i can remember the first time i  met your dad in june 1990 at evans halshaw toyota in moreton as a 15yr old straight out of school and his first words to me were there’s the kettle, milk 3 sugars and then walked off.

every friday i’d be sent to the chippy for a steak pudding and chips.

we had a new guy start in the parts department who spent an hour loading up a van full of boxes once he finished he was sent to do something else so your dad talked all the mechanics into emptying the van needless to say the lad  was not amused but the rest of us were rolling round in fits of laughter. that same lad became his boss in the end ian luscombe haha

he used to find it funny getting the apprentices to get into the boots of cars to listen to rattles and once found to proceed in  driving round in circles until the apprentice was about to puke from sheer dizziness 

when the dealership was moved to wallasey your dad turned up one day with his new toolbox which he’d made out of an old hospital medical trolly it looked a right botch job but he was made up with it, full of odd tools and bits and pieces he wasn’t one for spending money he’d rather fix it,

every tea break he’d sit on his stool at his toolbox with a brew the crossword and a fag hanging out his mouth and god help anyone who disturbed him. 

he could be a miserable grumpy old sod at times and if he was mad he’d either stand there snorting like a crazed bull or a bin full of rubbish would come flying down the workshop but everyone knew where they stood with him, he didn’t mince his words and said what he thought whether you liked it or not but at the same time was always on hand to dish out advice and not just on cars.

he used to class himself as “perfection personified “ and when asked to hurry up with a job his reply would always be “ you cant rush perfection “

probably not one for the service but anytime we got a newcomer into the dealership they’d be told your dad was a retired porn star called stefan grolshstick 

how your dad kept a straight face i’v no idea making up stories of his acting career on the fly they’d fall for it every time going round asking other people if it was true.

like i say a grumpy old sod but funny as hell with his dry sense of humour.

the few people i’v spoken to who worked with him over the years all send their condolences, i didn’t get to see him much after he moved to the southport branch, but on the odd occasions he did come over he’d always pop in to say hi.

personally i owe a lot to your dad, without his guidance and passing on his knowledge i wouldn’t be the person i am today, senior technician still at johnsons toyota nearly 31 yrs later.