A parts adviser is gearing himself up for life in the slow lane after working in the motor industry for more than half a century.

Trevor Phillips started his career with E.G. Pritchard in 1961, but next month the 68-year-old is due to retire from the company, based in London Road, Bapchild.

He said: “The automotive industry has been a massive part of my life since the early 60s.

“Moving forward I hope to pursue my love for gardening but I will no doubt be in touch with the team long into the future.”

The company was sold to Pomphrey’s in 1992 and finally the Perrys Group in April 2013.

Branch manager Les Knight said: “We are very proud to have had Trevor work here, and for such a commendable amount of time, too.

“He has served the motorists of Sittingbourne for over five decades and shall be greatly missed. We wish him the best of luck and hope he enjoys finally putting his feet up.”

Assistant parts manager Cliff Jones who has worked with Trevor since 1987, added: “We will all miss his phenomenal memory and knowledge of the parts supplied for a variety of gone-but-not-forgotten Vauxhall vehicles, including the C.F. Bedford, Cresta, Carlton, Firenza, Nova, Omega, and Viva, at a time when we were using microfiche technology – pre-computers.

“If you want to know which car part number 7953010 is for, ask Trevor quick – he won’t be here for much longer!”

Trevor's colleagues plan to take him out for lunch present him with a collection that will no doubt be used to buy new tools in his garden.