Drayminman Where do I start Our first meeting at One tree hill, you were late I was beginning to think Julie didn’t have a husband.. We got on well, Your sense of humour. Time went by Beers drunk Rugby. Music Quality food cooked and eaten in both homes savouring the tastes with you always a highlight. Your lamb curry and condiments, any Indian would be proud of, many years later trips down Sandringham rd. Family trips and holidays, outings. 1 of so many sticks in my mind 2004 new years. 3 families rented a house in Mangawhai a fantastic time. Pig skins on the fence started the whole thing. Late afternoon hunting time with 5 children armed with butter knives and dessert spoons up the hill we went Emily & Briar leading all the while telling us how they were going to stick the pigs and skins would be ending up on the fence Lucy, Joss and Tom nodding in wonder at their bravery You disappeared out wide and getting ahead nearing the top of the hill snorting and crashing in the bush, I was with the stragglers behind I see our 2 brave leaders with spoons in hand running as fast as they could down hill to the safety of the house, leaving the younger ones to face the wild animal. Once we were all back Ems & B convinced they saw the huge wild pig. I could build and you needed a builder You convinced me that timber could be cut in hundredths of millimetres. We are getting older, we had plans What do I know to be true Absolute love for your 3 girls. Your smile and friendliness Humility and empathy Strength and stubbornness Lack of time management. I am so blessed to have you in my life as a friend and am better for it. Suit you Sir. Paul

Dear Graeme, today I was thinking of you. I was driving with my bike and suddenly got a flat tire. It took a few hours and some thoughtful action to help myself. It reminded me how you helped me back in New Zealand when my Car was breaking down and I couldn't really go on traveling. It was so good to call you for advice then and to know, that there is someone like you and Julie who care so much...You told me to keep up smiling, even though shit happens. And that's what I certainly did! I will miss you and I'm so sorry that your family is now missing this great, open-hearted and joyful-laughing man in this world. I know, that the energy that was within you is now a great shining soul and I thank you for your life. Fare well Graeme. With deep condolence to you Julie, Lucy and Emily...and Molly

You have all been in my thoughts constantly, im so sorry, Graeme played a huge part in giving me such a special childhood and in giving me such special memories one i keep thinking of is him serving chi elbows insted of chi knees for dinner haha i dont know why but that has always stuck in my head. His service was really beautiful i got to watch it live. I love you very much xxxxx

Dear Julie, Emily and Lucy I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Graeme was such a great man, kind and fun and a real gent. I will never forget how good he was to my girls when they were young and will always be very grateful for that. I cannot imagine how you are feeling right now but hope you can find some comfort in the happy times you had together with a lovely man, husband and Father. His funeral was absolutely beautiful, thank you for sharing it. With love and sympathy for you all and your extended family Helen xxx

Julie,Emily,Lucy and partners along with Coralie Graeme Melissa and Kirsty Sorrow has engulfed me after your loving husband Dad brother and Uncle lost his brilliant fight he put up the last two years, a very brave soul and a gutsy fighter. I will always treasure the time we had together and the photos I now have to treasure of the lovely thoughtful man Graeme was and how proud he was of You all as his family. His service was beautiful and it proved how much Graeme was loved with all his friends that took the time out to remember him. Always in my heart Maureen xx

To Julie, Emily and Lucy. Sending you all my sincere condolences and thinking of you all. My thoughts have been with you all week ❤️ I have some lovely memories of the time I spent with you all as a family and will cherish these. The service was so beautifull and a lovely tribute to Graeme I was so grateful that I could watch the service and hear all the lovely tributes that you gave for Graeme this must have been so hard for you all, but you all did so well. ❤️ My heart goes out to you all at this difficult time and sending all my love to you all xxxx

To Julie, Emily and Lucy - how can a funeral be so heartbreaking and so joyful at the same time? A wonderful celebration of Graeme’s zest for life. We’re so glad Roland has been able to be with you. One of my abiding memories of Graeme is his astonishment at how much stone was used to build the city of Bath as we sat and enjoyed afternoon tea in one of the museum cafes. With lots of love from all of us to all of you.

