CLOSING DOWN SALE

40% OFF ALL Trees, shrubs, home décor, indoor plants, indoor pots, citrus, fruit trees, avocados, roses

50% OFF ALL

Outdoor pots, water features & bird baths

If you want anything get it before we sell out firefighters were injured. Norman and his wife Norma lived in the married quarters at the Pitt Street station and raised their children there. On his days off he worked from time-to-time as a chimney sweep and piano mover, and while employed by Auckland City Council, he painted all the fire hydrants and the road markers pointing to them. However, his world came crashing down when Norma, the love of his life, was killed in a car crash. He took a sabbatical and joined the London Fire Department. One of the call-outs he remembered was to Buckingham Palace when the royal stables caught alight.

When he retired, Norman moved to Puhoi where he energetically and wholeheartedly embraced life in the community, serving on almost every committee, opening and closing the church across the road each day, noticing what needed to be done and arranging working bees. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Bohemian Dance Group until mobility issues brought his dancing days to an end.

His storytelling was legendary and it was noted during his funeral service that although many of these stories seemed too incredible to be true, they often were. It was observed that almost any topic mentioned would bring out a story and he made friends whereever he went.

A Requiem Mass was held at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, in Orewa, followed by a celebration of Norman’s life at the Puhoi Centennial Hall. He was the loved husband of the late Norma and the late Margaret, and father of Sue, Jeff and the late Robyn and Paul, and a special friend of Jenny Schollum.