Newspaper Article 1995 – Frimley orchardist dies

Frimley orchardist dies

One of the last of the original orchardists of the Frimiley [Frimley] orcharding area died in Hastings on Friday aged 81.

Herbert Edward Taylor, who was known as Tod, grew up in Frimley where he attended school until he was 14. He then joined his father managing Reddale orchard, one of those first planted in 1895 to supply a planned canning factory in the area.

He continued to run the mixed orchard for about 60 years. Mr Taylor was an active member of St John Ambulance for 58 years. During that time he served as a volunteer ambulance driver and was district commissioner from 1963-1972.

He was a member of the Priory Chapter, the organisation’s national governing body for about 20 years and in 1983 his services were recognised when he was made a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John.

Mr Taylor also had a 58-year involvement in Freemasonery, [Freemasonry] and his a wife Lyndle said he had continued attending meetings until recently despite being confined to a wheelchair as the result of a stroke two years ago.

He was a member of the Haeata Lodge and, in recent years, a founding member of the Daylight Lodge. He had also served as Provincial Grand Master and was keenly interested in the Masonic Trust which has established Masonic flats in Hastings and Havelock North, said Mrs Taylor.

Mr Taylor was a Hawke’s Bay harrier champion and represented the province at national level four times. He later became a patron of the Hastings Harrier Club.

He attended St Matthew’s Church, Hastings where he served as vicar’s warden to Canon Peter Munton. Canon Munton is to return to Hastings to take Mr Taylor’s funeral service tomorrow.

Photo caption – Mr Taylor