Laundryman ends 53-year navy stint

After ironing more than an estimated three million shirts and surviving a bomb attack, the British Royal Navy's longest serving Hong Kong laundryman plans to return home to retire.

Chick Shun-chui, 72, is heading to the SAR after a 53-year career in the navy, the Ministry of Defence announced this week.

Hong Kong-born Mr Chick escaped unharmed when HMS Argonaut was bombed and badly damaged during the Falklands war between Britain and Argentina 20 years ago.

He joined his first Royal Navy ship in 1948 and quickly developed the ability to iron up to 36 shirts an hour, serving on 20 ships and visiting 32 countries.

For the past 10 years, he has been working and sleeping in the cramped laundry room aboard HMS Norfolk, with the ironing board doubling as his bed.

Mr Chick returns to Hong Kong as an honoured British citizen, having been named a Member of the British Empire to reward his devotion to duty.