29/04/2023
Raymond Hardy
Baptized at St Mary’s Church, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England at 4-5 months old.
Raymond Hardy married his child bride Grace Tuckwood on the 4th of December 1962 at the County House, 100 Chesterfield Road South, Nottinghamshire, England.
From then came the birth of his eldest daughter Annette Hardy on the 31st of May 1963 in Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire, England.
On the 8th of March 1965, Raymond and Grace Hardy welcomed the birth of their second daughter Paula Yvette Hardy in Sutton in Ashfield, before moving to Auckland, New Zealand a few months later.
Raymond and Grace Hardy travelled to New Zealand via boat a few months after, thanks to the sponsorship of Grace’s sister June.
Two years later they welcomed the birth of their son Phillip Hardy on the 22nd of April 1967 in Auckland New Zealand.
Raymond Hardy’s Auto Biography:
Grace and I landed in Auckland on the 22 November 1965 I was 27 years old Grace was 21 years. with us were are two Daughter Annette Elaine Hardy aged 2 yrs and Paula Yvette Hardy 8 months old.
I came to love New Zealand over the years and it’s people.
My first Job was with Rickstan at Onehunga they manufactured Formica Sink units. I was there for a short time.
In 1966 I worked at Holeproof Mills Pah Rd, Royal Oak. I worked in the Textile Department at that time we worked 12 hours shifts 7 days on and two days off.
On The 22nd of April 1967 our son Phillip Wayne Hardy was born.
In 1968 my Mother, Father and brother Stephen came out to New Zealand to live.
We moved down to Reporoa We were employed at Reporoa College a form 1 to 6 College it was very much a Farming community.
I was The Caretaker Dad was The Grounds man and Mum and Grace were The Cleaners.
We loved the easy laid back life style there everything moved at a slow pace.
After about two years at Reporoa College Grace and I with the children return to Auckland so that Paula and Phillip could have operations on their eyes for Cataracts.
I had contacted Ralph Gardener the employment office at Holeproof and he reemployed me and gave us an Holeproof Flat the was situated on the corner of Trafalgar Street and Pah Road just about 3 mins walk to Holeproof.
1973 to 1978 I was the Caretaker at Howick College.
1985 to 1987 I was the Caretaker at Kaipara College Helensville.
From 1987 to 1995 I was the Caretaker at The Housing New Zealand
Flats in Greys Avenue Auckland City. I enjoyed my time at the flats.
There were 137 flats. 87 at 139 Greys Ave tower block built in 1959
And 50 flats lower down Greys Ave build in 1949 mainly for the returned armed forces after The Second World War. 1939 to 1945.
So we just loved living in the big city and life was busy but very enjoy able there.
Biography written by Jo Tupe
Thank you for coming this afternoon/morning. This is a sad occasion for all of us and our hearts are full of mixed emotions. Our loss of Raymond Hardy is that We have lost a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather and a very good friend. Every time we met I would ask Raymond how he was doing, and he would nearly always answer, “top tip greyhound number 3 at Manukau.” We are going to miss him. But we must also remember that Ray has gone home to be with His Savior. His physical death represents a glorious event in that he is even now in glory, in the presence of His Savior.
As we face this loss and the fact of death, we need to recognize that if we are to find endurance, encouragement and comfort amidst the pressures, losses, and tragedies of life, it is in the comfort of those close to us.
Long before his passing I was with Ray and asked him if he was afraid or if he was worried about anything. Though talking on this matter was hard for him, he replied, “No, I believe. I know my sins are forgiven. I am thankful I know the Savior.”
Born on a Wednesday 12 Jan 1938 in Sutton in Ashfield to Alfred and Eva Hardy and Baptised the same year. Early childhood schooling was at St Marys Church of England, the War broke out in 1939 he still recalled the Box Gas Mask and the Air-Raid Shelter Trials – the Siren and the All Clear, he also recalled as kids they would be at Standing Alfredton Road watching the Tanks and Men marching onwards to Lincolnshire on the east coast, luckily they did not have to endure the bombing Raids…….. then 1949 – 1953 on to Westbourne Highschool where he developed his skills in selecting winners. Ahem his greyhounds….. that school has got a lot to answer for…….. his first job at the age of 16 was a Farm hand harvesting crops for the local market which lasted 3 weeks ………then he went on to being a van boy with Landels Bread although his boss was fair a change for the better was on the cards and an experience with new friends…….. in 1954 at the Spring Factory situated at Kirkby in Whitfield where he made carseats with a new found friend Cyril and his AJS 350cc at a guess and Ray on his BSA 250cc he remembers every Saturday and their ride to the Empire Theatre in Nottingham and other halls like the Ainsley Dance Hall and the Festiball hall where Joe Losi and entertainers such as Dicky Valentine sang the tunes of that era, 1961 he went to work for Lorry Spencer employed as standing the markets in Sheffield, others were Chesterfield Market, Doncaster Market, Sneting Market in Nottingham, and the infamous Bolsover Market where he was to meet his Bride to Be Grace at the Cavendish Pub.
A huge change
Their move to New Zealand on the 22nd November 1965 was an eye opener the sea on both coasts and a change in lifestyle, Ray was 27 years old Grace was 21 years. with them were their two Daughters Annette Elaine Hardy aged 2 yrs. and Paula Yvette Hardy 8 months old.……
Rays first Job in New Zealand was with Rickstan at Onehunga they manufactured Formica Sink units. He was there for a short time.
In 1966 he worked at Holeproof Mills Pah Rd, Royal Oak in the Textile Department at that time they worked 12 hours shifts 7 days on and two days off.
On The 22nd of April 1967, Phillip Wayne Hardy was born.
In 1968 his Mother, Father and brother Stephen came out to New Zealand to live and together they moved down to Reporoa in the king country and found employment at Reporoa College, it was very much a Farming community.
Ray was The Caretaker; his Dad Alfred was The Grounds man and his Mum Eva and Grace were the cleaners.
He loved the easy laid back life style there everything moved at a slow pace.
After about two years at Reporoa College Ray and Grace returned to Auckland so that Paula and Phillip could have operations on their eyes.
With this move, he contacted a friend Ralph Gardener at Holeproof and was re-employed and they were given a Flat that was 3 mins walk to work.
1973 to 1978 was the Caretaker at Howick College.
1978 Time at Hardware Manufacturing making taps.
1985 to 1987 was the Caretaker at Kaipara College Helensville.
From 1987 to 1995 became the Caretaker at The Housing New Zealand
Flats in Greys Avenue Auckland City. He enjoyed my time at the flats.
There were 137 flats. 87 built in 1949 and 50 built in 1959 the later mainly for the returned servicemen after The Second World War. Ray just loved living in the big city and life was busy but very enjoyable.
Ray to me was a very secluded type of person never wanting to leave the comforts of home still wanting to work on his excel skills and his love of greyhounds, but in his earlier years I enjoyed our rounds of golf every Sunday something we would say was work in progress…….