Gordon Netley. “The auld Pom”
Born in
Chichester Sussex 1930 and spent my early childhood growing up in that
lovely City.
During 1940-45, well remember as a 10 year old the excitement of the
battle of Britain, not old enough to realise just how serious it all was
and young enough to think it was a big game. Chichester itself was only
bombed on two occasions. But, in the surrounding district there was the
R.A.F Tang mere aerodrome and a number of satellite airfields where
Squadrons of fighters were stationed. Always plenty of things to see and
off on our bikes if we heard of any crashed aeroplanes, especially if they
were German. We also once watched a Doodle Bug fly over being chased by
Spitfires it sounded to us kids just like a motor cycle without exhausts,
not sure if the Spitfire caught it or not.
I started
an apprenticeship with local Ford dealer D Rowe and Co. in 1945. Working
in the Agriculture machinery workshops where most of the staff were woman,
later I was out in the field repairing Tractors and machinery.
Our firm
had a very active sports and social club so played a lot of Soccer,
Tennis, and Badminton. I also developed a love of Golf which I played
until 2007. Also took up Ballroom Dancing which is where I met my future
wife Jan .
Two years
in the Army on National service with the R.E.M.E. and a further three
years in Territorial Army as an instructor in Gun fitting and Motor
vehicle repairs.
Married
Jan in 1954 and over the next six years was blessed with the birth of
three lovely daughters, Vickie the eldest and Gaye and Debbie the twins.
After
much thought we decided to immigrate to New Zealand and was offered a
number of jobs over here. We were then on the Ten pound immigration
scheme, which meant a long voyage by sea, but the Deluxe Ford in Wairoa
offered to fly us out which seemed very attractive, also we had friends
who had immigrated to Hastings a few months before so I accepted their
offer.
Arriving
at the Wairoa Train station on Queens Birthday weekend 1965 and being put
in the Ferry Hotel was a bit of a culture shock but it did not take us
long to settle down. Although, we had to shift houses five time in the
first year.
With luck
I made an offer on two acres of land on the riverbank in Mitchell Rd. It
had been standing empty for a number of years. As it was Maori land the
locals were reluctant to attempt its purchase due to it having so many
owners to deal with. I as a new lad was unaware of this and made
enquires, and as it turned out, it was owned by just one Maori lady, from
who we purchased it.
Our house
was built on the Riverbank and we moved in Easter 1967 and spent the next
few years fencing, putting in driveways and growing potatoes. The girls
had a number of pets, Bobbie calves, lambs, and at one time Goldie the
horse.
At the
end of 1970 while on Holiday Camping with friends at Mahia, Jan was taken
ill and was flown to the Wairoa Hospital where she died on New Years Day
of 1971.
Despite
the great loss to us all, I have always said that if this had happened
anywhere in the world away from my family, I could not have chosen a
better place than Wairoa, being a small town every body seem to know and
the sympathy and kindness shown to us will always be a special memory, the
people of Wairoa will always have a special place in my heart.
After
five years on our own I met and married Lyn and adopted two more children
Sue and John. We undertook to modify our house and after 10 years we had a
beautiful home and gardens. I had also taken up a position as a teacher
of Engineering at Wairoa College. During these years I developed our land
into a subdivision of seven building sections. Now called Rimu Drive.
During a
trip to Auckland we where involved in a serious car accident and I had leg
and facial injuries and Lyn a broken shoulder. Luckily the children were
not with us. I finally got back to the college after a year off work, but
the accident had put enormous strains on our marriage and Lyn was very
keen to move to Auckland, so the house was sold and we bought a home in
the North shore and I started to teach at Mount Albert Grammar School.
After a couple of years I realised that Auckland had all the overcrowding
problems that I had left England to get away from.
Lyn and I
finally separated and I returned to Napier and took up a position at
Wycliff Intermediate School and was there until I retired in 1995. I now
enjoy my sports, my garden, reading and writing. Sue and John remain part
of the family and Lyn and I still good friends.
|
TURKEY
AWARD
Reading his mum's thoughts, Peter volunteered, 'I know what you must
be thinking, but I assure you, Joanne & I are just flat mates'.