Robin Watkins

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Biography

Robin was born at St Helens Hospital, Auckland on the 9 October 1931. The youngest of 4 children (Doug being the eldest, then Wyn (Alwyn) and June the only girl of the family). His parents were James ( Jimmy) Alfonso Watkins and Gladys Hope (Barnett) Watkins.

Their childhood was spent at Greenhithe, Milford and Takapuna. He was named by his mother after 'Robin Hood" as she had loved visiting Sherwood Forest as a child in Nottingham.

Robin attended Milford and Takapuna primary school and Takapuna Grammar School. At Takapuna primary he was awarded 'athletic champion" by winning the 100 yards and 3 legged race and coming in 2nd in the relay races.

In 1943 his older brother Wyn died, from a blow to his head from a cricket ball whilst playing.

1946 - Takapuna Grammar School (TGS), Robin was one of 2 students selected to play for the Auckland Secondary school rugby senior boys team to play against the rugby clubs senior school boys rugby team. Students were able to play for their school in the morning and fro their club on Saturday afternoons. Robin selected to play for Aucklands club rugby senior boys team - which meant competing against his own school. He remembers being severely reprimanded but the school headmaster, and was given detention every day for a full week. He never lost his love rugby and was an avid ALL Blacks fan and he loved to watch the game. Also in 1946 he represented TGS in the Auckland Secondary school sports and won the Auckland junior high jump title with a height of 4'8" (1.46 metres) which was an Auckland record at the time. Academically he was awarded "best all round student in the 3rd Form" - The prize was a flight in a double wing trainer aeroplane.

1946 was a good year for school but a terrible time in his personal life, as his Mother died July 1946.

In 1947 his father re-married and the family shifted to Point Chevalier, where his father and step mother had a dairy and Grocery shop. Robin travelled from Pt Chevalier to TGS every day as a 4th former and on most occasions worked in his parents shop until midnight. He would wash the potatoes and carrots, bag up the sugar, flour etc.. everything done by hand in those days. Robin had no time for sports or studies and consequently left before the school year of 1947 ended (Year 10 in today's terms).

His headmaster at the time wrote to his father to request Robins return (see sources).

Robin was aways shrewd - his first job was working on the waterfront as a 'wharfie'. In those days wharfies used a system of 1 hour on and 1 hour off. . Robin would go in a Saturdays - as it paid time and a half and double rates. The first hour from 8-9am - would be his hour off, "9am - 10am he would work", then take 10 - 11am off. From 11-12 the ships hatch would need to be battened and closed, so he consequently got paid for 4 hours but only worked for 1 hour. After nearly a month of being told he worked too hard (as the small sacks were supposed to be lifted by 2 people, not just himself). Robin decided it was time to leave.

His 2nd job was Westfield meat (freezing) works - but he couldn't get a job on the chain (where the big money was) so he left for Hellabys meat works where he worked on the chain - on the tail end - where all day he would put 6 stamps on every carcass that was for export - very boring - but big money.

1948 - Robin decided to take an office job with the government in the labour dept, and did 6 months at night school studying accountancy, but still having to work in his fathers the grocery store until midnight - he found it impossible to study.

In June 1948 he took a 5 year electrical apprenticeship - with Gooder Electrical pinpoint Chevalier, which could be shortened to 4 years by working all the overtime he could get. Robin passed his full licence in July 1952 after 4 years.

Robin left home in 1949 a month before his 18th birthday, earning 4 pounds a week and paying 2 pounds a week in board at 20 Smale Street, Point Chevalier. Working as an apprentice.

January 1953 - October 1954 - was spent with the Compulsory Military trainees (CMT) in the airforce and ended up as a AC1 air craftsman 1st Class. 1953 - 54 he took a Christmas trip with his buddies from the airforce and travelled around NZ.

In 1958 - 1965 Robin joined Electric Ltd (what he considered) the most prestigious electrical contractor in Auckland. He worked his way up - changehand foreman, site foreman, contracts supervisor, contracts manager, and finally quotations manager. 61/2 years spent working for them.

October 1954 - the announcement of the engagement of Ivy and Robin was sent to the paper. They had met at a table tennis club. He broke up with her but she persisted by visiting him at his work every now and then. Finally one of his work mates said - "she's keen on you, you should marry her".

Robin Hardiman Watkins married Ivy Aileen Robb on 23 July 1955. They lived on Te Atatu road, Te Atatu, when first married.

