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World record for regional daily paper girl, 81

An 81-year-old has been recognised as the oldest paper girl in the world after delivering a regional daily to village residents six days a week in all weathers.

Joyce Pugh, pictured below, has been delivering the Shropshire Star to fellow residents of the village of White Grit for the last 40 years after taking on the paper round from her children.

She has now been declared as the oldest paper girl in the world and will feature in the 2013 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

Joyce normally cycles the route and has covered more than 10,000 miles during her time on the paper round.

She took over the round from her children Beryl and Patrick, who carried it out when they were schoolchildren, and has continued ever since.

Before her retirement, Joyce delivered the paper each evening after spending the day working in the canteen of a local factory.

She was nominated for the record by her family who wanted to surprise her with entry to the record book.

Joyce told the Star: “I knew there was something going on, but I didn’t know for certain what it was.

“My granddaughter was up and wanted to take photographs of me on the bike. I said ‘what do you want a photograph of me for?’ Then my daughter wanted my birth certificate. I said ‘what’s going on?’

“They said ‘you might find yourself in the Guinness Book of World Records’.”

Her place in the record books was confirmed last week with a phonecall from the publishing team.

Joyce said: “They just asked me how far I went and how I delivered them. I deliver on a push bike and if it is too rough, sometimes I walk.”

Anne-Lise Rouse, for Guinness World Records, said: “I can confirm that Joyce appears in the Guinness World Records 2013 and her title is the oldest newspaper delivery person – female.”

4 comments

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  • September 19, 2012 at 4:24 pm
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    Let’s hope the Shropshire Star gave Joyce a fitting send off after all her hard work and loyalty. Hope it was a big expensive gift.

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  • September 20, 2012 at 9:21 am
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    I think the report means retirement from the factory canteen. Doesn’t say she’s given up the round. We still need subs :-)

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  • September 21, 2012 at 9:24 am
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    Not a very good picture of Joyce. I would have sent the photographer back to do it again.

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  • September 21, 2012 at 10:13 am
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    She’s looking at the camera and on a slight slant – can’t believe it was used :-)

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