Terry bows out in style

Engineer Terry Allen sat back in a limousine and enjoyed his final journey from work in style as he looked back with great fondness at 44 years service for a Black Country company.

It was a luxurious change from his usual hectic schedule, catching three buses to make the 20-mile trip from his home in Wombourne to Aldridge. In fact, Mr Allen has caught 59,400 buses and travelled a colossal 396,000 miles. He would leave his house at 6.45am, catching the 256 to Wolverhampton five minutes later, arriving at 7.10am.

From there, it was the 7.15am 529 service to Walsall, getting to Aldridge 35 minutes later. The final leg would involve a 20 minute wait for the 997, leaving at 8.10am and arriving at Barnes Lane, Aldridge at 8.25am.

The return journey was slightly less tortuous, taking one hour and 15 minutes, leaving Aldridge at 5.02pm, Walsall at 5.20pm and Wolverhampton at 6pm, getting him back home by 6.20pm.

In recognition of such dedication, the staff at Yale UK decided to send him home in style for the last time, hiring out a limousine for both himself and wife Janet.

Mr Allen was presented with £100 collected by work colleagues and given three bottles of vintage Glenfiddich malt whisky.

He was then whisked off in style to his home in Common Road, Wombourne, to begin his retirement.

"It was a lovely surprise," Mr Allen said: "I have spent all these years catching the bus to get to and from work so it was nice to go back for the final time in style. I have spent the last 44 years at Yale starting as a draughtsman and then engineer and I have enjoyed every minute of it. My work colleagues are fantastic and I will certainly miss them."

Mr Allen has three children, Ian, Laura and Timothy, and a two-year-old grandson Joshua. As well as spending time with Joshua during his retirement he will enjoy gardening. He is also a pigeon fancier and will continue to fulfill his role of secretary at The Greyhound Flying Club in Swindon.

But Mr Allen has been invited to go back to the company to work a couple of times a week if gets the urge.

He added: "I am certainly considering coming back to the company part time as I still love the job." Lin Holmes, internal operations manager, said: "Terry is irreplaceable. He has been a dedicated well-loved member of staff for 44 years."