The 98-year-old, the world’s most loyal employee, John Burns passed away in his sleep last month, shortly after celebrating his birthday. “The lived for his job and he was often seen running for the bus on morning”, said nurse-in-law Nancy Burns. He spoke of retiring weeks before his death, but he failed to do so.
84 years of work for the same company
John Burns a rejoint TC Young Wilson countries (then called Laird & Wilson Terris), in Edinburgh, at the age of 14 in 1936, having passed an English and Mathematics test, and has always worked for this company. This man, who always hand delivered legal documents, bound in ribbon, around the Court of Session, held various positions including that of office messenger, cashier and legal messenger.
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Guinness world record missed
The record for the longest career in the same company is held by Walter Orthmann from Brazil at 81 years and 85 days and not by John. The reason ? John’s continuous service was interrupted during WWII world because he was serving his country and severed his continued employment.
An incredible man!
«Papa found the funny side in everything and when life deteriorated he would shrug his shoulders and say: your must continue. John’s other big passion was soccer, and he saw his beloved Hibernian finally lifting the Scottish Cup for the first time in his life in 2016. He was ecstatic. It was after he said he would never live for the see”, confided his son David, 59.
A father of two and a grandfather of five, John was heartbroken when his wife Catherine died of motor neuron disease 12 years ago. He traveled 20 miles from the West Highland Way to raise funds for research.
«John has been an inspiration to all who have met him in his 84 years of dedicated service. Maybe he’s not here to stand against the commotion anymore, he can get his well-deserved, posthumous recognition for the world’s oldest employee.Said son patron, Grant Knight, partner of TC Young.
With Daily Record
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