A GREENOCK man found his first pay packet still full 62 years after earning it — as his mum held her promise to keep it safe.

Pensioner Michael Doherty was sorting out his mum Margaret’s belongings when he stumbled across a brown envelope.

Inside it was the money — all two pounds 15 shillings and ninepence of it — which he received as an apprentice builder with Robert Kirkwood back in 1955.

After bringing it to the family’s home in Ann Street his mum Margaret — who is now 104-years-old and lives in Alt-na-Craig nursing home — told him he would get it back one day.

Michael, aged 77, said: “At the end of the week my workmates asked if I was going to buy them a pint.

“But I took my wages straight home and gave it all to my mum.

“I couldn’t believe it when I found the envelope.

“I was looking for something and I found it in amongst her stuff.

“She told me she would keep it for me and that I would get it all back one day.

“It was a lot of money for a young boy then.”

Michael was 15 years old when he began serving his time with family firm Kirkwood under old boss Jimmy Hill.

He grew up in Ann Street with his mum Margaret, dad Michael and his sisters Evelyn and Veronica.

Michael, of Regent Court, said: “I left St Mary’s School in the afternoon and walked straight down the road into a job.

“It is changed days and I wouldn’t like to be starting off in the trade now.

After his apprenticeship Michael, a trained stonemason, spent the rest of his working life in the building trade.

He learned a great work ethic from his dad, who worked in the ropeworks and mum, who was a cleaner.

Michael visits him mum every day in her care home and the family had a big party last year to celebrate her 104th birthday, with family flying in from America for it.

Michael said: “My mum is just an incredible woman.

“She is doing great and reckons she is here for a while longer.”