A FORMER "pony boy" who shovelled dirt to help build the London Underground has become one of Britain's richest men.
Ray O'Rourke now sits on a fortune of £350million yet has told of his humble start earning money hauling carts through Tube tunnels.
The filthy-ridden toil he recalls helping create the capital's Victoria Line is a far cry from the construction empire he now runs.
His career started as a so-called "pony boy" back in 1966 pulling carts for fellow workers on what's now one of London's most-used routes.
He and brother Des branched out alone 11 years later, setting up a concrete sub-contracting firm which first won a deal worth £2,300.
He has remembered how their first office was a utility room linking a kitchen and a garage.
Read More On Business
Wilko beauty brand loved by shoppers on the brink of administration
Britain’s property sector woes deepen as huge firm warns of drop in profits
When making deals over the phone he would attempt to explain away the noise of the family washing machine as a JCB instead.
Swift success saw R O'Rourke & Son not only expand into engineering but also buy the construction arm of John Laing plc for £1 in 2001.
The 76-year-old now remains an industry leader as Laing O'Rourke chief executive – and last year put off plans for retirement, though son Cathal did become chief operating officer this March.
This year's Sunday Times Rich List valued him at £350million.
Most read in Money
How to avoid being ripped off by fake websites as Wilko launches 30% off toys sale
Choc fans are going wild for fave Cadbury sweets back on shelves for Christmas
I’m converting parents’ garden shed into a £450k home – it only cost me £25k
Major coffee chain with over 2,000 branches shutting shop following closures
The firm's have included London 2012 Olympics venues, a Northern Line Tube extension and Premier League football club Everton's new £500million, 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The company has also worked on Heathrow airport's Terminal 5, hospitals, hotels, schools and Canary Wharf skyscrapers.
Their global operations include developments in Australia, Canada, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Mr O'Rourke was born and grew up in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland before moving to England.
But he has told the Irish Independent: "We shouldn't be too hard on ourselves in Ireland, because relatively speaking it's a small country.
"The horsepower in any country comes from its people – that's the engine room, it's our brainpower.
"I think we punch well above our weight in the world and it's something we should be proud of."
After living on the outskirts of London both he and his brother, as well as their families, later moved to the Channel Island of Jersey.
He told an interviewer how they "like the lifestyle there" and yet without being "so far from Ireland or Britain".
Read More on The Sun
I found the best leisure centre for kids in London – with slides and soft play
Abbie Holborn reveals ‘real hair’ as she admits stress of trolls made her go BALD
He also insisted the move was not "because of tax", insisting: "If I have to pay more tax at some point, I will pay what's due."
And he says he pays little heed to his Rich List rankings, describing money as "a disease if you start looking at it like that".
Source: Read Full Article