More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
One of Britain’s oldest paperboys has postponed his retirement after being sent an electric bike to help him on his morning rounds in Headcorn.
George Bailey, who celebrated his 80th birthday last month, gets up at 6am each morning and cycles from his home in Knaves Acre, the quarter of a mile to Oldfields newsagents in the High Street before delivering papers to his fellow villagers.
Mr Bailey, who has been in the job for 16 years, had been considering hanging up his paperboy sack and retiring from the 2.5-mile loop but now he has a new e-bike, the octogenarian says it has given him a 'new lease of life'.
After hearing about Mr Bailey's milestone birthday, British cycling companies Raleigh and Evans Cycles offered him a new Raleigh Motus Crossbar E-Bike, which will give him up to 250% of his pedal power, and speeds of up to 15.5mph.
When asked about what this meant to him, Mr Bailey said: “I’m truly thrilled with my new bike.
“After celebrating my 80th birthday I was seriously considering whether it was time to now ‘hang up my boots’ and retire from the paper round.
“Knowing I can now continue doing what I love, with a little help from modern technology, is fantastic, especially on a Raleigh, a brand I’ve always admired growing up.
“I might even still be doing this when I’m 90.”
The trip usually takes Mr Bailey an hour each morning and he currently delivers 31 papers each day, including on the weekends.
He has lived in the village with his wife Enid for 50 years and he claims she doesn't mind his getting up so early.
David Greenwood, from Evans Cycles, said: “Modern e-bikes open up so many new opportunities for people of all ages.
“Offering a little electrical assistance when needed, they increase enjoyment and ultimately encourage riders to ride more often.
“We recognised what the daily routine of riding meant to George and so were more than happy to help him continue to enjoy the ride.”
Michelle Jakeway, from Raleigh, added: “When we heard George’s story, we felt compelled to give him a little boost.”
When he was 11-years-old, Mr Bailey picked up a paper round like many other boys his age.
But his return to the route as a pensioner puts him in rarefied company as certainly one of the oldest paperboys in the country.
Mr Bailey’s varied life has seen him work as a stockbroker, at manufacturer Unigate for nearly 10 years and on a local golf course.
His birthday was made even more special as he was given the coronavirus jab just days before.
