Bill still on patrol at 93

Most 93-year-olds should be putting their feet up for a long-earned rest – but not Bill Webb who spends his days walking round checking parking tickets at Kidderminster’s Morrisons store.

And his job as a car park attendant is somewhat more humble than his grandson’s Paul Blackthorne’s line of work. 

Paul, aged 39, son of Mr Webb’s daughter Lesley, aged 60, is fast-becoming a household name with a role in the new NBC series Lipstick Jungle alongside American Brooke Shields.

Despite his age, as a car park attendant Mr Webb still works mainly out of doors, patrolling the car park, meeting customers and checking they have not run over time. He has now been transferred to patrol an even bigger car park at the new store in Green Street which opened yesterday. Mr Webb, has worked outdoors all of his life and despite his advancing years says the job is a pleasure, never a chore.

Mr Webb started his supermarket career in 1994 when he was approached at the Kidderminster store, which was then Safeway, and asked if he would like to take on the role of Father Christmas as part of the seasonal staff entertaining families. Later on he was told he was needed to help out in the car park – and has been there ever since.

He said: “I suppose it made sense to work again after my wife Jean died in 1994 aged 78. When they asked me to help out I said yes.

“I didn’t expect it to last as long as this.”