H0358 Ian Robert (Buck) Buckingham

Interviewer: Jenny Campbell

Date: 19 July 2018

Abstracter: April Milligan

Track 1

00.37 IAN ROBERT BUCKINGHAM (BUCK), born in 1938. Recounts how he got his name. Locals called in his grandfather MR BUCK, later to be referred to as BUCK, a title to refer only to him. Upon his death his son (Ian’s Father) was known by this name. Upon his Father’s death in 1965 it passed on to Ian.

02.38 Born in TE KARAKA 20 miles out of GISBORNE. Parents moved to GISBORNE soon after his birth. Recalls his sister JUDITH CAROL BUCKINGHAM, when very young often disappearing and everyone looking for her. Recounts story of her trying to catch the trains travelling from GISBORNE to NAPIER in the early morning (4am). Lived about 2 miles from the Railway Station. On hearing 3 lots of 3 toots their Mum would send the family off to get her. Once they didn’t find her until 30 miles out of GISBORNE on the Railcar. They had to stop till they could get her which meant borrowing a car. She was also in the Navy like BUCK.

05.17 Father was PERCY EDWIN [ROBERT] BUCKINGHAM and Mother KATHLEEN PATRICIA BUCKINGHAM nee LINDON. Mother was a Maternity Nurse in GISBORNE at the SALVATION ARMY NURSING HOME until she got married. His Dad came from a big family of 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Mum had 4 sisters and 3 brothers.

06.59 Sister JUDITH who lives in AUSTRALIA, JOAN who lives in MATAMATA in the WAIKATO and an older sister MARGARET who died in 1974 in an accident. Details. Similar accident happened to a daughter of Joan’s. Describes.

08.50 BUCK was second eldest, MARGARET eldest, then BUCK, followed by JOAN and JUDITH.

09.03 Father was a Truck Driver with WARD’s TRANSPORT running freight daily from GISBORNE up to TE AWAROA. Returning he would stay in TE PUIA SPRINGS overnight before heading back to rest up before the next run. Passengers were light in school holidays so remembers being allowed to make the journey too. Father also did the POVERTY BAY/ GISBORNE/EAST COAST run and the TE KARAKA run. Recalls early starts.

10.57 Parents bought their first house in GISBORNE just after BUCK left the Navy. Lived in 3-4 STATE HOUSES before that.

11.32 After marriage mother became a homemaker. BUCK’s sister was the same – maternity nurse then home maker. BUCK’s ex-wife was also a Maternity Nurse. Enjoyable work and many wanted to be Nurses. Recounts story of men waiting to meet nurses coming out of COOK HOSPITAL at night. Every now and then a “hairy arsed Sister would come out and say get away home”.

13.20 1940s and 50s - great life. “You were allowed out after breakfast and had to be back before the evening lights came on”. Kids disappeared for 5-10 hours but you obeyed Mum’s 5.00pm curfew to be back for tea.

14.11 JUDITH and BUCK teamed up because MARGARET was 3 years older and out flatting. JOAN was an outsider, living with a man, doing all sorts of wonderful things but thought to stuff up the family name.

TRACK 2

00.05 However JOAN was the only one who never got split up or divorced or had a kid out of wedlock. She just recently lost her husband but she’s still the same. Bang on.

00.35 Recounts things done as a child: threw stones at street lights, there was no parks, nowhere to go. Got caught by the Police doing stupid little things then taken home for punishment by his Father. Describes. Everybody was the same, all from the same school. The Intermediate or the Catholic School.

01.34 Survived by hanging around the kids in the Catholic School. Christened as a Catholic and having RC on papers. Mother had been bought up as a Catholic and attended on Sunday’s with her two sisters, but not his Father who sometimes went for christenings. Later BUCK had Power of Attorney for his Father. [BUCK is trying to identify a photo he thinks is another sister of his Mother]

04.12 All Relatives are from around the GISBORNE/WAIROA area. Mother’s brother was a LINDON and lived in NAPIER, while other LINDON’s were in the GISBORNE area. The BUCKINGHAM family lived in GISBORNE/ WAIROA except for one family.

05.19 Recalls going to TOLAGA BAY for holidays to where Mum’s sister worked on a farm. UNCLE JACK “was great”. Looked forward to the holiday, milking a dozen cows. “The big, bloody milk truck would pull up, hoist the little milk cans up. Milk and cream cans”. Lots of things going on.

