Pierre Jean "Buster" Martin

Pierre Jean "Buster" Martin (1 September 1906 – 12 April 2011) claimed to be the United Kingdom's oldest employee, stating that he was born in 1906. Until his death, Martin worked for Pimlico Plumbers, a well-known plumbing company in southeast London as a van cleaner, and notably refused to take a day off on the day he celebrated what he claimed was his 100th birthday. On 22 February 2007, while walking to a bus stop from a local pub, Martin was attacked by three youths from behind. Their assault sent him "crashing to the floor", but he managed to defend himself; he says he "hit one in the groin and kicked another one". The youths ran off; Martin staggered to King's College Hospital, where he was kept in overnight. He reported for work the next morning, but his bosses refused to let him work. During the 2008 London Marathon he walked the 26 mile (42 km) course in approximately 10 hours. He used to smoke and drink beer until his death in 2011.