PLOC is extremely lucky to have Ernie as its Patron. His contribution to our club for many years has been huge. Almost every day he removed graffiti from the outside walls of the theatre, and many other buildings in Pukekohe, he attended every show with his wife, Grace, and wrote many articles promoting our shows and about our members.

I met Ernie nearly 30 years ago when I was teaching music and drama at Bombay School. He was so interested in what I was doing and made me feel that this was the most important interview he had had all week. He had the knack of making everyone feel this way, what wonderful people skills. As I look back on the times I have spent with Ernie I realise that I have never heard him say a bad or cross word about anyone or anything. That has to be remarkable all on its own! The nearest he ever got to a negative was his thoughts on the children who did the graffiti in Pukekohe – he wanted to see their energy channelled in to other more useful pastimes. If more people were like Ernie then the world would be a far better place.

One of life's true gentlemen, he will be sorely missed.

Mary Gray

Photo courtesy Franklin County News