A 75-year-old glass merchant celebrating 60 years in the glazing business says he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

Derek Royden, of Maidstone Road, Rainham, has worked at Spooner’s Glass in Gillingham Road, Gillingham, since April 5, 1964, when he was 15.

The self-confessed workaholic originally wanted to be a bricklayer but when he didn’t get the job he was after, he met with Ron Spooner who offered him three months’ work at Spooner’s Glass.

“I never imagined I’d still be working here 60 years later,” said Mr Royden.

Mr Spooner, who started the business in 1960, died 40 years ago. The business was taken over by his son, John Spooner, who ran it up until he retired in 2013.

Mr Royden, who was made director after 25 years with the company, now works with his son Alan who has been there for 20 years, sub-contractors Roy Penman and Robert Devine, and account manager Sheila Carter, who has also been with the company for 50 years.

The 75-year-old works five-and-a-half days a week and rarely takes time off but says his wife “never moans about me coming to work”.

“My wife knows I don’t really want to pack up work and she’s quite happy I go out every morning,” he added.

The devoted director, who only took four days holiday last year and none the year before, said: “I love the job and I just love coming here, I love doing what I do, I like talking to people.

“What I’m doing today is a lot of what I was doing back in 1964 - cutting glass, cutting mirrors and glazing windows.

“I just like getting out of bed and coming to work; it’s just part of my life but every day is different.”

Mr Royden gets up at 5.20am from Monday to Saturday, takes his dog for a walk and then gets to the shop each day by 7.20am.

Come rain or shine, Mr Royden has been known by his family to walk through snow for over an hour to get to work and keep the shop open.

The long-standing glass company serves customers at Chatham Historic Dockyard, carries out regular work for Rochester Cathedral, and has supplied glass for small jobs across the globe in Japan, America, Indonesia and the Falkland Islands.

“It’s quite an achievement that the glass has gone to different countries,” he added.

The glass cutter says he has never had a filling and takes no medication and believes working keeps him fit and healthy.

Mr Royden is married to Paula, and the pair have two children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren with one on the way.

The company, which has survived through several recessions, is open every day from Monday to Friday and every Saturday morning.