Memories of Paul from Friends and Family 1

We always had to go to a coffee shop that sold either a scone or a muffin when he was with the biking group.
- Unsigned


Paul started orienteering not long before our family, somewhere around 1999, and we soon got to know him. He usually brought his lunch and stayed for a chat afterwards. We would talk about the courses, and our route choices and where we've made mistakes. In my early years, as I moved up through the grades, Paul was someone I wanted to beat. Eventually my navigation improved so I made less mistakes than him, but he was really hard to out run, even though I knew he was more than 25 years older than me. You would always see him running on his course, and at a good steady speed too, and I thought he was amazing. Paul has set me a goal to aspire to – If I can still run around and orienteering course in my 80s I’ll be pretty happy.
Paul was in charge of the mapping committee for many years. This is a really important aspect of orienteering and for his services to the club he was awarded a life membership several years ago.
It's a few years since Paul made it out to orienteering and I miss has friendly face and words of encouragement. He was a lovely gentleman.
- Faye McDonald.


The Amblers were tramping to Mackintosh hut and Paul had been dubious about coming that was persuaded to join in. It was 2000, the week before Paul's 70th birthday. The walk from the car park to Mackintosh is remarkable because there is a very steep thousand foot drop to what was then a three wire bridge and then a hard old climb back up the other side.
We were about three quarters of the way up the time when Paul said “you carry on I will stop for a minute”. We looked at him and he was not looking at all good so we put him in a recovery bag and wrapped him in pullovers. The slope was steep and to keep the whole bag from slipping downhill we had to stick our sticks in the ground.
Jim Glass had a phone that got reception there and dialled 111. We all waited and eventually a helicopter appeared. Paul heard it and said "is that for me?" And shot up onto his feet like Lazarus arising. As the nearest there to a doctor I shot after him and we arrived at the helicopter together. A man arrived down a rope and Paul opened his mouth to say"I'm all right" and received a squirt of medicament in his open mouth. Then he was rapidly wound up into the helicopter.
Now we get to the point of this memory. We used to tramp in shorts and under his shorts Paul was wearing black and white striped longjohns. As he was wound up to the helicopter his skinny black and white striped legs revolved slowly. We have never forgotten that sight.
- Sarah and Tony Keele.


Paul, I was very privileged to have walked the lovely bush-clad paths, crossed rivers and got lost with you on Ambler Adventures. You were a gifted photographer and a ‘boy racer’ In gentleman's clothes.
Judy Marshall


My first impression of Paul when I first met him was that he had a warm and friendly nature.
He had a definite"Twinkle in his eye" and loved to share a joke.
Bill and I were delighted to be invited to attend Paul's marriage to Gwen in the garden of a friend in Te Awanga.
A visit to their home in Raukawa Road was a memorable one. Paul took us around the large garden. I'm sure it gave him a lot of pleasure to show us his roses which he was passionate about
On one occasion we were invited to a dinner party at their home in Palmbrook Avenue in Havelock North. Other guests were Carol and Richard Dacey. It transpired that I was the only Kiwi born person. Gwen, Carol and Bill were Australians and Paul and Richard were born in England.
- Jeanette Trewheelar.


I always thought it totally unreasonable that Paul should be able to easily out walk me when climbing a hill, when he was 80 and I was only 75!
- Alan Berry



Dear Kate and Jane,
We were sad to hear of your dad's passing. Ever since your mum and dad decided to drive to Welly and pick up mum and dad off the boat from England, the Steeds and the Hyslop families have always had a special connection.
I remember: sailing boats, tramping, Xmas parties with tipsy adults, orienteering, dairy farming, swims in the pool, and good robust family discussions.
Two families were always have something special into the future. Our thoughts are with you. Kind regards
- Mark, Karen, Alice, Gemma, and Angus Hyslop. 

