AFTER 67 years working on the Blenheim Palace estate in Woodstock, Ron Keay is still mowing strong.

Mr Keay, who lives on the estate, started working around the grounds when he left school and is now in his 80s.

For the past 40 years he has travelled around the palace in his Land Rover Series II, which he bought from the estate.

Estates manager Roy Cox said Mr Keay officially retired when he was in his sixties but still does some work around the palace grounds.

Mr Cox added that when the BBC show Top Gear visited the palace to shoot scenes about 10 years ago Mr Keay’s Land Rover out-performed presenter Jeremy Clarkson’s Range Rover.

Mr Keay said: “I have always loved my Land Rover, I’ve never had a problem with it.

“There’s no hill too steep or ditch too deep for her to get through and I’ve never got it stuck in all my years of driving around the Blenheim Palace estate.

“The newer ones don’t compare – when Jeremy Clarkson was here filming Top Gear in his Range Rover he couldn’t drive up a very steep hill in the Football Pitch field, whereas my Land Rover could.” Mr Cox added: “Ron is real character. It’s incredible to think that he has been here for 67 years.

“He has officially retired, but he is dedicated and still does some mowing for us from time to time.

“He liked the Land Rover so much that he bought it all those years ago and it’s still going.

“Last year Ron said to me that he had achieved his lifelong dream of making the park around the palace look like his front lawn at home.

“It’s a real passion for Ron and he still does some work for us on a part-time basis.”

During his time at the palace Mr Keay has worked for three different dukes.

He joined the estate staff the morning after leaving school and has worked in many different roles including as a gamekeeper, forester and farmer.