AN Islander who worked past the age of 80 and never took a holiday turned 100 on Saturday.

Walter Marett celebrated his birthday at the Red Rose in Trinity surrounded by his family, including his two children, Carol and Tony, his five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The restaurant holds sentimental value for Mr Marett as it was once the place for an anniversary celebration with his late wife Elsie Florence Marett (née Rousseau).

It was also the spot he often frequented on his route as a delivery driver for Randalls Brewery, where he worked for 31 years. ‘I worked with very good people my whole life and never had bother – I’m now the only one left from everyone who I worked with at Randalls,’ he said.

Mr Marett grew up in St Lawrence and went to the parish school, leaving at the age of 14 to work on Daniel Le Cornu’s farm, driving horses and ploughing fields. ‘I enjoyed it very much but one year we had a bad season and my boss found me another job for the winter, so I left when I was 17 to work for Wally Hendry at Ronez.’

Mr Marett went on to work for Dorey Coal Merchants for 20 years before moving on to Randalls.
But leaving at the age of 72 in 1980 didn’t stop him from working, as he went in to gardening – a passion he still indulges in today from his home in Clos Gosset, St Saviour.

As well as gardening, Mr Marett has enjoyed collecting coins and stamps and has many first-day covers. He is also a keen Manchester United fan and watched the club in Jersey in 1971 when the team, including the likes of George Best and Bobby Charlton, blessed the pitch at Springfield with their skill and style. But having worked for the majority of his life, it comes as no surprise when asked what is his secret to long life that Mr Marett’s answer is ‘hard work’.

And despite all that work, Mr Marett says that he has never taken a holiday. ‘If I had two weeks off I would go and work somewhere else for a fortnight. I never stopped working because it kept my mind occupied and I never wanted to be in debt. ‘The only times I left Jersey were to go to the Muratti in Guernsey and I also went to a London hospital once with my wife – I’ve never been one to travel.’