Stewart worked at firm for 63 years

He started there as a boy of 14 after leaving Upper Falls public elementary school and became their best known lorry driver, delivering supplies to building sites all over Ireland.

Even when he reached the statuary retirement age of 65 Stewarty who lived in Suffolk explained to company director Donal McQuillan that he was in glowing good health and would stay at his wheel.

When Mr McCollam, who was born in Colin Glen Road, next door to the concrete firm, did eventually decide to put his feet up six days before his 77th birthday his retirement lasted only two weeks before he passed away.

“My dad simply loved to be working and he did so all his life,” says his married daughter Deborah Irvine. “He inherited the work ethic from his late father Jack who was an employee at Colinwell too for more than 30 years.

“We are trying to establish if 63 years is any kind of record for labour with one firm and we are certain that he rarely missed a day off sick.”

Stewarty is survived by Betty his wife of 52 years, son Scott, daughter Deborah and grandchildren Scott Irvine 9 and Amy McCollam 14.

He was buried at Blaris Cemetery in Lisburn after a service at the graveside conducted by the Rev Mark Reid of St John’s Parish Church on the Upper Falls in Belfast.

Work colleague at Colinwell Concrete David Shanks says: “Stewarty was a lovely man and it is a shame that he didn’t get longer to enjoy his retirement.”