Mrs Horne turned 96 on the November 11
Peggy Horne?s parents were hairdressers, her husband as well, and low and behold, her son became a hairdresser. Mrs Horne turned 96 on the November 11, and says the trick to long life is to be happy and have a good family. She was born in Blenheim and moved up to live with her barber husband in Seatoun. One of the most influential New Zealanders is child health visionary Sir Frederick Truby King founded The Plunket Society over 100 years ago, she says. ?If I was to say anyone it would be Truby King, he did a lot for children?s health,? says Mrs Horne. Truby King House and Garden is a 1.9-hectare heritage-listed estate above Lyall Bay where the founder lived, and is open to the public. Mrs Horne had two children, Diane and Lewis, and Lewis has carried on the family tradition of hairdressing. Spenser Radford was a family name in Wellington, due to the Radford Furniture retail firm located in the old Manners Street. ?It was a fair sized company, with around 50 employees. ?I like to think I was a fair boss,? says Mr Radford with a smile. He turned 97 on November 15 and recollects vivid memories of past wars. During WWII he was posted to Ohakea Airbase outside of Palmerston North and was a flying instructor. ?I remember as a child watching the men get on the ships to go off to the 1914 ? 1918 war. ?There were all these ships lines up at the water front?. His three children have done well and he is proud of them. ?My family have been really good to me; they have not just left me to fall by the wayside. ?I?ve had a good life, and my family have been there for me,? he says. Being keenly interested in politics, Mr Radford says the most influential government he has witnessed was led by David Lange. ?With retrospect, the Labour government has been the most influential,? he says.
