My life in paint

Jim Cook, Swindon

As a painter and decorator and how did you begin?

I finished my National Service in the winter of 1958 and jobs were scarce. My Uncle Ted worked for a local company called Building & Public Works Ltd and he helped to get me a job there. I went self-employed in 1972.

What's the best thing about the job?

It's nice not to be in one place too long. I've worked in lots of different towns and villages in the area. I also get a lot of satisfaction from improving a place. I can walk into a room with tatty plastering and old wallpaper and when I walk out it looks brand new. Redecorating an old house is my favourite work - I get a sense of achievement from that.

What's the worst thing about your job?

In the past, conditions on site were bad. The toilet facilities were primitive and it could be freezing cold. I've had to scrape the ice off windows before I could paint them.

To keep warm in the winter we used to knock holes in putty drums, fill them with coal and burn them in the fireplaces of the new houses - before the gratings were fitted of course. At least the company used to supply the coal!

What changes have you seen since you began?

There's been a great improvement in conditions on site - better toilets, heating and lighting make a big difference. Fillers and primers are much better than they were, so that makes it easier to do a decent job. And the introduction of rollers in the early 1960s was a huge leap forward - much better than using a 7" brush!

What's your favourite brand of paint and why?

You can't go wrong with Dulux Trade. It's a good quality paint, particularly the gloss.

You officially retired in 2002, so what do you do with your time?

I'm still working! I work part-time for an interior design firm called Madam Blunt, decorating rooms for their clients. The work's intermittent, which suits me. I still enjoy it and it keeps me fit!