Meeting people is his hobby

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 16

Meeting people is his hobby

Nelson Reporter Many of the thousands of air travellers who have used the Nelson Airport terminal building on their travels during the festive season will probably have seen, or possibly met, Mr Chris Roberts. Mr Roberts, aged 91, a West Coaster now living with his daughter and son-in-law at Stoke, loves meeting people. To further this hobby he spends the best part of five hours a day at the terminal, seven days a week, and for at least the last six years. The spry old man is well known to and beloved by the staff of the various establishments at the terminal and, according to Mrs Riley, “they are absolutely wonderful to him."

Mr Roberts spent the largest part of his life at Westnort, where he worked on the railways from 1915 ungil his retirement in 1948. When his wife died he came to Nelson to share his daughter’s home, and every now

and again travels to Christchurch for a spell with another daughter. ; In between times, his favourite spot outside the home is the Nelson Airport terminal building, where in the last six years he has talked with people from all over the world.