Newspaper Article 2013 – Bay may have memorial service

Bay may have memorial service

by Lawrence Gullery
[email protected]

Sir Paul Holmes’ funeral will be held in Auckland next Friday but a separate service closer to his Hawke’s Bay home is being considered by the regions community leaders.

The veteran broadcaster died early on Friday morning at his Hawke’s Bay home, Mana Lodge in Poukawa, surrounded by family, after battling aggressive cancer and a failing heart.

A statement from Sir Paul’s family said his funeral would be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland at 1pm on February 8, one week after his death. It will be followed by a private family cremation.

Sir Paul’s body remains with his family at Mana Lodge until tomorrow, when it will be brought to Auckland with his family.

Napier mayor Barbara Arnott and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson said they understood Sir Paul’s family’s wishes for the Auckland service.

“Auckland was where Sir Paul spent most of his life even though he was a Hawke’s Bay boy. Auckland was where his life was, it was where a lot of his friends were, his family was, and his work colleagues,” Mrs Arnott said.

“So when I read that his service would be in Auckland, I thought that was the most appropriate place.”

Mrs Arnott said it was a possibility that the community could hold a service in Hawke’s Bay to mark Sir Paul’s life and career in broadcasting. She would speak to Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule today about whether there should be a service and where it could be held.

“Lawrence worked a lot with Sir Paul at different events and so I will be guided by him on whether something should be done.”

Mr Wilson said Sir Paul would remain one of Hawke’s Bay’s favourite sons.

“I totally respect his family’s decision to hold the service in Auckland.

“Although there is nothing planned for him in Hawke’s Bay at this stage, I think from my point of view, Sir Paul will be in our thoughts and hears [hearts] for years to come.”

Sir Paul’s family said they had been “truly touched by the outpouring of love for Paul”.

The family thanked “Sir Paul’s friends, colleagues and the public for their overwhelming support throughout his illness and since his passing yesterday morning”.

In a death notice in today’s Hawke’s Bay Today, the family also thanked “all of the Doctors, nurses and staff who cared for Sir Paul during his illness in Auckland and Hawke’s Bay”.

Tributes have flooded in since his death.

Photo caption – HOMESTEAD: Sir Paul’s body remains with his family at Mana Lodge until tomorrow.
PHOTO/FILE