Retiring Sherwoods spray painter Harry Adam.
Sherwoods spray painter Harry Adam retires after almost 50 years
A TEN bob tip from a world famous cartoonist helped put a young apprentice on the right career road.
But almost 50 years on, car spray painter Harry Adam has decided it is time to hang up his cap after starting and finishing his working life with North-East motor dealer Sherwoods.
The 65-year-old, of Greatham, near Hartlepool, was presented with a gold watch as a retirement gift by Alasdair MacConachie, managing director of Vauxhall and Chevrolet dealer Sherwoods.
But the event triggered memories of his apprenticeship with the firm and repairing a puncture for Hartlepool-born Reg Smythe, who penned the working class hero Andy Capp.
“It was one of my first jobs and he gave me a ten bob tip,” recalled Harry, who is married to Val, has two children Christine and Yvonne and two grand children, Jack, eight and Adam, 14.
“He seemed a really nice bloke, very pleasant indeed and I was delighted with the tip. As a young man I was car-daft and just loved anything to do with motors. A vacancy came up in the paint shop at Sherwoods in Hartlepool where I stayed for five years.”
Harry eventually left for a job in the steel works before securing a position in a factory painting garage equipment.
He then worked in the car import centre at Hartlepool docks before returning to work in a Vauxhall dealership in Concorde Way, Stockton, which was taken over by Sherwoods last year.
“I thought it was really strange that I started my career at Sherwoods and also finished with them as well,” he said.
After painting thousands of cars, lorries and vehicles parts Harry is now hoping to get into his garden for a bit of peace.
“I am looking forward to my retirement but I will really miss the patter from the lads,” he said. “I like my garden but I’m sure my painting days aren’t quite over – I have got to look after my two daughters’ cars.”
Sherwoods Stockton general manager Simon MacConachie said: “Harry is one of life’s real characters, will be greatly missed by everyone at Sherwoods and we wish him all the very best in his retirement.”