My late wife Brenda and I arrived in New Zealand on the 1st of June 1963. We made Hastings that midnight and I met Paul the following morning 2nd of June. We eventually worked in shifts for about four years on one of New Zealand Aerial Mapping Limiteds A8 Stereo-Plotters. From day one Paul and Molly (plus Kate 8 and Jane 4) made us welcome.
We had no family in New Zealand. Christmas time has always seemed a lonely time to me without family. We were included in some of the “Steeds” festivities. Shared our first holiday with them camping at Waipatiki Beach.
Brenda and I became parents to three made in New Zealand children. As they were born Paul and Molly agreed to be their grandparents. We felt very happy with this arrangement because if anything had happened to Brenda and I, we knew the kids would be well looked after. Their birthdays were always remembered without fail.
The years ticked by and sheer coincidence in 1991 made us neighbours south of Bridge Pa in Raukawa Road… Only seven kilometres apart!
More years passed with Molly eventually succumbing to cancer. She had asked Brenda to look after Paul if this should happen, and so Paul came to “tea” with us on a weekly basis. I had been an orienteer for many years, but could never get Paul to leave his family at the weekend. The situation had changed… He bought an answer phone! He also joined me on the fortnightly orienteering outings to the degree we would take our turn to set events.
Night class was next on the list. We went to learn some History at Hastings Boys High School. Different subjects, a term at a time. Paul met Gwen… An attractive wee “Aussie”. They fell in love and married! I recall managing to stay sober and making a speech at their wedding in Te Awanga.
Gwen sold her home and “Hawkswood”, Raukawa Road became their new residence. Paul still went orienteering, but I could never get him onto a bike. We joined the “Wednesday Amblers” who were a branch of the Heretaunga Tramping Club. When we had experienced most of the walks in the Ranges at least once, I stopped going but Paul carried on.
Paul and Gwen eventually sold “Hawkswood” and bought in “Palmbrook”. Paul was in cycling country, and took to it with enthusiasm. We had both seen the benefits of weekly emails to keep groups together... He did that for the “Amblers”, and this meant that Gwen was able to join in at the various coffee drinking venues. This was their last active period before the “wheels fell off” so to speak. Cycling became a “no-no” and they bought a retirement place in Summerset in the Vines.
Another parallel happening in our time was when Paul was in Hastings hospital having his kidney problem operated on and I had had a total knee replacement about the same time. Once a day in visiting time he would wander through the corridors to visit me in the orthopaedic ward.
Looking back over my 57 years with Paul I can honestly say we never had a cross word. I always found him positive and comfortable to be with. We both regarded each other as family.
May he Rest in Peace.
- Stewart Hyslop

Lovely gentle man, always smiling, great company.
- Helen and Tom Martin


On the first trip on a new tramp Paul arrived to pick on Barry up. Barry went to get into the back seat, was Half and win Paul took off and ran over Barry's foot.., Barry got in fully expecting to have a shoe full of blood. However when he got to the start of the tramp and examined his shoe he found his foot was ok apart from slight bruising. Talking about blood, there was hardly a tramp that we did that Paul didn't end up with blood on his legs or even his hands from scratches or falls. Gwen must have wondered what we did to Paul on the tramps.
- Unsigned


Paul has been a good friend of mine for well over 20 years and we have been asked to share just one thing about Paul's so most of you will know that Paul was born and grew up in London and better something that he and I have in common. Over the years we would have consumed gallons of cups of tea together chatting "All things London".
Several years ago and Paul and Gwen took an overseas trip to UK and Europe. When they were in London Paul went to the suburb where I was born, found the street where I was born, found the house where I was born, took a photo, and emailed it to me.
Now when you think of all the many things that there are to see and do in London whilst on holiday, for Paul to make the effort to get that photo speaks volumes of the man.
I will remember you Paul.
- Len Hewitt.


I loved the games of Twister with Paul and Gwen. - Phoebe Kirk.


Our introduction to Hawkswood: ‘Take the shortcut’ he said.
The visiting Poms found the road late at night and started up the track in the pitch black. What we didn't know was the sheer drop off and steepness we were about to experience in our hired car. BUT when we arrived at the top we were treated to the most magnificent starry sky the likes of which we had never experienced. Then a fabulous warm welcome to Hawkswood.
- Cornelia and Eric.


Paul will be remembered with great affection.  My memories are of a keen cyclist, who made a point of always holding the gate open for others, and his energetic tramping.
I feel very lucky to have met Paul, a true gentleman, and I send you and all his family my best regards
- Alison Morrison.


Time tramping the ranges and bush with Paul will never be forgotten. My love to all who remember his life.
- Murray Mills


I have strongest memories of sailing and walks up the peak and just how young and boyish your dad was compared to mine.
- Wendy Chrisstoffels


We both enjoyed the chats very much we had with Paul on our biking Wednesdays. He was an inspiration with his cheerful attitude.
- Heather and Bob Carter.


I'll always remember Paul as a very caring, loving man.
We had been corresponding a little over a few years but sadly we had lost touch around 3 years ago.
Paul and Gwen came to stay with me when I was living in Hong Kong, I remember he would get up early every morning and go down for a swim in the club pool (long before official opening time !!)
He came down to the football fields in Napier to find Oliver (my son) during the 2017 NZ secondary school champs competition. Only about 500 17 year olds, but he found him!!
I last saw Paul and Gwen when my daughter Isabella was competing for New Zealand at the Indopacific gymnastic competition (held in Taradale) in 2016. We went to visit them in Havelock.
- Ian Drew

I miss them all, Mum, Mollie and Paul, but I’m grateful for the extra years we had with Paul, especially after his diagnosis a few years ago - I’ve lost track of when that was - but I did use him as a fantastic example of someone who kept on living his life after that devastating pronouncement. I’m also very glad I got to see him on my last trip home.
When clearing Oakdale I found a very old present from them both, a birthday book that they gave me for Christmas 1976. I’m not sure if that was the Christmas we spent with you and my grandparents - one that always makes me smile when I remember my very merry granddad singing with Mollie outside the window. Granddad was not normally like that so it’s a memory that I treasure. That book is now my go to for birthdays - I’m hoping it might make me better at remembering them!
- Gail (and Trev sends his love too - he has after all known Paul for 20 years!).

... to be continued ...