To our Uncle David, Best wishes on your journey. While the nature of families can be fragmented I am appreciative of the love, the adventure of your life and the connection we all hold together, whether it be in person or in blood. From all of my whānau unto you. God bless, rest well. “Kua hinga he totara i te wao nui a Tane.” “A totara has fallen in the forest of Tane.” To my Aunty Thelma and my cousins and families. We love you. Ngā mihi, Andrew Te Aotonga and all of our whānau.

Thelma, Mark, Nicola and Family, So sad to hear of David's passing, but such a pleasure to have known him over the past 9 years when he and Thelma came to live in Te Puru. Thelma and I became close friends through our Church and over the past two years David drove her around to my place regularly for a catchup. An incredible man and so loving and caring to Thelma. And those blue eyes! We also had great conversations on a wide range of topics. I was exhausted just listening to how far he had cycled on any given day. His photography was outstanding too - we both had a love for bird life. You have many wonderful memories of a very special man. Blessings to you all and my love to Thelma. Gael McInnes (Te Puru)

Thanks so much for letting us share in Dave's service from Cowaramup Western Australia. Mark and Nicola you did so well. Bryce and Nicola your daughter was so admirable. Thank you Thelma for how you and Dave welcomed us all gave so much in terms of support and encouragment. Dave helped me into my building apprenticeship and was so glad id met my wife and was sorting my drifting life out. It was a honour that he and Thelma sat with Carol and i at our wedding, visited our boys at their births. Im so gratefull to your family. All our love to you all, thanks so much Dave, good onya Cam

Thinking of you all. I loved catching up with you when in the UK. It would be great to meet up again. Loads of love. Sorry for your loss. He will be missed Phil

We have fond memories of David and Thelma’s visits to the uk, as they usually stayed with my parents or ourselves. David was an intelligent man for whom family in NZ and the Uk were very important. Always upbeat and ready for an adventure, full of life, a man to admire and so easy to love. He will be greatly missed. Colin & Jo x

Uncle David It was such a shock to hear the news of Uncle David’s passing. He was in good spirits when we spoke at Christmas and we had no inkling what the following days would unfortunately bring. David always put such faith in strength of family. He regularly kept in touch even though we were on the other side of the world. More often than not he would be sitting peacefully outside in the early morning when the NZ world was slowly waking and the UK getting ready to sleep. David always took a keen interest in what our family were up to. It was lovely to see David and Thelma in person when they travelled to UK. We fondly remember on one of those trips when sitting in our garden that David was mistaken for his brother Ron by our daughter Juliette, then about 6 or 7 years old. David found this very humorous and instantly took on the role of ‘stand in Grandad’ with warmth and affection - just like he did all things! Uncle David was such an inspiration and, whenever we spoke, always had a smile on his face, a story to tell or some insight in the workings of the world. He will be greatly missed by us all. Tony, Yvonne, Becca, Jules and Maddy