A MECHANIC is putting down his tools after 43 years of service in the same Greenock car dealership.
Mario Ottaviano, 64, has worked in Arnold Clark East Hamilton Street for more than half his life.
He says the last three decades have flown by and he is looking forward to a well-earned retirement.
Mario told the Tele: "I've been looking forward to my retirement since my wife Brenda retired last year.
"I've seen really big changes over the years mostly in electrics and technology. You didn't have diagnostics when I started."
Mario hails from a small village in the region of Abruzzo in Italy.
His dad left for Germany in 1960, with his family joining him years later, and he worked as a mechanic there until 1980.
Mario quipped: "A woman brought me to Scotland.
"I met my wife Brenda when she was working in the Hilton Hotel in Dusseldorf.
"I came to Greenock 46 years ago, and I have been married for 40 years."
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Prior to his current role Mario worked at several other garages, including Toyota and Opel dealerships and the former Merilee Motors in the south side of Glasgow - but he never thought that he would still be in the same branch 43 and a half years later.
He said: "Never in my life did I think I would have been here this long.
"You go from one day to another, one year to another and them 43 and a half years have gone.
"I got married when I worked here and had my kids and now I am retiring from here."
He and Brenda, who retired last year from Hillend Children's centre after 30 years, have two sons, Francesco, 37, and Danilo, 33, and have a house in his home village of Tufillo.
He said: "I miss Italy, we're going over there for a month to finish off work we've been doing to the house."
Mario said he has made many friends over the years and enjoyed a celebration with his colleagues earlier in the week, with balloons and a gallery of old photos. He is also planning a 'night out with the boys' when he return from holiday.
The green-fingered tradesman is also looking forward to spend more time gardening at Wellington Allotments.
Paul McCafferty, general manager of the branch, who has worked with Mario for 12 years, said: "Several directors have been down to visit Mario over the last few days which shows how well thought he is and his level of service.
"Scott Grant, group aftersales director for Arnold Clark, Linda McMenamin, head of aftersales operations for Arnold Clark, and Russell Borrie, CEO of Arnold Clark, have all been down to see him.
"He's going to be sorely missed.
"He has a skills set that the younger mechanics don't have any experience of - they are used to plugging in machines to find faults.
"He's used to get in among the engines - he's old school.
"Many of our customers specifically ask for Mario to service their cars.
"In fact, Arnold Clark's grandson Adam Clark brings his car here for Mario to service."
Paul added: "Mario has mentored dozens of younger apprentices over the years."
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