Long-distance driver still enjoying behind the wheel at 84

Early retirement – or indeed any kind of retirement – isn’t on the horizon for 84-years’-young goods vehicle driver, Brian Morley. Brian, who works for recruitment agency Driver Hire Leeds West, loves his job and has no intention of hanging up his keys for the foreseeable future. “I’ve always loved trucks, buses and driving,” said Brian, who’s also Institute of Advanced Motorists accredited. “My father was a haulier in the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s and ’50s.

I spent much of my childhood and teenage years in and around trucks. “One of my earliest recollections was the winter of 1947, with my father changing a broken rear leaf spring on a Bedford at the roadside in thick snow and ice. A very hard life – it’s so much easier now.

Crash gearboxes in those days, no cab heaters… Now there’s power steering, electric parking brakes and automatic gearboxes. “Some of my favourite Driver Hire jobs have been with the TV and film companies.

I’ve worked with production crews on series like Victoria, Gentleman Jack and All Creatures Great & Small, always good fun. “But in the end, it all comes down to the people you meet in this line of work. I still enjoy it and I have some more miles in me yet.

In fact, with the next 12 months in mind, I’m busy prepping for my annual Driver CPC courses right now.” Brian has been with Driver Hire for the past 20 years. To mark the occasion, Tim and Fiona Hennah, owners of Driver Hire Leeds West, organised a splendid afternoon tea at a restaurant in Leeds.

“We’re so proud of Brian,” says Tim, “and we were delighted to be able to celebrate his achievements with him. We quickly discovered customers love Brian for his can-do approach and his easy charm. Over the years he’s driven everything from HGVs to vans, coaches and minibuses.

Thank you, Brian, for all that you’ve done for Driver Hire.”