71-Year-Old Steeplejack, Climbs “Just For Fun”

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27442, 31 August 1954, Page 10

71-Year-Old Steeplejack, Climbs “Just For Fun”

"The Press’* Special Service

AUCKLAND, August 30. Climbing 100-foot high chimney stacks for a living might not be everyone's idea of a sinecure, but to 71-year-old Mr Bill Whittaker, Auckland's oldest steeplejack, it just comes as a bit of relaxation! Although he officially “retired” five years ago, Mr Whittaker still climbs chimneys “just for the fun of it” Mr Whittaker began his career as a steeplejack in Leigh, Lancashire, at the age of 14. In those days the cotton boom was at its peak, and there was plenty of work to be had building the towering chimneys that dominate Lancashire’s industrial skyline. In 1912, Mr Whittaker decided to emigrate to New Zealand, and a year later he set up on his own account. His first dismantling job was on a 90-foot chimney at the Tomoana freezing works, which had been damaged by an earthquake. His skill- in building and pulling down chimneys soon became well known, and his services were in demand all over the country, Felling a tall chimney is as much a work of art as felling a forest kauri. Mr Whittaker can guarantee to drop a 100-foot stack within two feet of a given spot When there is not enough room to demolish a' chimney In one piece, his method is to scarf it at intervals' of about 40 feet. As the chimney falls it breaks up, and all the bricks land with a radius of 30 feet. Once Mr Whittaker was working 96 feet up building a chimney Jor the Wairoa freezing company when

the district was hit by an earthquake. With Mr Whittaker clinging for his life to the top, the stack’ swayed alarmingly from side to side. When he finally got to the ground he dashed straight to the nearest hotel for a stiff double brandy. . Mr Whittaker had his biggest fright of all while he was dismantling a 100-foot iron stack at a chemical works at Westfield. Noticing that the chimney had begun to tilt, he told one of his assistants to make it fast to a nearby brick chimney. The assistant did not do this, however, and part of the stack suddenly collapsed, hurling Mr Whittaker from scaffolding 80 feet up. His fall was stopped by a tie rod connecting, the steel chimney to the brick one. Had this not intervened. he would have crashed through the factory roof into a bath of concentrated sulphuric acid. Although his son Harry has taken over the business, Mr Whittaker still gives him a hand now and then. Now that grandson Bill has started work, the firm has become a family concern. For recreation, Mr Whittaker has chosen a sport that keeps his feet well and truly on the ground—be plays bowls. A keen player, he was in the winning four at the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney. When does he intend to retire for good? “Well,” he said thoughtfully, “in another three years I'll have been in the trade 60 years, and I suppose I’ll be old enough to knock off then.’ But all the same, I shall feel lost when I do."