John PUREY-CUST Obituary

I John in January 1962, in Hanmer Forestry, his hut was two away, with John Ware, and Robin Blackmore we were away when and where ever, in the trusty green Morris Van. I worked with John throughout the years, sometimes he would fish and I would Photograph, our last meal out he insisted his slippers were good enough, so we went out for a meal at Manderville Airport, stopping on the way to Campion Rd, for that last glimpse. John, the Master at what he did..........

It was 1970. I was fresh out of university and still damp behind the ears. Someone in the NZ Forest Service took the risk of making me District Forester for Western Southland [Tuatapere HQ]. John, based in Conservancy office Invercargill and very senior to me, was always a huge presence in my forestry career; a great mentor about 'things forestry' the possessor of a very wacky sense of humour and a generous heart. And a true gentleman. A guy I won't forget.

I started work at NZFS Southland Conservancy in 1992 as a junior typist/receptionist. Mr Purey-Cust was the first person to entrust me with typing and signing a planting recommendation for sending out to a farmer on his behalf in absentia. Never happened again as being unable to accurately deciper his handwriting, the letter went out recommending he plant a row of p.radiata and potatoes (should have been p.muricata) as a shelter belt. Mr Purey-Cust was a real gentleman to work for, with a deep love of trees. I typed a compendium booklet which went to print co written by him and Max Kershaw on the first trial plantings of exotic species in NZ at Golden Downs. It was an excellent booklet and instilled a lifelong interest in seeing the area for myself although by that time most of the planting had vanished. Also remember his lovely black labrador....
Brenda

Some happy memories of John Purey-Cust, John PC as we called him. My husband George Wilkinson who died a few years ago and John spent a lot of time together hunting and fishing, climbing mountains when we lived down South. John also spent a lot of time with us and our young family, so we all know him well. Such a lovely person, friend, always entertaining and full of stories.
Aways remembered Pat.

John PC, as we called him, joined our family back in the 1960s when he and our Dad (George Wilkinson) worked together in Forestry. They went hunting, duck shooting and fishing together, staying in remote huts creating a lot of hi-jinks along the way!
John would keep us girls entertained with his stories and we loved his faithful black Labrador Roly, waiting in John's V-dub outside our place to go home after dinner. He is our loved NZ uncle and we have lots of treasured memories of John PC.
Amanda Olley, Sara Harris and families.

John PC as we used to call him, joined our family back in the 1960s when he and our Dad ( George Wilkinson) worked together in forestry. They went hunting, duck shooting and fishing together, staying in remote huts creating a lot of hi-jinks along the way ! John would keep us girls entertained with his stories and we loved his faithful black Labrador Roly, waiting in John's V-dub outside our house to go home after dinner. He is our loved NZ uncle and we have lots of treasured memories of John PC.
Amanda Olley, Sara Harris and families.

A very good freind in Tapanui, great sense of humor and very descriptive when talking RIP John.