Jock Atkins 1909 - 1997

Jock Atkins was, for 50 years, a roadman on the Akatarawa Road. A character, an eccentric and a toiler.
Jock never had a day's sick leave or been laid up all of his working life. He was dedicated to the job and frequently cleared slips from the Akatarawa Road even at the weekend and in the evenings so that the locals could get through.
Jock died in 1997 at Horowhenua Hospital. For 50 years he daily traversed the hilly Akatarawa Road on his bicycle with an accompanying dog and shovel to clear slips, drains and culverts.
At work on the road, Jock was, apparently, immune to the honks and greetings from passing motorists. He had the habit of carrying on shovelling and supposedly ignoring passing traffic but through the rear vision mirror one could see him stooped over, looking under his arm to see who had passed, whether they honked or not.
How cool that someone has remembered a local roadie & made a tribute to him.