Graeme started at NZH not long after me and we soon realised we had a few things in common - Wade River Road, a London OE, a Cypriot restaurant in Willesden Green & Greek Islands. We both had girls, including the family cat & I had a breadmaker which Graeme managed to commandeer to hone his breadmaking skills to professional standards. Graeme's work ethic though, left a bit to be desired as he often didn't know when to get off home at night, simply because he always went the extra mile to help anybody out. At the end of each year he would say "next year I'm not going to do this" but of course it continued on. Graeme liked a good chat & it was a pleasure to be his work colleague & friend. I admired his lovely family values, his many talents & his sense of humour. Our girls remember Graeme as a really nice kind person. That was the impression he left. I am so sorry I didn't know what you were all going through these past two years but am glad to know you were able to have some very special time & memories together. Goodbye dear Graeme, you were a very obliging gentleman & I'll continue to remember you often.

Graeme was the best neighbour. When we started sharing our cross lease two years ago, he and Julie were so welcoming. Graeme was my "tool man" - whatever I needed, he would hand over from his incredible garage with a big smile. We had lot of chats in the garden and out on the road when walking our dogs - I don't think I ever heard anything but positive words come out of his mouth. His love for his family always on top. Hearing 70s or was is 80s :) music drift up the hill from their frequent get togethers was quite lovely. Until close to the time of Graeme's passing we didn't even know Graeme was living with such an aggresive illness. We didn't need to know. He was living his best life, with generosity and humour . I will miss his brave, kind soul.

I’ve been thinking of you all this week as I can’t even imagine the heartbreak you’re feeling. I can’t find the words but I have some real fond memories of the times we spent together as a family that I will treasure forever. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be with you today but sending all my love. I was able to watch the service and hear your lovely tributes so I feel so grateful to hear that and watch even from afar, I know it must have been so difficult but you should all be very proud. What lovely memories. All my love to you all xx

To Julie, Emily and Lucy, our condolences from Wanganui. That was the most beautiful funeral that you all did for Graeme. He would be very proud. With love from Judy, Greg and Karen, Michael, Jamie and Brodie

So many lovely memories streaming through - partying with Graeme and the Heads Rd crew 40 years ago, then meeting the lovely Julie who he was so in love with, celebrating my 21st with him and Julie in London where Graeme had turned into an 80s mod with his funky haircut and cool clothes (let's not mention the singing overweight stripagram they embarrassed me with in the Faulty Towers themed restaurant they took me too!), meeting again in NZ when Graeme was a very proud father of two young girls. And our last meeting last year when he helped me fix a leak in the window of my old van. I remember Graeme as generous, interesting and interested in people, argumentative (even though I was always right), grumpy (until he rolled out that laugh), cool, a loving husband and father, and a great friend. I'm glad we got to reconnect over the years - you're in my heart but will be missed in presence! Sending loving hugs to Julie, Emily and Lucy xxx

It's hard to capture in a few words what Graeme means to us.. "There are Friends. There is Family..and then there are those Friends who become part of your Family" . How very lucky and very privileged we are to have this experience with Graeme Julie Emily and Lucy. Thankyou Graeme for enriching our lives with who you are..for your kindness, your unwavering support, your loyalty, your humor ..for the sharing of the annual family xmases, the food you always lovingly prepared, for the holidays and many celebrations, for not only sharing your home with us .but also your beautiful family .Graeme you have gifted our family with so many wonderful happy memories that will endure and ensure you will remain an ever present part of our lives and we love you xxxxx

I met Graeme in London in the summer of 1989. A little incident from those days that marks Graeme, what it was like to have him as a friend. During our stay in England we hadn't managed to eat scones. When we got up very early in the morning on the day of our departure, we discovered Graeme covered in flour in the small kitchen. He got up in the middle of the night to bake me scones to say goodbye. Since then, Graeme had crept into my heart, where he now has a permanent place. I would have liked to have held your hand in your difficult hours and told you about our experiences together. With love xxx Birgit from Germany

