The February 2024 Newsletter captures the engaging talks given by three of our Club’s members: Trevor Pollard, Vince Middeldorp, and Neil Castle—during the 11:00 am to 12:00 pm slot, typically reserved for guest speakers.
Trevor Pollard narrated his journey from being a self-employed plumber to joining the Paterson Trading Company. Despite his initial reservations about working for the company, his deep-rooted connections with the Paterson family influenced his decision. Trevor also spoke about his memorable experience participating in a risqué photo shoot for a wall poster advertising the Relexa series of shower fittings from Friedrich Grohe, which featured a couple sharing a shower.
Vince Middeldorp shared stories from his career as a telephone exchange technician. He recounted the challenging equipment faults he successfully resolved, which had stumped other technicians, and his unexpected transfer to the installation storeroom in Remuera. Initially, Vince resented this change, but he eventually realized it was a blessing in disguise.
Neil Castle took us on an adventure through his time in Canada. Inspired by his friends, the Cash brothers, who had emigrated to Toronto, Neil decided to make the move as well. His first job in Canada was with Maxwell Construction, where he worked on a radar station at the northern end of Vancouver Island. Later, he relocated to Toronto and lived with the Cash brothers, describing his time with them as a constant celebration filled with plenty of alcohol.
