A 60-year career honoured

HONOURING ITS OWN: In 2007 Lindsay Watkins (left) was presented with an MTA award for outstanding branch service. Making the presentation was then branch president Nigel Belsham with MC Marty Lindsay looking on.

If years in the motor trade are ever calculated into kilometres, Lindsay Watkins has probably travelled to the moon and back.

But today the likeable Watkins will close the door on 60 years of working in the motor trade.

It's no surprise his service to the industry has already been recognised by the Whanganui branch of the Motor Trade Association (MTA), which presented him with an award for outstanding service to the branch.

Born in Temuka, he left school as a fresh-faced 15-year-old and began a mechanic's apprenticeship with Dominion Motors in Timaru in 1956.

He was working on BMC vehicles and Nuffield tractors, and he later spent time with the firm's subsidiary in Christchurch.

In late 1962, he was back in Timaru and for three years ran Hatton & Son's garage and service station before returning to Dominion Motors in a sales role.

Watkins is ending his career as principal of Watkins Honda and Nissan, but his first contact with Honda was in Timaru when the first two Petone-assembled EB Honda Civics arrived.

His career then involved working with NZ Motor Corporation, selling Morris 1100s, Allegros, Maxis and Princesses and then Hondas in South Canterbury.

But when Taranaki-based Farmers Co-op bought the NZMC vehicle branch in Whanganui, he moved his family north in 1977 to manage the operation.

He eventually became chief executive officer FCOS Motor Division.

FCOS quit the motor industry and local man Peter Elliston bought the Honda outlets in Whanganui and Marton.

Watkins bought into Elliston Motors and subsequently formed L W Watkins Motors in August 1988, and with it the Honda franchise.

The current site was developed on the St Hill St-Dublin St corner, and the dealership blossomed.

An approach from Nissan NZ in 1994 saw a successful dual franchise begin with Maxima, Bluebird, Sentra and a 2.7 Navara ute being the first new models which Watkins Nissan sold.

He was active within industry groups, serving as president of the Whanganui MVDI branch and was on the MVDI board when the merger with MTA was forged in 2003.

Obviously six decades in the industry has brought with it massive changes to motor vehicles and Watkins has seen plenty.

"I remember the introduction of seatbelts into cars in 1965, but you didn't have to wear them. Then in 1971 Motor Corp's new chief executive decided that to launch the new company, they'd fit two front seatbelts to anyone's car for $25.

"There was a guy in Timaru, a Scotsman. He had an MG Magnette, and he came in and asked for one seatbelt for $12.50.

"We told him we couldn't do that but I asked why he only wanted one.

"He said, 'When I'm going home on a Friday night from the club I could belt myself in and if a cop stops me it would save me falling out of the car at his feet'."

They are memories that Watkins will take with him as he enjoys a well-earned retirement.