Fine Record.

A fine war record is held by Mr. George Neale, 8, Willow Street, who at the age of 72 is the oldest labourer employed by Messrs. Baker and Bessemer, J at their Kilnhurst works. Mr. Neale has been employed there for four years and during the whole of that period he has worked a full day shift seven days a week without a break – and also kept in excellent trim two allotments, each half a rood in size, at The Pygotts, and the garden in front of his home.

Vegetables and a few rambler roses are his speciality. Mr. Neale, who has been prevented from working owing to illness for the past five weeks – the first real illness of his life – suffers only one disability, deafness.

‘He is in the habit of getting off to work about six, quite a time before he really need go, and returns home about quarter to six at night,’ a ‘Times’ reporter was informed. ‘If the light holds he is out on his allotments after a pint of tea and does not return home for his full tea until it is dark.

His great worry now is that his allotments and the garden are ‘standing’ because he cannot get to them because of his illness.’ Me. Neale was born in Buckingham-shire – a twin brother is still living in London – but came North when quite young.

At the age of 11 he began work at Messrs. Kilner Brothers’ glassworks, doing 2½ shifts a week riddling glass in the yard, for which he received four shillings. The rest of the week he went to school. Later he commenced ‘talking-in’ and for many years was an experienced glass-blower. He was employed by Messrs. Kilner’s for 38 years and was later at the Brickyard and in was the employ of the Cottage Repairs Department at the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries.

Mr. Neale hopes to restart at Baker’s when he recovers from his illness.