Dear Julie Emily Lucy and family. Sending you all virtual hugs and love. The world has lost a perfect Gentleman who was so proud of his daughters and lovely wife. Dear Graeme may you Rest in peace. Love Jean and Frank.x

To Julie, Emily, Lucy and all your extended families. I was so saddened to hear of Graeme's passing. Having known Graeme for nearly 15 years working together at NZH he was part of our big family. Graeme was such a genuine guy, always considerate and extremely proud of all his girls. We would often talk about our children at length. Such a tragedy to loose a such a good man, there should be more like you Graeme, the world would be a better place. It's been an honour to know you. RIP and my condolences to your dear family. Kind regards,

I'm Having a Tequila while I write this Graeme remembering all the many "Tequila sunsets" at Whananaki.Great times with everybody there having a laugh. Thanks for all the fun boating and fishing trips . Thoughts go out to Hardaker family wishing you all the best at this toughest of times.

Graeme - a big part of my memories of NZ are with you and your beautiful family (relatives by choice rather than blood!). Thank you for all the good times - the adventures, egg shells and 'partyyyys' I enjoyed with you as a kid, and then later good conversations and drinking (too much!) rum as an adult. Rest easy. Lots of love, Juliette

You see the sun slowly setting and are very startled when it is suddenly dark, (Franz Kafka, 1883 -1924). Even though we are so far apart now, in my heart you are always close to me. Distance may separate friends, but true friendship never separates them. Your humor was unique, your laughter so contagious, your view of things in life always wonderfully balanced. With you, my heart smiled. Willy

I met Graeme in London in the summer of 1989. A little incident from those days that marks Graeme, what it was like to have him as a friend. During our stay in England we hadn't managed to eat scones. When we got up very early in the morning on the day of our departure, we discovered Graeme covered in flour in the small kitchen. He got up in the middle of the night to bake me scones to say goodbye. Since then, Graeme had crept into my heart, where he now has a permanent place. I would have liked to have held your hand in your difficult hours and told you about our experiences together. With love xxx Birgit from Germany

Graeme, Mr G, G. I met you 15 years ago when I walked into NZH in Silverdale and I remember that right from the start you were a generous, friendly, and encouraging colleague. Your wicked sense of humour and smile were always an anticipated part of my trips up to SUP. From emails, to phone calls, to the all too few times we got to catch up for a beer or a coffee, I enjoyed all of our times together. I especially appreciated your warmth and genuineness when talking about family. Thank you for all of your help over the years, and the friendship that we shared, you will be greatly missed. To Julie (although we only met once in Palmy for a very short time) and family, my deepest condolences for your loss of a husband, father, friend, and all round genuinely great man. Vale GH may you rest in peace.

Graeme. I met you as a young dapper man in London, engaged to Julie, my friend and coworker. You had some pretty spivvy suits, very eighties and very stylish. Visiting you both, a gorgeous vivacious couple, was always fun. Hanging out playing cards, drinking tea and watching the young ones on tele. At your wedding, I knew Julie had a ‘keeper’ and that your life together would be great, there was so much love between you. When you bought your first home together, it was amazing to see your mad skills on the tools. It seemed like you could do anything you set your mind to. It was lovely to see you both create a home together. We lost touch for a long time after London, but it was wonderful to reunite when visiting Auckland too long ago now. You were both the same fun people! I’ll never forget the day you took us sea-biscuiting and dunked us in the sea! Your laughter was infectious. My heart is breaking for Julie now, and for your daughters, and all those who are missing you Graeme. RIP.

Nearly 40yrs Graeme; from Wanganui to London, Palm Cove to Arlie’s Bay. How proud you must be to leave us your legacy of your two beautiful daughters: Emily and Lucy. We will love them as I know you loved them. May you rest easy catching lots of fish, drinking lots of room temperature Guinness and chasing away unwanted religious persons from your door. Love Barbara