A MAN believed to be the oldest train guard in the country has celebrated his 90th birthday.

Ken Clay has volunteered at the Moors Valley Railway for more than 20 years and has no plans to retire any time soon.

The former RAF air traffic controller, who lives in Ferndown, credits his hobby of making model fairground rides for keeping his mind sharp and continues to get into work each day at 9am to run the trains – rain or shine.

“When I came to the park for the first time and saw the train I just fell in love with it,” he added.

“My father worked on the railway all his life and I did three years with the British Transport Police so I have always felt very at home.

“I started by doing some bits and pieces with the garden and then moved onto the train.

“I love it and enjoy it as much now as I did all those years ago.”

Ken had just finished working as a meter reader for the electricity board when he began volunteering at the country park and said he has not looked back since.

“It has changed so much over the years,” added Ken.

“But I feel very fit and certainly don’t feel 90.

“It can be a hectic job and quite physical. I enjoy the camaraderie and I never get tired of meeting different people each day – and often they come back years later and still remember me.

“Hopefully I’ll still be here for quite some years yet.”

Ken’s colleagues presented him with an engraved pocket watch to mark his birthday and engineer Andy Webb said he is somebody all the staff and volunteers look up to.

“He passes on his experience to all of us,” he added.

“He has become part of the furniture – he enjoys having a laugh, but he also takes the job seriously and is always punctual.”