1962 - Robin joined the Masonic lodge - Milford Trinity lodge and was presented in 2012 with a certificate for membership of 50 years

In 1963 Robin and Ivy moved to 47 high Road, Glenfield. A quarter acre section in ‘Nappy Valley’ as Glenfield was called as all the young families were moving in to this new subdivision. Robin purchased one on the top of a hill. It started as a 1 story 4 bedroom house and was then lifted to make a 2nd story. A spiral staircase lead to a lounge, another bedroom, and the master bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe, and a full bathroom from the lounge you had views overlooking Rangitoto.

They had 6 children, 9 grandchildren, more than 7 great grand children

1965 - He left Electric Ltd with the intention of setting up his own business. 1967 - 1972 He founded a company with 2 other electrical contractors to do large contracts only. The first contract was the Devon park apartments at Stanley point and it took 2 years to complete. The next 2 contracts were the Nurses Hospital home and the Circle (90 Kitchener road) and a further 2 years work was obtained. The company was wound up in 1972 due to partner differences.

In 1963 Robin and Ivy moved to 49 High Road, Glenfield. A quarter acre section in ‘Nappy Valley’ as Glenfield was called as all the young families were moving in to this new subdivision. Robin purchased one on the top of a hill. It started as a 1 story 4 bedroom house and was then lifted to make a 2nd story. A spiral staircase lead to a lounge, another bedroom, and the master bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe, and a full bathroom from the lounge you had views overlooking Rangitoto.

In 1972 they purchased a piece of land in a beach town of Whiritoa, where Robin built a Bach to vacation his family. It was a source of joy for everyone. Every holiday and long weekend and sometimes just for a short weekend the family hung out at the Bach. Very rudimentary it was one floor divided by curtains you could push back to have room. You could use the outhouse by walking down the flight of outside stairs. In the 1990’s the house was extended to include the bottom floor with a bathroom and inside toilet. More rooms were added and the deck wrapped the house. Many a good time was had there by the family.

1973 - 1988 another company was formed with Gary Oliver an electrician he had known for many years. They went on to manage and grow a successful electrical contracting business. OWL Electrical (Oliver Watkins Limited). in the next 15 years they had 2 office girls, 2 foreman, quantity surveyor with staff between 20 - 25 in number. Many contracts were carried out including schools, colleges, technical institutes, shopping malls, office blocks and factories. One of the largest was Paremoremo medium security prison. At the prison they were given 1 life-term prisoners to assist the electricians at no cost to them. - Robin noted "It was an interesting time in his business". Sold the business to 3 of the staff in 1988.

1977 - he participated in the Y-Bonne Bell mini marathon Sat 7th November 1981 - He joined the Lap the lake and finished the run of 6 km in 40.28 minutes. 1982 - he joined the Takapuna Lions Club, and still there in 1992.

19th May 1986 - 13th July 1986 Trip Robin and Ivy departed Auckland and then via Singapore headed to Europe. They had a 3 day explorer pass in England and then departed on the Globus gateway tour of Europe 9th June to the 2 July. The 3 night in Los Angeles with Disneyland / knots berry farm and Universal studios tickets, returning though Honolulu (2 nights) and ack to Auckland on the 13th July

1987 - They then purchased an old Bach on the cliff in Beach Road, Campbells Bay. They rented it to their daughter Leanne for a while and then remodelled in the footprint in 1992 to make a beautiful house overlooking Rangitoto. It was even featured in a Newspaper - the title being "waste not want not - recycled home above the bay" and a magazine. He liked to fix things rather than throw them away.

He retired early at the age of 52, but could never stay idle, always tinkering with something. he built another house at the east coast end of Aberdeen road.

in the late 1990's Robin joined a talent agency - aptly named 'Show off'. He had a great time as an extra and people commented on how he looked like Sean Connery.

17 March - 9th April 1994 - Robin and Ivy visited their daughter Leanne and her then husband Frederic Hermans in California for 3 weeks.

He passed away on the Saturday 15th September 2018 at approx 8pm ^[1] in his room at the care centre. Unfortunately no one was present at the time but the family was called shortly after to visit one last time and say goodbye.

The funeral was held on the Wednesday 19th September. He was cremated and his ashes were held at Beach Road house, Campbell’s bay for a year until Leanne, thinking it was time enough to fulfil his wish, buried his ashes in the grave with his beloved mother and brothers.

Sources

1. ↑ BDM Death 2018/25598 - this also shows birth date