ASK Bill Dowle why he never retired and he'll tell you it's because of all those girls – three daughters and six grand-daughters, all in a row.
"How ever could that happen to a man?" he joked as he prepared for his 80th birthday this Friday.
Although he lives mainly in Birmingham where he built his own insurance business after the Second World War, he spends most weekends in his beloved Forest, where he keeps a home in Newland.
His early years were spent in Milkwall where his mother ran the library from the front room. His father was a quarry foreman.
Bill went to Bells Grammar School, and on three nights a week he cycled to additional evening classes in business studies. He also played for the pre-war Ellwood team at outside left.
He wanted to be a professional player but his brother Cliff, who had played for Bristol, said it wasn't a good idea.
Cliff Dowle went on to be a Coleford councillor and a county councillor, also a JP, and was active in public life until his death in the 70s.
"I missed out on all that," said Bill, who joined R.E.M.E. in the war and was involved at Dunkirk and in the Middle East, mostly Egypt.
After the war he went to Birmingham where he set up his insurance consultancy. He still works five or six days a week.
"Retirement is not for me," he said. "I enjoy meeting people and that is what my business is about."
Life has not always been easy. Bill's wife, Kathleen, who died 14 years ago, suffered for many years from Multiple Sclerosis and the later stages were hard to cope with and distressing, he said.
His three daughters, one son (in Canada) and six grandchildren are planning a surprise birthday party on Friday. After that, it's back to work!