Starting work in the textile mills at age 14, Edwin Eastham carried on working for the mills most of his life- and retired at 65 years old.
He celebrates his landmark birthday today ( 26 September), and tomorrow he will enjoy a party at Westhoughton Cricket Club.
Mr Eastham, striking a warm character, has worked as an overlooker in the mills mainly, where he acted as a supervisor and fixed the looms.
(Edwin Eastham )
He said: “I started work at the outbreak of the war, I preferred to go to work and make some money than be in school.”
In fact, the mills he has worked at have always been local, such as working in Heywood, Bury, and Turton.
He has also lived in Hindley.
(David Eastam is one of Edwin Eastham’s two sons, who he is proud of)
During the years at the mills, he was having a drink in a pub near Westhoughton’s railway station when he stumbled upon a singer.
The singer, Ruth, became happily married to Mr Eastham for 67 years.
She passed away in March 2023.
Now, he dedicates his time to the garden.
Many happy memories were spent in the garden with his wife, growing fruit, vegetables, and flowers in their retirement.
The gardening enthusiast added: “I love my garden but now I can’t do it enough, this is the first year I’ve not grown tomatoes.
“We play dominos in the greenhouse now, and I read the odd novel.”
He uses a smartphone and a tablet so he can stay in touch with his family and two sons, David and Kevin.
He is still very independent.
(A collage of pictures with Ruth and Mr Eastham’s family)
Talking about how he stays healthy, Mr Eastham said: “I wish I knew, but I eat plenty of fresh fruit and I don’t overindulge. Just stop before you keep shoving it down.”
During the Second World War, he could not enlist due to a burst eardrum after apparently a primary school teacher hit him across the head.
(Mr Eastham, his son and niece playing Dominoes in his greenhouse. Cred: David Eastham)
He said: “I was in the first class after the infants, and I was daydreaming and doodling.
“She gave me such a smack across the ear, I would have finished my training on D-day, so looking back it could have been a blessing.”
In one of the war’s air raids, Mr. Eastham and his family was hit under a piece of tin in the back of their house, which sits just across from where he lives now.
The calm, kind man missed the way people were in the past, he said he remembers how respectful people were and wants more people to be that way.
His son, David said: “He has been a working man all his life, and that’s one of the reasons he has lived the life he has because he has strong work ethic.
“He is very nice, gentle, polite, and charming man.”
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