This week, as Dame Anna Wintour received her Companion of Honour at Buckingham Palace, King Charles asked if she planned to retire at 75. Her firm reply? “No.” And I couldn’t agree more.
I’ll be 80 in March, but I have no intention of stopping. I’ve been running my building company in Northumberland since 1967, and I still wake up at the crack of dawn to oversee my team, check on projects—including those on Holy Island—and get my hands dirty.
Just yesterday, I was on a roof fixing an island house, and later, I was digging a trench in a flooded graveyard to clear blocked drains. It’s tough, physical work—but I love it.
Why Retirement Has Never Appealed to Me
The thought of sitting around doing nothing is my worst nightmare. Work gives me purpose, keeps me fit, and keeps my mind sharp. I truly believe that if I stop working, I’ll start fading away.
I’ve seen it happen too many times—people retire, lose their sense of purpose, and within a couple of years, they age dramatically. They tell themselves they’ll travel or take up hobbies, but the reality often looks very different.
Most of my old school friends are either gone, struggling to walk, or dependent on sticks. Meanwhile, I’m still out there, climbing scaffolding and working alongside men half my age—and I keep up just fine.
My Secret to Staying Strong? Never Stopping.
I’ve never stepped inside a gym, yet I’ve done hard, physical labour for over six decades. Lifting, carrying, climbing, organising—it’s a daily workout without needing a treadmill.
That’s why when I go shooting with my younger mates, I’m still keeping pace while they’re taking breaks. I’ve always said, “If I stop, I’ll drop.” And I mean it.
People Can’t Believe My Age
When I walk into trade counters in Newcastle or Alnwick, people assume I’m in my early 60s. When they find out I’m nearly 80, their jaws drop.
Even my own daughters don’t get why I still work.
- Tracy is a semi-professional triathlete who runs a triathlon club in Alnwick.
- Lisa is a scientist in America, working on cochlear implants for hearing loss.
Both of them plan to retire at 60. I just laugh.
They think retiring means freedom, but I know better. I’ve seen people regret it—some manage to stay busy, but many lose their identity. That psychological shift of “I don’t have to get up anymore” can be dangerous.
A Full Life, No Regrets
My life isn’t just about work. My wife, Margaret, and I travel, dine out, and visit our daughter in the U.S. I even had a business in Chicago, exporting vintage stained glass from Northumberland—Americans loved it.
I’m also part of:
- The “Warkworth Whisky Warriors” – A group of 10 friends who meet monthly to blind-taste whisky. We pretend it’s a competition, but really, it’s just an excuse for a laugh.
- The 41 Club in Alnwick – Monthly dinners with old friends. But the group is shrinking… because most of them have retired. I’m the only one still working.
They think I’m mad for not stopping. I think they’re mad for stopping.
Live Now—Don’t Wait for Retirement
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: Don’t waste your life waiting for retirement.
Too many people spend their best years thinking, “I’ll enjoy myself later.” But later doesn’t always come.
Margaret was given six months to live 25 years ago due to bowel cancer. The doctors told her to get her affairs in order—but she survived. That scare changed our perspective forever.
Since then, we’ve lived life to the fullest, because you never know what’s around the corner.
I’ll Stop When I Drop
I don’t feel old. I don’t act old. And I don’t see any reason to slow down.
Dame Anna has the right idea. The King can ask all he likes, but some of us are just built to keep going.
And me? I’ll stop when I drop. But not a moment before.
