Bob Noble ploughs on to 102 (From Gazette & Herald)

Bob Noble celebrates his 102nd birthday

7:44am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

FRIENDS and family of a former brewery worker from Tadcaster will raise a glass today in celebration of his 102nd birthday.

Bob Noble, who was born in Malton and spent many years of his life in Tadcaster, will mark his birthday at Carenten House, a care-home in Selby, where he moved six weeks ago after being independent his whole life.

His son-in-law, Geoff Beal, said: “When he was 100 we had a big birthday bash for him and the old boy is still ploughing on.”

“He was born in the Malton area and worked on farms as a young man.

“He used to do ploughing with shire horses and he loved it. He used to do a week’s ploughing with the horse, no problem, and he still loves talking about it.”

Mr Beal said his father-in-law moved to Tadcaster and took a job as a boilerman at the Bass Brewery.

He also kept up his interest in horses throughout this time there. He said: “He used to look after horses for Riley Smith, who used to own John Smith’s, and he got into playing polo.

“Riley Smith had some stables down there and was known for his riding school.”

As well as horses, Mr Noble enjoyed playing cricket as a young man.

After moving from the brewery he took a job at Thorpe Arch Prison, again as a boilerman, where he worked into his early seventies.

Determined to keep active during retirement, Mr Noble was even known to cycle all the way from Tadcaster to Filey, where he owned a caravan.

He and his wife Kathleen had four children, Judy, Jean, Rosamond and Robert. He also has eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Mr Beal said: “He’s only been at the home in Selby for about six weeks. He was living in his own home right up until then.

“Last year he was still doing a bit of gardening.”