An 89-year-old Veteran living in South Devon, England placed an ad in his local paper asking for community members to provide him with light gardening work, cleaning, DIY housework, and “anything” in order to save him from dying of boredom. His ad read:
Senior citizen, 89, seeks employment in Paignton area. 20hrs+ per week. Still able to clean, light gardening, DIY and anything. I have references. Old soldier, airborne forces. Save me from dying of boredom!
The advertisement in the Herald Express went viral after being posted online. He received hundreds of replies and has even been offered two jobs from local businesses; one at a supermarket and another at a local café.
Bartley served in the British Air Force as a wireless operator between 1946 and 1948. He re-enlisted in the army nine years later, serving under Royal Electrical Engineers in France and Germany. After leaving the military he lived happily with his wife, Cassandra, until her death two years ago. He has no children and rarely has contact from surviving family members.
He states that his phone has been ringing off the hook since the advertisement went viral. He is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame and hopes to begin working soon. He told reporters that, along with finding him a job, the post has reconnected him with old friends and even persuaded his cleaning lady to ask him for his autograph during her weekly visit.
[revad2]