06.50 BUCK, (6 years old) had a great friend MARIO (8 years old), an ITALIAN boy who BUCK took under his wing to look after him. Not common to have different Nationalities. Not so many MAORI families either. They lived more up the coast at TE TIPUA SPRINGS, TOLAGA BAY, TOKOMARU BAY, RUATORIA, TE AROA.

08.11 Knew them all after the NAVY when he worked for GENERAL FOODS driving an ice cream truck delivering frozen foods for WATTIES. BUCK’s AUNTY lived next to MARIO’s family who had just come out from ITALY and got on extremely well sparking BUCK’s friendship.

10.59 MARIO’s Family came out to NEW ZEALAND at first living in REEFTON. MARIO’s Father VICTORIO was supposedly a Fisherman before shifting to GISBORNE to fish. Aunty would visit MAMMA every day. MAMMA was a great Chef. Every day after school she would sit out the front waiting and bring out a plate of milk and biscuits. Great ITALIAN cooking. Recently MAMMA has reverted back to ITALIAN language.

13.16 BUCK recalls the classroom at his Catholic Primary School - 28/30 per classroom. Everybody was cheerful with occasional “whacks around the bum” from a Priest. The Teachers were Nuns. BUCK and MARIO were really close friends, got on very well.

TRACK 3

00.17 Recounts lunchtime and playtimes playing outside. Had sixpence for lunch and to get him on the bus to school and back. A penny for the bus trip, “thruppence” to buy us a pie and a doughnut and spend any left over. After school Mother would say, “Where’s the change?” “If you didn’t produce it you got a hiding for it.”

02.26 BUCK explains, “Dad was never shy in giving us a hiding”. He recalls a story from Guy Fawkes Night when he lifted a gate off an old ladies fence and took it for a bonfire. Policeman found out and he was punished.

MEMORIAL SERVICE TRACK 1

11.39 Reference to BUCK’s service in the Navy. Hymns, Bible Readings and Prayers.

MEMORIAL SERVICE TRACK 2

00.28 Tribute to BUCK from JULIE a friend of 10 years. He was a friend to the children. Quick with words, maths calculations, jokes and car stories. Meeting once a week at WINTON BAKERY for a custard square a cheese and onion sandwich and a cup of tea. BUCK’s sayings, “well tickle my arse with a feather, Royal Britannia marmalade and jam, kia kaha.” Buck was fond of wearing colourful clothing. The children helped him make pies and relish and enjoyed snacks and the rituals of cups of tea. Described Buck as humorous, determined, on time, strict, and his way, great company and listener, caring, emotional. BUCK said, “Back in my day, if I was younger I would teach this world a thing or two.”

10.42 MARY read a favourite poem of BUCK’s, “Tell Mother I’ll Be There.”

13.13 Message and memories read from BUCK’s sister JUDITH in AUSTRALIA.

MEMORIAL SERVICE TRACK 3

00.20 Memories from BUCK’s sister continued.

04.36 Memories from BERNIE NOLAN a cousin and friend who shared holidays and special occasions. Tribute to Aunty KATH, BUCK’S Mother. BUCK was very proud when he joined the NZ NAVY. After demobilisation BUCK joined the PRISON SERVICE as a Prison Officer. BUCK was a legend as he loved to cook lamb’s fry and bacon and macaroni cheese. He devised novel ways to sort out prisoners.

09.24 Tribute from TERRY KING from INVERCARGILL. He met BUCK through friends BOB and LINDA STEVENSEN 4 years ago. TERRY had been diagnosed with a stomach tumour. BUCK had had the same surgery with PROFESSOR KONRAD RICHTER. BUCK became a mentor to TERRY as he went through the same process with the same Surgeon with many visits to LUMSDEN and later at VICKERY COURT. TERRY enjoyed BUCK’s sense of humour and yarns.

13.33 Memories from LINDA STEVENSON a friend of 16 years. LINDA tutored BUCK in learning to use a computer. LINDA found out BUCK was a Chef after she had cooked a meal at her home. Provided meals at Christmas and during recuperation periods after Hospital stays including stays in the crib at ARROWTOWN.

