It is said that if you choose a job that you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. I’m not saying that Charlie Richardson has never worked a day in his life, but he certainly seems to have a job that he loves. This is probably the reason that at the age of 87, he is still working and has no intention of retiring. 

I first heard of Charlie when I posted a message on LinkedIn where I mentioned the subject of retirement. Charlie’s son David commented on my post that he couldn’t retire before his dad, who was still working at 87. That, of course, impressed me and I asked if I could meet Charlie. David made the arrangements for us to meet on a video call, with Charlie’s grandson, Zac, providing technical support. 

I asked Charlie to tell me about his work. “Well, I started on the greengrocery business when I was a kid, more or less, but didn’t start full time till I was about 23. I’ve got regular customers that I’ve known for years. I intend to carry on doing it as long as I can. Whilst I can do it, I’m not going to retire. I’m very fortunate that I only live probably 100 yards from where I work.” 

“I’ve got a van that I use a couple of times a week to go to the market. When I go, I tend to leave home about 1am in the morning and get back to home where the stall is by about 5am. Then I lay on the settee and then I’ll have some breakfast, and then creep out to the stall about 7.30am. I’m there then till probably 3.30pm. On Saturday my brother comes and helps me. I don’t do it for financial reward now. If I wasn’t doing this, I don’t think I’d last five minutes because all I’d be doing is laying on a settee, especially in the winter time. You don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve had a good life, and I tend to carry on having a good life.”  

I am always interested to hear what makes it on to people’s bucket lists. I wondered if Charlie had a bucket list and what was on it. “I’ve done 1 or 2 of them. I‘ve always wanted to go to Berlin, and that’s something I hope to do this year. I always wanted to go on a cruise, and I went last year for a week, and it was very interesting. We flew to Spain, then we got on the boat there and it went around the Mediterranean. It was about a week. This was last year in October. As I’ve got older, I’ve started being interested in geography.” 

I commented on how technology seemed to be making the world a smaller place. 

Charlie responded “Yes. All this technology. I find it’s very useful if you’re looking for something, you can type it in and it will give you the answer. But it’s a different world today. And when I was young, there wasn’t any technology about like there is today. And this wouldn’t be happening [meaning our video call]. You can order something and it’ll be delivered tomorrow. It’s unfortunate that it’s not done the high streets any good, and it does make one lazy.” 

One of the topics that TurningSixty will be exploring at length is that of retirement. I knew that Charlie had no intention of retiring and I said that I had the impression that it is something that people often regret if they don’t plan it well. Charlie said “I think unless you’ve got an activity like golf or something like that, which you can do as an older person, you can’t really do much athletic stuff, can you? I just enjoy my life. I meet lots of people. It’s quite an eye opener. It’s a different world, though, here in North London to what it was years ago.” 

I asked if people have got less time to chat on the stall now, or if people are in more of a rush to get away when they’ve bought their veg. “No. It’s like an old boys meeting round here. I get a lot of people come up and they’re interested.”  

I asked Charlie to tell me a bit about his younger days, “I had a wonderful education, that’s all I can say. I was at the local school. My background didn’t really open any doors to anything. I always wanted to be an architect but for me to become an architect was unbelievable. But I went to the secondary technical school. Did three years, which I think was a marvellous education. You did so many weeks in each trade plumbing, plastering, bricklaying and all that. At the end of your first year, you chose what you wanted to do. Then the idea was that you do that for two years practical and are also being educated. Then you go into the building trade.” 

“During this I was still working on the stall. Then I got a job in a drawing office as a draughtsman, which is where I met my wife. I was there for about six years, and I was given an ultimatum to pack up – I used to call that my proper job – and go on the stall full time because they couldn’t cope. But now I’m quite pleased with what I’ve had.” 

I told Charlie that I would be asking the people I interview about their thoughts about turning 60 and life after 60. I asked for his thoughts. “Where the time’s gone, I don’t know. Up to 60 I would say, time passed slowly. Then all of a sudden I became 65 and got the Government pension. But then where the last 20 odd years have gone, it’s just unbelievable. Time’s going so fast. It’s not a very nice subject, but if and when I depart this world, I hope it’s quick. I don’t want to be a burden to anybody. I don’t think I’m a burden now. I just want to carry on as I am. I’m very grateful for the people that help me.” 

I asked if Charlie had any advice he would have given to his younger self. “Well, the only advice is to enjoy life as much as you can. Don’t get into any trouble. That’s the only thing. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything wrong or anything like that. Also I’ve been married 63 years now, and we still keep going. I’ve not overindulged on drink, except maybe every now and again. My wife cooks for me every day and basically it’s all good food, you know. We have a little bit of takeaway now and again, but not a lot of it now.” 

“I don’t really get upset too often, there’s always another day. And take people as they as you find them. Some of them can be awkward, but you’ve got to be better than them. Life’s too short.”  

I enjoyed speaking with Charlie and getting his perspective on work and life after sixty. I have had an update on his bucket list since our conversation – Zac and David have booked a trip with him to Berlin in May!  

There seems to be a lot of pressure on people these days to retire early, or as soon as they can. I really don’t think that is for everyone. I don’t know if I will be fortunate enough to work into my eighties, but I’d like to give it a go. Charlie has set a high bar!