do if I did?

"I would probably look around for another job," he said.

Mr Brown, who is originally from Grantham, moved away to west London, only to return to the county when he retired from a career in sales.

"There have been changes over the years, but I've always enjoyed it as we've a really good team," he said.

"We all get along well together, as most of the staff have worked at the hospital for many years too.

"I enjoy talking to the patients who come from so many different areas."

Mr Brown, who lives near Horncastle, works three days a week.

"There's always something to do," he said.

"I'm here about an hour early because I like to get everything ready and like to get ahead of the game."

When he is not at work, Mr Brown has said he keeps up the step count walking his dogs with his wife Lyn.

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