A 100-year-old man was today revealed as Britain’s longest serving ‘temp’ – after working for the same company for a staggering 34 years.
Great-grandfather Jim Clements has spent a whopping 86 years working after he became bored with retirement aged 66.
Workaholic Jim took up a temporary office support role with a security company in Harlow, Essex, and has been there ever since.
The centenarian still works two days a week at the security firm doing the filing, shredding documents, answering the phone and photocopying.
Although now on the payroll, like any other temp in the country, Jim is responsible for making the tea – and is renowned for being a flirt with the office girls.
Father-of-two Jim, who celebrated his 100th birthday last week, said he has no plans to give up the role, which was only supposed to be temporary when he took it.
Loyal Jim said: “I do some filing, shredding documents, answering the phone, photocopying and making the tea for the girls.
“I like to keep myself busy and I have always enjoyed being at work. It’s so good to still be active. It keeps the cogs moving and keeps me young.
“The girls in the office are lovely. They look after me and give me a lift home.
“I have never wanted to stop working. My favourite job ever was working for the MOD it was often top secret and was skilled work.
“But I have been in this job now 35 years and everyone here feels like my extended family.
“I have a laugh with the girls in the office, I pull there leg and they pull mine. My day to day tasks consist of making the tea and coffee, answering the phones, shredding all the old papers and filing.
“They really look after me here and make sure that I’m okay day to day. I’m very grateful that they have kept me on into old age and I certainly have no plans to retire yet.”
Jim, who was born as one of eight children, went to school in High Wych, Herts., before leaving aged 14 to begin an apprenticeship in engineering.
During the war years Jim worked at the Ernest Lake Ltd factory in Bishop’s Stortford, Suffolk, making torpedoes.
It was there he met his wife Gladys, the couple married in 1944 and were together until she passed away 19 years ago.
When he became bored with his retirement in 1980 Jim accepted a temporary position with Active Security, in Harlow, where he still works today.
Office colleagues said everyone at the company is “gobsmacked” he is still working at 100.
Jacky Cowley said: “Jim is amazing. He still works two days a week helping out in the office.
“Everyone who works with him is gobsmacked that he is 100 because he only looks in his 80s.
“He is a lovely man and a real character. He has a wicked sense of humour and is very highly thought of by everyone.”
Jim has two children called Barry and Susan, four grandchildren, Ashley, Adam, Mark and Samantha and a great-granddaughter, Georgia.
