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Spectrum

Sunday at 12:15 pm, repeated at 12:30am Tuesdays and 7:30pm on Wednesdays.

Sunday, 7 February 2010: 70 Years in the Trade

Ray Rook

In 1939 Ray Rook left school and went to work as an apprentice at the local garage in Okato, Taranaki. Apart from his time away in the Air Force, he has never worked anywhere else.

At 85, he still can't keep away from his 'shop'. He may come to work a bit later than he used to, and the tea breaks can be of legendary length, but Ray belies his age and keeps on coming to work to service an ever-increasing fleet of vintage vehicles which arrive at his door for specialist care and attention.

The petrol pumps have gone, as have the 22 busy staff, but something of the country garage atmosphere remains as Rooky emerges from beneath a classic car in his overalls and maintains he's only semi-retired.

Ray Rook

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Executive Producer: Jack Perkins

Produced and presented by Jack Perkins, Deborah Nation and David Steemson

email: spectrum@radionz.co.nz

mail: P O Box 123, Wellington

Spectrum is a long-running documentary series – it began in 1972 – which captures the essence of New Zealand through stories, landscape and people.

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