AUDIO

Interview with Victor Robertson

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Date

2 Mar 1990 - 02 Mar 1990

By

Robertson, Victor, 1927-

Reference

OHInt-0100-01

Description

Victor Robertson was born 10 Jul 1927 at Manchester, Lancashire. Describes Scottish family background, move from Glasgow to Manchester and then to Dagenham, education, effect of World War II on family life including bombing of home, father's employment with the Ford Motor Co. Discusses employment at Plessey Co and the Royal Air Force (Transport). Recalls reasons for emigrating in 1949, arrival in New Zealand, accommodation, factory job at Neeco, employment at the Public Service Garage.

Talks about marriage to Rangi Silberry, attitudes to a mixed marriage, Maoritanga. Describes being a driver with the Public Service Garage, acquiring Chrysler Windsor cars, different coloured vehicles, personnel, other drivers, difference between van, truck and car drivers. Talks about Sir Keith Holyoake, Peter Fraser, becoming a car driver, Labour politicians.

Describes rosters, daily routine, accident rate, driving heads of department, becoming a head chauffeur, anti-terrorist courses, condition of cars, effect on family and personal life, becoming a ministerial driver, social activities, sports. Mentions Sir Walter Nash, Sir Sidney Holland, Sir John Marshall, Mabel Howard, Norman Kirk, Sir Wallace Rowling, Sir Robert Mulddon, David Lange. Recalls royal tours, singer Victoria De Los Angeles, retirement in 1989, part-time work as a parliamentary messenger.

Venue - Porirua

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - At Mr Robertson's home at Porirua

Accompanying material - handwritten family biography, two papers on the Public Service Garage, list of royal visits to New Zealand from 1900-1974, paper on royal visits

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002905/002906/002907, OHLC-000939/000941/000940

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-0560.

Two b&w photos. At Whatcom Lake Railroad, Washington State, USA, 1988; Roxburgh Street, Wellington, 1949.

Search dates: 1927 - 1990

Additional description

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-000939 - OHLC-000941

Use/Reproduction

Public use requires the written permission of the donor Copyright: Copyright is held by the Department of Internal Affairs

Access restrictions

Restricted - Content cannot be accessed without permission - Requires written permission of the donor

Part of

Victor Robertson Oral History Project

Format

3 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), 3 Hours Duration, Oral histories, Illustration: Two b&w photos. At Whatcom Lake Railroad, Washington State, USA, 1988; Roxburgh Street, Wellington, 1949., Equipment used: Sony WMD6C Cassette Recorder ; Sony ECM150T neck microphones

There are 4 items in total.

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