A REMARKABLE businessman is showing ‘steely determination’ by still working six days a week – despite being only weeks away from turning 90.

Rudi Stetz, who still runs his family scrapyard in Gourock, says that work is a ‘way of life’ for him and insisted he has no plans to slow down before his big birthday on August 15.

Rudi says he simply cannot imagine life any other way.

He said: “It doesn’t bother me that I’m going to be 90. I work six days a week – it’s a way of life to me.

“I couldn’t just sit at home.”

His son Hans says his dad is an inspiration to him.

He said: “His work ethic has always been the same.

“It doesn’t matter if business was bad, he always gets through those times with the same attitude – get out and get the work done.

“He still loves what he does.”

Rudi has also used his strong work ethic to help young people throughout Gourock over the years.

He said: “I started the Gourock YAC.

“At the beginning there were crowds of young people who came along and I also started the first girls’ team.

“They were a terrific side – they used to thrash the boys!

“The YAC grew bigger and bigger over the years and we even appeared on

‘It’s A Knockout’ twice back in the 1970s.

“That was a big deal as it was the biggest programme on the TV at the time.”

From 1981 to 1983, Rudi was also the Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Firth of Clyde Gourock No. 626, a position now proudly held by his grandson Nicholas.

Today he is the Depute Master of the Lodge and never misses a meeting.
But first and foremost Rudi is a family man, devoted to his children Marrianne, Ingrid, Christine, Barbara, Rudi, Rosalind and Hans, as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Hans said: “We have a close knit family, all because of him.

“Everything revolves around his family. His grandson is also called Rudi because he was born on the same day as him, in 2014.”