Jack Rogers proved you’re never too old for a career change when he joined the Lincolnshire Echo as a columnist – at the age of 103.

The former shoemaker kept readers enthralled with stories of Queen Victoria, the First World War and the Depression.

By the time he retired, in October 1998, he had completed 75 weekly columns and was officially dubbed the world’s oldest columnist.

Mr Rogers was back in the headlines this week when the Echo reported on his 106th birthday celebrations.

Following a fall before Christmas, Mr Rogers has been in Lincoln County Hospital, but he was back at the city residential home where he lives for a celebration roast lamb birthday dinner.

A second party followed on the hospital ward when he returned.

Mr Rogers told Echo reporter Jacquie Pryce: “I don’t know how I’ve managed to get this far. I must have dodged all the right obstacles. As for the future, I had better just take one day at a time.”

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