'I enjoy my job' - McDonald's worker, 91, praised

A 91-year-old man says he has no plans to stop working at a fast-food restaurant, where his dedication to customers has earned him widespread praise.

Eric Edwards from Coventry has been a part-time customer experience manager at the McDonald's at the city's Gallagher Retail Park for more than eight years.

"If it's something you're doing and you can still do it reasonably well, enjoy it and it keeps you going, why stop?" he said.

And customers agree. After one family left glowing feedback on social media, others added their own praise - and the post has since gone viral. "It has snowballed," Edwards added.

"I was sending my daughter a photo of what the family put on Facebook about me, and within five minutes, three people sent me the same thing," he said.

Edwards' work attracted attention after a family of five arrived at the restaurant on a busy day and experienced delays while staff dealt with drive-through orders.

In the post on the Spotted Coventry City, the unnamed mother wrote: "We just want to leave some lovely feedback regarding the elderly man who works there.

"He clears up the rubbish and just helps customers when needed.

"He took the time to chat to my children, get them some colouring and talk to us about his life. He is the most lovely man, and to be working at 91 years old is amazing."

Edwards, who has been widowed for 24 years, said he was delighted with the feedback.

"This family were sat by where I do a bit of my work, and it was busy, and I said to them, 'You might have a little wait for your food, as you can see how busy we are and the drive-through's packed.'"

He then fetched colouring crayons and drawing paper for the children before cleaning some trays.

Before the family left, he said that he had meant to ask them to fill out a customer feedback survey: "I thought, 'Oh, I should have asked them to do a survey'. But then, of course, I didn't need to as she's put me all over Facebook now."

Edwards said he still gets asked why he is still working, with some asking if he is lonely and needs the company or if he is staying on for the money.

His previous work has included at the GEC, Daimler Motors and Walsgrave Hospital.

But he said that he sees no reason to stop or slow down.

"I've done a parachute jump in Cuba, a hand-glide in Brazil and a climb up the Principality Tower in Cardiff with my daughter, and did the roof-edge walk and then did the zip line down.

"I just like doing the adrenaline things. Things that make your heart pound a bit. Things that give you a bit of excitement," he explained.

"It's not the moments you breathe that count but the moments that take your breath away."

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