‘Britain’s oldest trucker’ is grandad, 91, who still gets up at 5am for 12-hour shifts

Britain’s oldest trucker has just turned 91-years-old and still gets up at 5am to work mammoth 12-hour shifts – and he has no plans of slowing down.

Sprightly Brian Wilson, who has been a lorry driver for a whopping 70 years, delivers goods from his depot in Sheffield, Yorkshire, to sites across the country.

Brian, who can still hop up on the back of his truck without assistance to tie down a tarpaulin with rope, says only ill-health would stop him from working.

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He said: “I don’t even think about giving up, I just carry on while I can, while I feel fit enough. But I think I’ll know when it’s time to call it a day.”

Brian first got behind the wheel of an HGV in 1953, when he started delivering petrol for Esso.

Back then, a gallon of diesel cost less than two shillings – 10p in today’s money. Today a gallon is at profit-munching levels of almost £8.

And while the current cost of living means Brian might struggle without his income, it’s his love for the job that keeps him going.

The father-of-four first started driving armoured trucks during his national service in 1950, when he was stationed in Germany.

After returning home and working for the petrol company, he started working for his father’s haulage company, E. Wilson & Sons.

He eventually took over the firm when his father passed away in the 1970s and has run it ever since.

Brian has racked up millions of miles but currently keeps to ‘short trips’ of around 150 a day, driving on some of his favourite roads in his ten-tonne Iveco.

He added: “I used to go down London. The farthest I’ve been is Aberdeen, which was a two-and-a-half-day job. But I’m normally going to Birmingham and Lancashire area.

“I’ve enjoyed visiting different places in England up and down the country. I think when you go up to the lake district, that’s nice.

“When you go up Lancaster way and Windemere, that’s a really nice run. I did London for ten years but that was in my 40s.”

Brian said he had no plans to retire but had thought about spending a few months in Thailand with his son once he finally packs it in.

He said: “I’d like to go and visit my lad in Thailand again, and spend two or three months with him when I do retire. There’s nice weather there.

“He’s been there about 15 years. He’s got his own business there.

“I’ve got four lads altogether. There are still two that live at home with us. They never got married, so there’s plenty of company.”

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