Jean was an absolutely awesome brother-in-law. Mild-mannered with a dry sense of humour, he was always ready to help with anything. He and my late sister Daphne once looked after two of our children for several weeks while my wife Viv and I were overseas playing chess for New Zealand. They did a great job, handing them back without a scratch! Our two families were in constant contact for more than forty years and at one stage there was a real possibility of Jean and Daph moving here to Mt Maunganui. We would have loved that. You could not get a better quiet southern bloke to share a beer with than Jean. We will miss him very much and think of him every day.

Jean was a lovely guy who kept a close eye on his (now 100 year old ) mum living in Christchurch. He did a great job in organising her 100th birthday celebrations last August. He seemed well then and it was a shock and great pity to learn of his passing less than a year later. And Vaughan.... you also did a commendable job at Jean's funeral. Well done!