He had just turned 17 when he started as an apprentice at the same site with his Dad John and Uncle Steve and took over the business with his brother Michael in 1976 when their elders retired.
“Every day is different when you’re a motor mechanic and every day is a challenge,” he said.
“The engines still work the same, it’s the electronics that are so different and varied now.”
He says if he is not updating equipment or fixing cars, he is educating himself on developments in the industry.
“There have been many changes with more on the way,” he said.
He still enjoys seeing a lot of the customers he has had for years as well as their children and grandchildren but won’t be passing down the business to family as he has four daughters and six grandchildren and his nephew are pursuing different careers.
“My grandsons are too little to know if this would suit them and I can’t wait 15 years to find out but for now, I’m just taking it day by day and not focused on retirement too much,” he said.
“But you never know, I’ll probably just wake up one day and say, ‘it’s been great but that’s enough’.”
Daughter Katrina said: “We are all so proud of Dad’s work ethic, service to others and contributions to the Canterbury community; Happy 50th Anniversary.”
