After spending the last 50 years in the motor trade, Alistair Paisely found some aspects of the job easier to let go than others.
Judy Paisley said since her husband’s retirement three months ago, he had been like an alarm clock — stopping what he was doing at 10am, 12pm, 3pm, and 5pm and going for a break.
"It’s hard to quit that after 50 years," Mrs Paisley said.
Mr Paisley started his motor mechanic apprenticeship in 1970, at age 15, and worked in many workshops around Oamaru.
Almost 20 years ago, he switched to working as a diesel technician.
"For the last 18 years there was no lifting a gear box ... I was just standing at a bench," he said.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me."
This specialisation came about when he started working at J.E. Paisley & Co Ltd, a business started by his uncle in the 1960s.
"It must be in the blood."
Of his seven siblings, he was the only one "fool enough" to go into the motor trade.
Having been raised on a dairy farm, Mr Paisley assumed he would find his trade and go back to the farm.
"I wanted to play with spanners.
"There’s always something else to learn because the technology [has] changed that much over 50 years, it’s not funny."
During his career, he adapted to changing technology, as engines became more complicated.
He worked on Standard Vanguards, Citroens, Land Rovers and Triumphs until the 1980s when the industry hit a "depression".
People started buying Japanese imports, rather than new cars, and New Zealand motor trade companies did not have the ability to maintain them.
After a few years of "downturn", things picked up as the number of vehicles owned per household increased from one, to two or three.
The most recent spanner in the works for the industry was Covid-19, which caused massive delays in parts being produced out of Europe.
What kept him in the motor trade so long was the challenges it presented.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the trade; it’s a new experience every day."
In his retirement, his three motorbikes and 1975 Triumph 2500 would keep him busy, he said.
