EULOGY JOHN CHAMBERS

EULOGY JOHN CHAMBERS
25 April 1934-19 August 2017
The Community of St Aidans will miss John’s
companionship, his technical abilities and his good advice
freely (and some may think often forcefully) given.
John was a busy person as you will no doubt hear from
close family, from the Morris Minor Club, of which he
was an enthusiastic and very involved participant; from
schools where he regularly supported grandchildren and
from the North Harbour Probus (now called Friendship)
Club for which for some years he was Secretary and
District Representative.
As for his presence and influence in this St Aidans
Community – all committee chairpersons waited annually
and anxiously for his points and queries to be raised about
their reports at the AGM – a feature which he almost
certainly would raise and to which he referred searching
questions to which he required adequate answers. Without
John’s questions it did not feel like a proper AGM.
When you go downstairs for refreshments following this
service, note the meeting rooms and well-designed kitchen
created through the expertise, assistance and initiative of
John.
Many St Aidans members contribute their offerings by
way of the envelope system which allows opportunity to
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claim 33% tax back. For many years John prepared the
envelopes, distributed them, organized the receipts and
was the only person able to link the person with the
envelope.
John has also for some years been a Trustee elected by the
congregation to the Management of the Iona Close
retirement village next door to the church, where he was
involved with detailed management matters. At his
express wish, he has over the last months of his life acted
for the Trust as Supervisor and Clerk of Works for the
refurbishment and renovation of one of the nine cottages,
which he was determined to have completed on time and
ready for tenancy before his failing health prevented his
involvement. This he has done, almost to the day,
continually contacting contractors and others from his
home and even from his hospital bed.
If a job needed doing – John would assist as he was able.
If advice was required, John would offer!
The Community of St Aidans are overwhelmingly grateful
and all will miss his contribution, his involvement and his
cheery presence.
(For those of us who went to the hearse to sprinkle some
rose petals as a last farewell there was a lovely little
surprise: on top of the coffin was the tiniest little blue
Morris Minor – how John would have loved that!)
—-delivered by Bruce Hay