Richard JONES Obituary

Dick was a great friend...I met him when he first came to Inangahua College in Reefton in the 1990's. I would take him in the bush for runs and I would whistle up Kakas and they would perch on the branches just above us. I did the same for Bellbirds and Tuis. Hewas fasinated with this and he recorded all the bird sounds I could muster. He then made a song which he sent to the radio station I talk on daily. Now for nearly 30 years that song still plays as a theme song for part of my show.
Richard enjoyed coming to Reefton where he would go for a swim at the Maruia Springs on the way over. He made several friends at Reefton and enjoyed going to the Al Fresco Flats to listen to the silence of the night or the rain on the tin roof. The Tea Rooms were his favourite place before leaving for home again,' He bought me a wooden toilet seat as he thought the plastic one was too cold one day when we has a -10 frost. I thought that was quite hilarious....He will be missed.

Richard spent some time as a relief teacher at Reefton Area School and enjoyed the experience enough to continue returning with his loved mother and family friends. It was always a pleasure to have him back, he had many friends and we all expected him to continue his visits . It is a shock to hear he had passed away . His song on the radio each morning will be very poignant.