Invaluable Peter Drane clocks off for the last time after 65 years at Newcastle

Newcastle has bid farewell to Peter Drane, who has been working at the course for longer than Queen Victoria was on the throne.

His reign came to an end on Saturday and his departure was marked with a presentation at the end of his final day's work at a track where he was first employed in 1954.

Drane, 78, marks out the pitches in the betting ring and he recalled: "I was 14 years old when I first worked here.

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"My dad used to be the bookmakers' valet, he brought the chalk and the water. When I was 14 I got into the act and I was floorman for his brother, a bookmaker."

Drane, who was also a painter and decorator on the side, added: "It was a very different place when I first started but I've really enjoyed it. I'm a born-and-bred Geordie and I have some great memories of the racing here, especially Plate days."

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Newcastle executive director David Williamson paid tribute to Drane and his unflagging eagerness to come to work.

"Peter was always here as early as me," he said. "He has done an invaluable job – we could have 92 or 93 bookmakers here on Plate day."

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