Former X43 bus driver Jeff on top of the world as he climbs Pendle Hill on his 80th birthday

But that certainly did not stop him from feeling on top of the world as he climbed Pendle Hill on the day he turned 80.

Proud of her dad's achievement, Jeff's middle daughter Wendy said: "He set off from Barley at 6.30am and it took him a while as he doesn't walk as quick as he used to, and this is after he had a leaky heart valve repair a few years ago.

"I guess you don't see many octogenarians at the top so the whole family is so proud of dad for doing this and for keeping his spirits up through these difficult times."

An Andre Rieu fan, Wendy and her two sisters, Susan and Judy, had arranged for Jeff and their mum, Lois, to see him in concert in London. But the show was cancelled until 2021 due to the pandemic and Judy's plans to come to the UK from her home in Canada for her dad's special birthday were also wiped out.

So Jeff and Lois, who have been married for 58 years, indulged their passion for caravanning by visiting some of their favourite parts of the country, including Cockermouth in the Lake District and Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales.

And 2021 is another landmark as it marks their 50th year as caravanners.

Wendy added: "Growing up we were always out with my parents going up Pendle hill and the mountains in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. And we spent many weekends away in the caravan."

Nelson man Jeff spent 20 years working at the former Jimmy Nelson's milll in the town but after it closed he had to look for other work and didn't find anything suited him until he his found his niche driving the X43 bus to Manchester, a job he loved.

Jeff is a keen photographer and a member of Nelson Camera Club. He also enjoys ballroom dancing and organises a number of dances in Nelson and also at St Cuthbert's Church in Burnley.

While he may not be Strictly standard yet, Jeff is definitely the best when it comes to organising and selecting the music for the popular events.

Wendy said: "The dances are a really good social event and my dad loves organising the music for them and he always makes sure there is something new and different for everyone to dance to."