Peter HOPKINS Obituary

We are sorry we cannot be present to share these memories of our times with Peter and Brenda.

Our memories of Peter and Brenda are many and full of happiness. They were the perfect team, complementing each other and sharing such a loving relationship. Indeed they were such close companions that, as in this message, we always found ourselves referring to Peter and Brenda rather than just Peter or Brenda.

Ever since we first met them after moving in as near neighbours in 1979, we were the best of friends. In those early days, they filled the role as local grandparents for our sons, Hamish and Tim who's real grandparents were in the South Island.

We remember the annual shearing of our two small flocks at their place and the huge spread that Brenda would prepare for lunch. Brenda of course enjoyed cooking and indeed we had heard her on Radio Pacific before ever moving to Clevedon. Her signed cookbook is treasured and still frequently referred to.

We remember the small apiary that Peter and Brenda set up and the beautiful honey they produced in your own branded containers. Later, Peter taught us how to handle the bees and hives and, when he developed an allergy to bee stings, we worked as a team with us handling the bees and Peter and Brenda extracting and potting the honey.

They were always there to help and advise us as we established our new home and in the years that followed. Brenda had many innovative ideas and tips on how to do things simpler or quicker. Our flower garden had many flowers originating from seeds extracted and given to us by Brenda.

Peter was a keen woodworker and we remember how excited, and rightly so, Brenda and Peter were when they completed the remodelling of their Otau Mountain Road home. It was a masterpiece with open plan living laid out to take in the stunning view towards Wiaheke Island, the atrium, and of course Brenda's very practical kitchen complete with gas stove no doubt for improved baking but also to overcome the frequent power cuts we used to experience in Otau Mountain Road.

We remember the coincidence that they just happened to ask us if we knew of a retirement village on Waikeke just a week after we first visited the Anzac Bay area and saw the foundations for what became their home. They could not ask for a more beautiful and restful place once they decided it was time to move on from small block farming?

So as time diminishes our current sadness we feel for the loss of both, they will live on in our memories as the best of friends.
With love,
Brian, Judy, Hamish and Tim