Alan?s hanging up his spanners

THERE'S a distinct twinkle in Alan Brewster's eyes along with a bit of a blush and a big grin when he says he has "very fond memories of my Mark II Zephyr ? but that's all I'm going to say".
Mr Brewster has been around cars all of his working life, and today retires as service manager after 41 years at Majestic Motors in Masterton.
In 1960, the young Alan was taken on for a five-year, 10,000-hour mechanics apprenticeship at Masterton Motors, where the 15 year-old's weekly wage was the princely sum of ?3 18 shillings and 6d which today would be the equivalent of about $8.
"An apprenticeship was pretty basic in those days but we were taught everything we needed to know."
In 1966 he joined Malmo Motors, where a year later he became a shareholder with Ian Hoggard who bought the business along with instituting the name-change to Majestic Motors.
And there have been, of course, big changes in the motor industry just as there were expansions and changes at Majestic Motors, which today stands as one of the best-known and reputable businesses in Wairarapa, dealing in new and imported, luxury, recreational and commercial vehicles, along with servicing, parts, panel and painting.
"Cars never used to have heaters, radios and seatbelts, which were all gradually added to be basic fittings and now there's digital and electronic computers in some," he said. "In the early '60s we repaired everything ? water and fuel pumps, brake and clutch linings ? but now mechanics are more fitters than fixers."
Mr Brewster said today mechanics also need to have higher qualifications with more and more diagnostics and work with computers.
And along with the changes under the bonnet, he said safety aspects in cars have improved greatly, with better designs for crash protection and the advent of airbags.
He said a warrant of fitness still takes about the same time but is far more thorough and, because all records are on-line, if there's something a "bit iffy" motorists can't shop around to get it passed.
Retreads are also no longer part of the motoring scene and that all helps for a much smoother ride.
Among the many memories, and apart from the Mark II Zephyr, it was October 1987 which stands out as unforgettable ? the Brewster and Hoggard party of six had arrived in London to buy Jaguar and Daimler cars when the Great Storm hit ? then the worst storm in Britain for centuries was topped by the world sharemarket crash.
In southern England, 15 million trees were lost, among them many valuable specimens. Trees blocked roads and railways, and brought down electricity and telephone lines and hundreds of thousands of homes in England remained without power for more than 24 hours.
"It was an unbelievable trip with two huge events like that happening at once. But we got our cars and brought back four Jags and two Daimlers ? one each for the six of us because you had to own them to get them into the country."
And for Ian Hoggard, on Friday he will see off not only a dedicated, loyal business partner but a good friend.
"He'll be a hard act to follow, because he's been here through all the ups and downs but he'll still be around."
Mr Brewster will be officially farewelled by his workmates, supporting businesses and customers and said he intends for the moment to do some "odd jobbing and gardening".
"I've got some guttering to fix around the house and then we'll see what comes out of the woodwork."