A PENSIONER has received an award from the Pope after learning that he could be the longest-serving altar boy in the world.

Peter Staley, 89, a former silverware craftsman, started serving at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Gloucester, in 1923, when he was 7.

Mr Staley, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, still serves at the church every day of the week. He has now received an apostolic blessing and a decorated scroll from the Pope for his service.

Mr Staley, who is single and whose brother John, 75, also serves at the church, was awarded a papal medal in 1975, again for long service.

He said that serving kept him going and he did not intend to give it up just yet. “All the years have gone by quite quickly, but I’ve never had a day away from serving. I really enjoy it — I’m from a family of altar boys,” he said.

“My father was an altar boy and so were all five of my brothers at the church here in Gloucester. There’s a lot of kneeling down involved but I can still do that without any problem — it keeps me fit.”

He said he was proud of his blessing from the Pope, adding: “It’s lovely to receive it from the Pope. I’m going to frame the scroll.”

The previous holder of the world record died in 1999. Tommy Kinsella, served at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Bray, Co Wicklow, for 81 years. But Mr Staley’s recent birthday takes him up to 82 years.A spokesman for The Guinness Book of Records said: “If we receive proof that Mr Staley has served for 82 years he would indeed be a record breaker.”

Mr Staley served in France, Belgium and Germany from 1943 to 1946 during the Second World War, the only time that he has been away from the church.

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