Pierre Jean "Buster" Martin (1 September 1906/1913 – 12 April 2011) claimed to be the United Kingdom's oldest employee, stating that he was born in 1906.
[2] He also received coverage in the media for reportedly fending off an attack from a group of youths in 2007;[dubious – discuss][3] he was cited by the former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell as "living proof of why people should not be written off once they pass retirement age".
[4][5] Doubts have been raised about all of Martin's historical claims, including his age, which may have in truth been 97 at the time of his death, as well as his purported marriage and family.
[11] He served in World War II, leaving the Armed Forces in 1955 after reaching the rank of regimental sergeant major.
[5] His boss, Charlie Mullins, stated in an interview with a French TV station that they use Buster in all their publicity and managed to increase their business by 36% thanks to his popularity and the media interest.
[14] Through the intervention of celebrity publicist Max Clifford,[12] Martin joined The Zimmers, a band consisting of forty old age pensioners.
[20] London bookmakers William Hill refused to pay out £13,300 in alleged winnings for two bets which had been placed on Martin's marathon efforts and would have benefitted the Rhys Daniels Trust.
[21] The Los Angeles Times reported on 12 April 2008 that Martin "follows a diligent regimen of beer, cigarettes and red meat".