Transport boss, 84, plans to carry on working

An 84-year-old owner of a transport firm has said he wants to carry on for "many more years to come".

George Simpson decided to invest his savings into purchasing Marshall's Transport, a logistics firm in Pershore, Worcestershire, in 1985.

The company was losing money at the time, but now employs more than 80 people, with Mr Simpson still working there three-and-a-half days a week.

"My friends tell me 'why aren't you playing golf?' They think I should be on a cruise somewhere, in the Caribbean, but I enjoy being here. I love it," he said.

"It keeps my brain going. I enjoy being with the lads here, and looking after the business, it keeps me fit and it keeps me going.

"I enjoy a pint, I like to go to the pub for a drink to unwind – but this is where I like to be."

Mr Simpson works with his 59-year-old son Brian, running day-to-day matters as commercial director.

His son said he was proud of his father for having the energy to come in and run the business, which included daily inspections of the firm's whole site.

"We've had our moments, that's for sure, but most of the time it seems to go back to an even keel - we get on well," he said.

"He could be sat at home, drinking tea, going bonkers, but this keeps him on the straight and narrow. At the end of the day everybody needs something to get out of bed for, and for him it's this."

The company was set up by Alan Marshall in 1945, when he realised the goods he was delivering on behalf of a local butcher could make him money if he delivered them himself.

It grew into distributing fresh produce around Worcestershire, with Mr Simpson buying the business from Mr Marshall's three sons in 1985, by which time it had grown into a 54-strong fleet which travelled across the nation.

The firm now specialises in storing and distributing ambient temperature food and printed items, with Mr Simpson saying he hoped to carry on until he's in his 90s, if he can.

He said: "Why not? Brian carries the brunt of everything now, I'm just here to kick the occasional backside and keep track of the figures.

"I enjoy coming in - I'd love to get to my 90th and still be here."

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