Alan COOMBS Obituary

I don't remember life before Alan. He worked for Dad for a while when he first came to NZ. For us he was very like a big brother. Long after he left Opunake he would return semi regularly with meat for the table and gifts for the children. When we grew up he continued to bring gifts for the children but by then it was for the next generation. We three Feaver kids all have lots of lovely memories of him. As Gwenna said, he was a good man.

Uncle Alan worked on my grandparents' farm in Taranaki. He arrived before my youngest aunt did and their childhoods involved him. When we were children he would roll up in his white ute without warning, but always welcome. He gave us our first driving lessons sitting on his knee so we could reach the steering wheel. He taught us to prank-call Mum. He filled us with stories about working on the tunnel. He was a good man.

Alan joined the World Socialist Party (New Zealand) in the late 1970's.


He was an active member in both the Executive Committee and Auckland Branch as well as at organized indoor /outdoor meetings involving other groups.


He was well known within the Party, at times of local and central government elections, to voluntarily take more than his allocated quota of printed leaflets, which were targeted for letterboxes and handouts in his local area . He would tirelessly spend his spare time promoting the idea of " A World of Free Access".


During the early 2000's , Alan was General Secretary of the WSPNZ - he offered his home in School Road , Kingsland , as a venue for the monthly EC meetings - this locality was a central meeting point and was appreciated by the other EC members who attended.


Two of the WSPNZ's Annual Conferences held in Auckland in the early 2000's were located on a site close to Alan's home - Alan was deeply involved in organizing the smooth running of both these conferences.


After relinquishing his position of General Secretary , Alan still managed to attend both EC and Auckland Branch meetings on a regular basis at the WSPNZ's new HQ in Manurewa.


In latter years, as Alan's health interfered with his many interests , he found it more difficult to be actively involved with the day to day issues within the WSPNZ, but he still subscribed to the Socialist Standard , which he enjoyed reading - he then passed copies of the journal onto anyone remotely interested in the socialist case.


Alan will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege of being associated with him - a staunch relentless advocate for the need for Socialism .


WSPNZ
Auckland

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COOMBSY
Alan Ewart Coombs
Formerly of School Rd, Kingsland Auckland.
Sadly missed by family & friends.
Full of good humour & always ready to help.
A staunch advocate of WSPNZ -
& A World of Free Access:
Voluntary Euthanasia & Rationalism
All welcome to a recital of his Life of Adventure;
From Highworth UK 31-1-1927 where he was born:
Joined Merchant Navy 1946 with voyages allover the world:
Came to NZ in 1950 and began on a dairy farm in Taranaki and retired after tunnelling was finished for Turangi.
Golden years spent on many pursuits and travels including bookbinding at MOTAT,chaired Friends of Sherwood for 26 years and other community service: active in U3A, Grey Power, CTU and other organisations: through to his
'Crossing the Bar' @ Waipu on 6th June 2016.
'Let's sup afternoon tea', as he would say:
& share memories of him, before his ashes depart for the UK.
All welcome at the EAST COAST BAYS RSA
Bute Rd, Browns Bay
1:30pm Saturday 25th June 2016
RSVP Mark Lawrence 09 431 8787

COOMBS, Alan (Coombsy) Kingsland. Born 31 January 1927 UK. Passed away Waipu 6 June 2016. Farewell to a truly reliable honest and staunch friend to Bubbles, Spud and Boogsy: the late Gaga, Molly, Jenny, Lottie and Leo. 'Let's sup afternoon tea' as ashes depart for UK 1:30pm today RSA Browns Bay. "Never Any Harsh Word Spoken Except to Capitalists Oppressing the Proletariat"

COOMBS, Alan. Chaired Friends of Sherwood since June 1990. Doing things for others was never too much trouble. His good humour and generosity are sadly missed. Lived by 'communityism' with MOTAT Bookcraft, poetry, theatre U3A and dance. 'Solidarity Forever' song and afternoon tea 1:30pm Saturday 25th June Browns Bay RSA. "Imagine All the People"

COOMBS, Alan Ewart. Born 31 January 1927. Passed away on 06 June 2016. Staunch to the end for Combined Trade and Beneficiary Unions, World Socialism, Rationalism, Euthanasia. Never a shirker, always a worker. 'Let's sup afternoon tea' as he would say at RSA, Bute Road, Browns Bay 1:30pm Saturday 25th June. "For A World of Free Access"