Hetherington House resident Rob Wood isn’t a fan of the limelight, but on May 15 he was the guest of honour at a very special morning tea.
The celebration saw the Waihī man celebrate his 102nd birthday, surrounded by friends and family members.
Born in Ashburton on May 17, 1924, Rob has spent much of his life in public service. He served as a supplies clerk for the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the later years of World War Two, before moving to Wellington to take up various positions in the Education Department. Rob also spent some years overseas working in Foreign Affairs, and in 1967 was appointed the Vice Consul for the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, DC.
Rob and his wife Joan retired to Tauranga, spending many happy years in Papamoa.
These days, Rob enjoys following various sports, having an interest in rugby, tennis, and golf, among others.
Rob was nonchalant about reaching his 11th decade, and when asked his secret to longevity he had some very sage advice, accompanied by a cheeky grin: “just keep breathing”.
