Gerald a 'gopher' at grand age of 87
One of the oldest delivery men in Britain has vowed to continue playing a key role in his family's business in Shropshire "as long as the good Lord spares him". One of the oldest delivery men in Britain has vowed to continue playing a key role in his family's business in Shropshire "as long as the good Lord spares him". Gerald Lipson, 87, retired in 1986 - but got back into the world of work when he moved from Essex to Shropshire four years ago and started to help out at his family's award-winning food business as a "gopher". Gerald is now an important part of Best of Taste, which produces fruit coulis dessert sauces from its base at Treflach near Oswestry. But, while Gerald is one of the oldest delivery boys in the country, he is definitely not the oldest worker in Shropshire. Yesterday, the Shropshire Star featured paperboy Richard Hughes, who delivers the Star to residents of the Hallcroft Close sheltered housing in Newport each day - at the ripe old age of 95. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
One of the oldest delivery men in Britain has vowed to continue playing a key role in his family's business in Shropshire "as long as the good Lord spares him".Gerald Lipson, 87, retired in 1986 - but got back into the world of work when he moved from Essex to Shropshire four years ago and started to help out at his family's award-winning food business as a "gopher".
Gerald is now an important part of Best of Taste, which produces fruit coulis dessert sauces from its base at Treflach near Oswestry.
But, while Gerald is one of the oldest delivery boys in the country, he is definitely not the oldest worker in Shropshire.
Yesterday, the Shropshire Star featured paperboy Richard Hughes, who delivers the Star to residents of the Hallcroft Close sheltered housing in Newport each day - at the ripe old age of 95.
But while Mr Hughes is out trudging the streets, Gerald is described as a "gopher" at Best of Taste.
The firm was established in 1997 and remains a family concern, with Gerald being the oldest of three generations involved.
Four years ago, Gerald moved to be near his son Nick and, despite his professional career having been in the field of radio communications, soon became involved in the coulis business.
Gerald said: "You can't just stop doing things when you retire and if the Good Lord spares me I'll keep going as long as I can."
Nick said he appreciates having someone he can rely on available at short notice.
"It's probably disrespectful to call an 87-year-old a gopher, but that's basically what he is prepared to be, and it's good to have someone who can pop out for a dozen lemons or some other fruit when we find we need them," he said.
Gerald's dedication to duty is to be rewarded with a special award at the forthcoming Llangollen Food Festival, to be held this year on October 18 and 19.
David Green, whose company Xuberance Events organises the event, said: "It's remarkable Gerald still retains such youthful enthusiasm at the ripe old age of 87. He is an example to us all."
Gerald is set to receive his award from celebrity cake maker Mich Turner.
By Suzanne Roberts