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A FULL EVENTS LIST IS ON THE LAST PAGE OF THIS NEWSLETTER
Motorcycle Calendar
Sunday May 16th Leave Brayshaw Park at 11am for lunch at Seddon and after lunch a visit to Ron’s Motorcycle Museum, some dusting of the display would be appreciated no doubt.
Sunday June 20th Leave Brayshaw Park at 10.30am for the annual get together with the Nelson group at the Rai Valley Tavern.
Letter to the Editor
MARTIN, David John (Dave): Unexpectedly at Lake Dunstan Hospital on April 24, 2021. Dearly loved husband of Josephine, loved father and father-in-law of Denise and Gerry (Lake Hawea), the late Jerrod, wife Jill (Blenheim). Loved Granddad of Aaron (Tasmania), Katherine (Blenheim), Eddie (Auckland); great-grandchildren, Leo, Alice and Iris.
Hi Fellow club members.
At our Wednesday meeting this morning one of our longer standing members spoke briefly of the recent passing of one of our members no longer living in Marlborough. David (Dave) Martin.
Dave was a local member through the 1970-80-90s period .Considering how much effort and work Dave put into our local branch in those years, it was noted (and the member was correct in bring it to our attention) that only four members of the branch attended the farewell for him at the clubs of Marlborough.
To be fair the death notice for the memorial service was easily overlooked as it did not include much information about him, so this was not surprising to me. Dave and his wife Josephine, left Blenheim, having lived in Renwick, Seddon, and back to Blenheim again, before departing to live in Geraldine some 20 years ago. He may have finally moved on to Wanaka, as it was there where he passed away.
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Many of our newer members would not have known him or of the work and restorations he did. As I understand it, Dave and many other willing hands, took on the job of dismantling the old Cuddon’s pump, appliance and hardware shop in Alfred St, which stood between where Farmers and W I N Z is today.
Gill construction had won the tender to dismantle the building and clear the site. The VCC approached Bill Gill (Gill Construction) for the building and were told, ” you have 48 hours to get it down and taken away”.
The team set to work, roof, frames, walls, trusses. bricks etc. etc. etc .They did it on time and brought it all back to Bradshaw Park and over the next months reassembled it to be the museum building we enjoy here today. Imagine us trying to do that with the rules and regulations we have today.
Originally a baker and a taxi owner in Christchurch, but a man of many talents who seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything, Bodywork, Spray painting, upholstery and mechanical. He loved car restoration work and was one of those guys who was never idle, always busy, building and repairing.
He also played the saxophone as another hobby.
Dave carried out numerous vehicle restorations, for himself and many other people. He owned a pair of matching 1933 Dodges he used for weddings, an Austin 10 convertible, the baby Austin now owned by Bruce Rumble and restored many more, including the Austin 16/6 owned by the AA.
He became well known for taking two door Morris Minors and turning them into convertibles, goodness knows how many of these he built and he even built a MM fire truck which i understand is in the Wanaka transport museum. He had a very tidy Workshop jam packed with parts, tools and equipment and even a mobile sand blasting setup he had built himself.
Many of us older members will have benefited from Dave’s help and skills. As I came to Blenheim in 1984 ,there is possibly much more that Dave put into the club, he may have been a committee member? This info is only from memory so hopefully correct.
So, Dave. On behalf of the local VCC and committee, I apologise that more of us didn’t attend your farewell, but - Thank You for your input to the club.
