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Orkney sheep farmer with 20 jobs dubbed Britain's hardest-working man | Orkney sheep farmer with 20 jobs dubbed Britain's hardest-working man |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Orkney sheep farmer who holds down a total of 20 jobs has been dubbed Britain's hardest-working man. | An Orkney sheep farmer who holds down a total of 20 jobs has been dubbed Britain's hardest-working man. |
Billy Muir's roles include firefighter, rubbish collector, lighthouse keeper and airport worker. | Billy Muir's roles include firefighter, rubbish collector, lighthouse keeper and airport worker. |
The 67-year-old, from North Ronaldsay, who also works as an electrician, builder and tour guide, was honoured with a Pride of Britain award. | |
His volunteering efforts were recognised at the ceremony in London on Monday. | |
Mr Muir was hailed by the awards organisers as Britain's hardest-working man as he picked up a Community Partner award. | |
The father-of-two said he had no plans to retire as he enjoyed working among the island's 50-strong community so much. | |
'It makes me happy' | 'It makes me happy' |
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I've been the lighthouse keeper at the North Ronaldsay lighthouse for some 47 years. | He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I've been the lighthouse keeper at the North Ronaldsay lighthouse for some 47 years. |
"I've been a firemen on the island for the Scottish Fire and Rescue team for 33 years, and a fireman at North Ronaldsay airfield for about 11 years. | "I've been a firemen on the island for the Scottish Fire and Rescue team for 33 years, and a fireman at North Ronaldsay airfield for about 11 years. |
"And I've been a contractor on the island for most of my working lifetime." | "And I've been a contractor on the island for most of my working lifetime." |
Mr Muir added: "I've spent most of my life in the lighthouse service and that means a lot to me. | Mr Muir added: "I've spent most of my life in the lighthouse service and that means a lot to me. |
"It's something you dedicate yourself to doing as long as you're able to. There is no retiring age now and that's the reason I've clocked up so many years. | "It's something you dedicate yourself to doing as long as you're able to. There is no retiring age now and that's the reason I've clocked up so many years. |
"It's made me very happy, and it keeps me fit. As long as I keep fit and healthy I've got no plans to retire." | "It's made me very happy, and it keeps me fit. As long as I keep fit and healthy I've got no plans to retire." |
Mr Muir says his volunteering work, including that as a retained firefighter, is borne out of necessity on such a small island. | Mr Muir says his volunteering work, including that as a retained firefighter, is borne out of necessity on such a small island. |
Willing hand | Willing hand |
He said: "If you're a willing hand you get lumbered with the job. | He said: "If you're a willing hand you get lumbered with the job. |
"But we're a very close-knit community and we rely on each other all the time to keep the island going. The sheep are a major part of that because it takes the whole island to round them up. | "But we're a very close-knit community and we rely on each other all the time to keep the island going. The sheep are a major part of that because it takes the whole island to round them up. |
"It's not an easy task to round up 2,500 sheep on a shoreline. We're like one big family." | "It's not an easy task to round up 2,500 sheep on a shoreline. We're like one big family." |
Mr Muir's wife Isobel, 76, said: "He does a lot of work for the community when I would like him to be doing more work around here." | Mr Muir's wife Isobel, 76, said: "He does a lot of work for the community when I would like him to be doing more work around here." |
But she added: "It's worth it. I've often wondered where the island would be if he didn't do all those jobs. | But she added: "It's worth it. I've often wondered where the island would be if he didn't do all those jobs. |
"He contributes so much to everything that goes on. It's an ageing population and he's one of the people that's still strong and fit enough to do all this work." | "He contributes so much to everything that goes on. It's an ageing population and he's one of the people that's still strong and fit enough to do all this work." |
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