A TRACTOR driver from the outskirts of Whitchurch has celebrated his 60th year of working on the road.

Dick Tinsley, 75, has worked as a tractor driver at Little Hall Farm in Bettisfield since 1960, and as a thank you, farm owners Linda and Roger Edwards contacted a local artist to highlight his career.

A celebration was held for Dick on Sunday, January 19, exactly 60 years to the day that he started the job as a 15-year-old.

Linda, who describes the 75-year-old as a 'supremo', said it was nice to highlight Dick's efforts over the last six decades.

"Sometimes it is really nice to celebrate something truly special and this happened to us last weekend," said Linda.

"Dick, our tractor driver supremo, celebrated 60 years working on our farm. At the age of 15 he began his new job on January 19, 1960.

"Now 75, he would say we all have had quite a journey.

"I believe he would say his best times were midway, 30 years into the job, when farms were not under so much pressure, as they are today.

"Gill Butterworth, who lives only two miles away and has only recently started to paint, with only a week’s notice, painted our gift to Dick."