A Slice of Heritage Walks commemorating a Plastics Pioneer

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On August 16th I will leading my 2012th Walk and commemorating a New Zealand Pioneer of Plastics in New Zealand who I admired a few days after the Anniversary of his death on August 13th 2007.Our Walk will commence in Addington @ Cornelius O,Connor Reserve in Harman Street in Addington.not far from the birthplace of Sir Robertson Huntleys Stewarts PDL in Hazeldean Road.(Bob) as he was known was born in 1914.His business career began effectively when he was forced to leave Christchurch Boys High School @ 13 years young.He attended night school for five years to become an electrical engineer.In 1935 local Pioneer Entrepreneur Harry Urlwin who employed Bob as an apprentice for six years sent him to England to study cutting edge field of plastics @ an English supplier of moulding powders British Cyanides. Bob found himself appreciating tool design and back in NZ in a shed behind Harry Urlwins Manchester St. shop designed New Zealands first compression moulding machine. Bob working for Harry began making Bakelite electrical components and was soon in charge of a new factory.He saw WW2 service in RNZAF briefly but was manpowered back to industry to design and manufacture essential components for aircraft. In 1947 I think when Urlwin wouldn,t back the development of a new range of electrical plugs sockets and switches Bob Stewart left to form his own company.He failed and went to work for Plastic & Diecasting Ltd owned by Harry Vale He spent 10 years with Harry Vale and eventually bought him out in 1957.From small beginnings Bob built PDL into a group comprising six companies which in 1988 according to his book From Tin Shed to Knight was employing 1300 people with a turnover of $180 million per annum building up to. to 2000 employees generating $350 million in revenue In addition to running PDL Sir Robertson championed the cause of New Zealand exporting leading many trade missions to Asia.He was a Christchurch City Councillor for 3 years from 1969 to 1972. and Hon. Consul for Malaysia as well as a Life Member of The Canterbury Manufacturers Association.In 1970 he reived CBE and in 1979 a knighthood.

He loved cars and his PDL Mustang-a legendary racing car which put PDL on the map.In 2007 early I commemorated his 93rd birthday with a walk to his Fendalton Home where he joined 75 walkers of ACTIVE CHRISTCHURCH on our regular Thursday morning Walks in a cordial and chat.As well as honouring the memory of this Legend we will appreciate Addingtons St Marys Church in The Square and Dickens Street Dance Hall and historic Woods Mill in Wise Streetas well as Addingtons greywacke stone house in Spencer Street. Unique ADDINGTON Bush will also be appreciated as we return past historic Addington Cemetery back to the start. Our walk should take about 45 minutes or so. ENJOY.! CARPE DIEM.

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