A HARD-WORKING Evesham pensioner was honoured with a new key to his front door during a surprise party organised by his colleagues.
Alex Abbott, who works at Evesham Community Hospital was born in 1928 and has devoted 60 years of work to the NHS. During this time he has undertaken a variety of roles including a mortician, telephonist, hairdresser, theatre porter and gardener.
Prior to his work in the NHS Alex spent six years in the RAF and last Thursday the porter turned 90 with a day to remember.
When Alex started working for the NHS in 1958 – just 10 years after its creation – the average weekly wage was £9.25, the average house cost £2,064 and a pint of milk was just 3p.
In 2011 the hospital’s Abbott ward was named after him and the surprise party saw his colleagues, including the Trust’s Director of Nursing, Michelle Clarke, celebrate his birthday with him and thanked him for his continuing work and contribution to the NHS.
At 90 years of age Alex is the third oldest employee in the NHS with the two others being older than him by just a couple of months.
Alex officially retired 16 years ago but he still works around 14 hours a week at the hospital and even donates his time to patients on Christmas Day by visiting them whilst dressed up as Father Christmas.
As a special birthday present Gavin Griffiths, from local company Evesham Doors, kindly offered to supply and fit a new front door for Alex after the pensioner mentioned he was in desperate need of a new one.
Hospital matron Shirley Hodgetts, said: ‘We are so grateful to Alex for the work he does and we’re all in awe that he is still working at the age of 90. We’d like to wish him a very Happy Birthday.
“It’s a real testament to Alex that so many of his colleagues have wanted to celebrate his birthday and make it a special occasion for him.”
