Coronavirus: Britain's oldest paper boy, 84, says he will continue to work amid pandemic
Alan Gillard says he still manages to talk to residents during his rounds by standing at their gate
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Your support makes all the difference.Britain's oldest paper boy has vowed to continue working throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Alan Gillard, 84, has been dropping his local newspaper on peoples' doorsteps for the past 24 years after taking over from his son.
The former telecoms professional works six days a week in Thame, Oxfordshire, the same market town he was “born and bred” in.
Mr Gillard, who covers four and a half miles by car and bicycle, says that not even the global pandemic will stop him from working
The pensioner has a formal doctor's note that allows him to continue delivering through the lockdown period. However, he admits he now sees far fewer people.
“My son started doing a paper round when he was at college but I would help out when he got a part-time job and couldn’t do it,” Mr Gillard says.
“Then when he got a permanent job, I took over the round and have been doing it since.
“I do a bit of it by car at the bypass and then the rest of it I do on my bicycle.
“Usually, there’s so much traffic around in the morning so I do that bit by car. Then I’m on the bicycle for up to three-quarters of an hour.”
Mr Gillard says that while the job has changed following the outbreak of Covid-19, he won't let it stop him chatting to people.
”I’ve got permission from the doctors to be out and I’m on my bike so I’m not a risk,” Mr Gillard explains.
“You don’t really see anybody about at the moment, there’s far less people and traffic.
”When I can, I love chatting to people. It’s amazing how 10 and 15 minutes here and there can add up.
Mr Gillard adds that due to the new social distancing measures he now has to speak to residents while standing at their gate.
“We do have our ways of communicating though, sometimes people will leave notes on their letterbox or I’ll give them a wave at the window,” he explains.
Mr Gillard spent his working career at BT, starting as a 17-year-old before retiring as a 60-year-old.
The World Health Organisation confirmed recently that newspapers remain safe to read during the coronavirus pandemic.
It stated the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low - meaning the risk of contracting coronavirus through receipt of a printed paper is small.
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