William HERLIHY Obituary

Willie, where do I start, you played such a big part in mine and my brother´s early years. You selflessly gave your time to entertaining us with weekends at Manfield while you plied your trade fixing and doing last minute sign writing we were privileged to tag along and look at the cars, try to get stickers etc. Those were the days of the Big Bangers and Formula 500, up close in the pits getting the best view.

Your model trains were amazing, we would spend many an hour while Dad and Pat talked farming playing with them, I recall it started in the back room and over the years expanded by use of tunnels through the walls in to other rooms.

We spent time with you and Pat doing hay every new year. We were so fortunate to have a cousin of mums that took the time to make our lives so eventful. Unfortunately with 25 years in Oz we hadn´t had much contact, but of course one last bit of drama, on the weekend of my Wedding in Napier we watched yours and Pats house slip into the river in the Feb Floods of 2004 on the news. And then hearing the comment to mum that you were just shifting the house down to Foxton Beach via the river.

With the sadness of your passing, I can´t help smiling when remembering those early years.

RIP Willie and thank you.

My sincere sympathy on the death of Bill - or Willy as he was often known by. He was very supportive of the St Josephs Convent School Jubilee, doing all the sign writing for the event, and made a model of the original school building, which is now in the school library. Margaret Shortall (nee O´Donnell).

I remember you, Eileen, when we were at college l meet up with Bill when my husband was in Wimbledon. He would sit quietly drawing and colouring in pictures. Many would be placed on the walls. His face would light up when l talked about you. I am sorry for you loss of a loved brother.

I hope I have the right person. We called Mr Herlihy the Signwriter Willy. He was an incredibly talented man with a paint brush and did much of the sign writing around Feilding. Willy was always good company and a pleasure to work with. His house was the one that dropped into the swollen Kiwitea Stream in the 2004 flood.