MEMORIAL SERVICE TRACK 4

00.05 JENNY CAMPBELL from MOSSBURN shared about recording BUCK’s story. BUCK wrote some highlights as follows; Childhood in GISBORNE, joined the NAVY as a Signalman in the Communication Branch, Truck Driver for General Foods, worked in CHRISTCHURCH in the Prison Service as a Chef at PAPARUA until 2000, a Chef at MANAWATU PRISON, retired to SOUTHLAND, worked at BANNOCKBURN, MOSSBURN and LUMSDEN, Chairman of the LUMSDEN Senior Citizens, Politics - Labour, Religion -Roman Catholic, Interests - Sports, Wife – JUDITH, married – 1965, son - TATIA, Health – good until recently, Father – ROBERT born 1919 a Shepard and Truck Driver to TE AWAROA and TE PUIA SPRINGS, moved to GISBORNE, Mother – KATHLEEN EILEEN LINDON born 1920, a Maternity Nurse then Homemaker, had 3 sisters JUDITH( very close), JOAN and MARGARET, attended –Intermediate Catholic School followed by MARIST BROTHERS COLLEGE in GISBORNE – left at the end of Form 3 aged 15 years, Navy 12 years, truck driver – General Foods, Prison Officer – PAPARUA, Retired 2000, Cooked - PALMERSTON NORTH BOYS HIGH. The name BUCK came about because his Grandfather was known as MR BUCK, followed on his death by his Father inheriting the nickname BUCK, and on his death BUCK became the new Buck. Anecdotes about his close sister JUDITH and the railcar story. JOAN told the story of the demise of MARGARET through an accident. JOAN’s daughter also had a similar demise. Stories from the recording repeated at the service. BUCK baked a variety of gourmet pies and really enjoyed his 80th Birthday celebrations. Latterly baking at the BUZZ CAFÉ in LUMSDEN, specialty pies; beef, beer and bacon, sweetbreads and smoked cheese, butter chicken, venison and plum, venison and cashew, tripe and onions, steak combined with –cheese/kidney or mushroom.

13.34 BUCK was called BUCK back in his Navy days. BEVAN RYAN (CHEVIOT, NORTH CANTERBURY) shared a story read by JENNY. Classmates then worked together for 10 years as Signalmen. TERRY MURPHY, INVERCARGILL remembered while BUCK was at PAPAROA PRISON they were short of cooks so BUCK went on a short course at CHRISTCHURCH POLYTECHNIC on Quality Control for 32 weeks. Learning about cooking volumes of food for 20 to 260 inmates at cost.

MEMORIAL SERVICE Track 5

00.05 He was instrumental in the social climate for staff in the village. He was instrumental in designing a project for the kitchen at RASTRICK HALL named for the Superintendent in charge of the project. BUCK’s role was to train 8-10 inmates in catering. JENNY recalls BUCK’s ability to bring people together to have fun.

01.28 Poem reading, ‘The Dash.’ Recognised for his contribution to St John’s op shop with pickles were well received.

04.09 Respect paid to Serviceman Number NZ 14914 Leading Hand IAN ROBERT BUCKINGHAM known as BUCK. Placement of poppies and standing for the Last Post and Ode, ‘We Will Remember Them’.

09.46 Service continued with closing prayer and Navy Hymn.

MEMORIAL SERVICE Track 6

00.11 Memories recalled by TERRY MURPHY a co-worker with BUCK at MANAWATU PRISON during the 1980’s/90’s. He was employed under the title as Cooking Instructor responsible for feeding upwards 200 + inmates. Working within an approved budget of $3.50 per person per day. BUCK planned all the menus with variety day to day, a big challenge. He was able to improvise when needed but still insured meals of a high standard. Prison food had to be wholesome, palatable with satisfactory portion size to meet needs. Dissatisfaction with meals could create disharmony and unrest so good meals were very important. Inmates locked up for so many hours looked forward to meals. Buck was efficient, skilled and always maintained complete control of his kitchen crew. BUCK trained the crew as cooks, pot hands and cleaners of up to a dozen inmates. Hands on – firm but fair in his dealings but not tolerant of incompetence, filth or disrespect. The crew wore clean, white clothing which was changed on a daily basis unless it became soiled and changed immediately. His ex- Navy view insisted that the Laundry staff press the trousers. He darted around checking and supervising with a hop a long limp that did not hamper him. He used a positive approach, fine sense of humour and good heart to break down barriers. Respected by Staff and Inmates alike – a good bloke.