BARNSLEY’S oldest bowling club member turned 100 last week - and he says the secret to a long life is ‘wine, women and song’.
Bob Barkby turned 100 last Thursday in his Royston home - though he was born in a small Leicestershire village named Kirby Muxloe, a place famed for its castle which remains unfinished after Richard III was executed.
On Tuesday morning Bob was presented with gifts from the Mayor of Barnsley, Coun Caroline Makinson, at a Covid-safe event at the bowling club in Royston - where he still remains a member.
He told the Chronicle: “I moved to Barnsley after the war - before that I was on Leicester City’s books when I was about 15 or 16 but my first job was with Yorkshire Traction as a driver.
“I also brought the Volkswagen dealership into Barnsley in the late 60s when Mr Hayselden bought me out - I was able to retire in my 50s but I only lasted 12 months before I got fed up of doing nothing.
“I ended up purchasing a shop in Cudworth which sold and repaired household appliances - I had that until I retired in my 70s.
“I think the secret to a happy, long life is wine, women and song.”
