Courtship and Marriage
Over the years he became friendly with Connie Valentine, a member of one
of the other church families. Connie was
a nurse, and the engagement was welcomed by both families and their many
friends. Connie’s youngest sister, Edna Buddle, writes:
My
memories of Noel are still clear, even though they go back to the early 1920s. I can recall the warm hospitality of Mr and
Mrs Fred Gaze and Doris, at 75 Bellevue Road, and at the Milford Beach house,
where Noel took me swimming, rowing in the old dinghy and playing miniature
golf.
Noel was
a regular visitor to our home in Balmoral Road.
I was only 13 months younger than my brother Stuart, with two very much
older “courting” sisters. Our practical
jokes were not always appreciated, but Noel, in particular, accepted our pranks
with good humour, and even allowed us to occasionally accompany them on walks
up Mt Eden on a balmy Auckland evening.
Music played an important part in our home: singing around the piano,
with Noel’s clear tenor voice ringing out.
An occasional ride in the Gaze family Buick was a highlight in the
1920s.
Noel was
a wonderful role-model for us, as teenagers, with that delightful sense of
humour which endeared him to us all. And
so at Christmas 1928 we were all shattered when Con terminated her relationship
with Noel. But the hospitality of the
Gaze family never changed. In January
1931, when Geoff Coop was born, I stayed at the Milford house for about a week.
Then in
1940 on the tragic early death of Joe Coop [husband of Edna and Connie’s sister
Rito, and friend of Noel] Stuart and I travelled to Auckland by train, to be
met by Noel, who was a tower of strength at that time, and to Rito for many
years.
I still
remember when Noel started his legal practice next to John Courts, a far cry
from today’s Gaze, Burt!
He
remained my legal advisor even after I married Pat, whose father started the
legal firm, then Buddle, Anderson and Kirkcaldie.
The last
occasion we spent with Noel was, I think, in 1963, when he advised us on the
puchase of our home in Simla Crescent.
Noel’s
cheerful personality, integrity, humour and lasting friendship made him one of
the most unforgettable characters I have ever known.
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