Tributes to Uncle B

[James Deuce]

Thanks so much Jim2 for pillioning me out there.

You are very welcome, O invisible pillion.

It was nice to have some company.

[hsvboy06]

Then she said to us "Bikers, make sure you come home to your family" That was a soul searching moment.

Yep, and it had the same effect second time around reading it in your post. Deep breaths...

[Terminated]

Hello to you all in NZ. I'm Steve Hannaford, one of Bruce's two brothers in the UK. Reading all your posts makes me truly proud to have been his brother. I hadn't seen him for a few years - he came over to London back in 99 (or was it 2000), and the last time I was in NZ was 1997. We certainly had a great time then, though Bruce hated London. I recall he couldn't understand why he was approached by so many friendly men when he was out drinking in the evening - we had to tell him to stop wearing those lumberjack shirts and shave off that moustache! He was truly horrified when he realised.

Like all us bikers (forza Ducati), Bruce lived and died doing what he loved. I know he wouldn't change his mind about that - so the best tribute to him is to get out and ride - but be careful out there.

God bless you all - the biking community is the same the world over!

Hello Steve,

Mate our thoughts are with you from over the seas down here.

Regards
Guy
BuckBuckNo1

[Peter M]

What can be said at a time like this, There was so much to Bruce that many of us knew & yet so much more we didn't. As a colleague for the past decade or so & sometimes ride companion ( more in the dirt bike days when I could keep up with him) his funeral was both moving & so very interesting.
It was an honor to have shared that service & a special tribute my mate Andrew Martin who overcome his greatest fear ( public speaking) to give such a fitting and heart felt eulogy to Bruce.
Pete summed up Bruce & his life segments well, I have shared parts of his work & Bike segments and know the genuine affection those people feel for him. It was sad but nice to share his memories with his family & see those wonderful photos of him growing up.
If it were not such a sad occasion & Bruce could have been there what a great occasion it would have been with all those people who he had touched.

Sadly that was not the case, however it was an aw-inspiring & moving occasion.
The Bike procession to Akatarawa & tribute we all made to Bruce while the family was at the crematorium will always stay in my mind as it will with all the other riders present that day.

Debbie , my thoughts are with you & your family.
Thursday will be in my mind & the mind of everyone present for the rest of our lives. I will think of him every time I get on my bike.
His memory will live on.

[lin]

Axe and I are sorry we couldn't make it uncle b's funeral but our thought are with Debby and family

[ohcrap]

I'm going for a quiet ride on Bruces old XR250 in the bush this weekend to reflect on the weeks events.

Rear pegs down.

[Hitcher]

To Debbie and all of Bruce's family, thank you for being so hospitable yesterday. The service was profoundly moving and gave a wide variety of insights into what made Bruce such a special and great bloke. Our thoughts are with you in the months ahead as you move to rebuild your lives without him.

To all of you Kiwi Bikers who participated in yesterday's tribute to Bruce, you really did him proud. I am certain he rode with us in spirit.

Jane & Brett

[knight rider]

does someone have a bank account where we can make dontaions to help contribute to funeral expences etc. just thought it would be a good way to say thanks for all the he has done for us. If you can afford it cool, if not sweet as. I wana help in some way so if anyone has debbies account number or know where we can send a cheque etc please post it up here

Thanks

KR

[Ms Piggy]

does someone have a bank account where we can make dontaions to help contribute to funeral expences etc. just thought it would be a good way to say thanks for all the he has done for us. If you can afford it cool, if not sweet as. I wana help in some way so if anyone has debbies account number or know where we can send a cheque etc please post it up here

Thanks

KR

I believe Debbie wanted all donations to go to the SPCA. That's what the funeral notice in the paper said.

[knight rider]

I believe Debbie wanted all donations to go to the SPCA. That's what the funeral notice in the paper said.

ok thanks celtic

[yungatart]

Well the news on Sunday was devastating!
When funeral details were confirmed, (Mstrs, hXc, and I) decided we would ride down to pay our respects to the man we had met only once.
I am not known for my great riding ability or my stamina, but out of respect for Uncle B and as my own tribute to him, I decided I had to ride my own bike down, even though I could have twisted Mstrs' arm to let me ride pillion, given the circumstances.
On Thursday morning we saddled up and headed off on what, to date, has been my longest ride. The weather was fine and warm. Usually before a ride I am nervous and edgy, but I was very calm, as we filled up our bikes. The Busa Petes had stayed with us so it was a small group of four bikes that set off.
At Dannevirke the wind came up, blustery, cold and unpleasant. Thoughts of Uncle B crossed my mind, smooth riding, clean lines and relax. At times my wee steed struggled to maintain a decent speed in the head wind.
After a coffee stop at Woodville, where Klown joined us, we set off again. The wind grew in intensity as we rode through the 'rapa, but I remained calm and focused.
All of a sudden, the 'takas were in front of me. Uncle B's words of advice filtered through again.hXc and Klown headed off ahead, Mstrs had stopped to make a call in Featherston and the Busa Petes had also stopped. I was alone on the hill that I had read so much about, but till this moment, never ridden. At the bailey bridge at the bottom, three bees were blown into my helmet, they crawled around on my face and tickled somewhat. I decided that they were friendly, and just seeking some respite from the wind, which by that time was bloody awful.. maybe it was our three fallen comrades, giving me an escort.
I rode slowly, pulling over for cars on occasion, the road at the summit was clear so I pulled into the carpark and farewelled the bees, then headed on down. We regrouped at the bottom of the hill and headed in to the Hutt.
Traffic built up as we got closer and I had my first experience of motorway riding and in much more traffic than I am used to.
At the meeting place, we met up with friends old and new.
Briefing over, and time to head off. I had decided that given my nana riding ability, I would be better placed at the back, but somehow ended up in the middle of the procession, still calm and focussed on what lay ahead. Little did I realise that it would be hill starts, slow formation riding and in such a large group. It was a real test for me and one that I passed, I am happy to say.
We chose not to go up the Akatarawas, but instead headed off to visit family.More tests for me, with traffic lights (I don't do much city riding) and lines of cars for Africa, lane changing galore and still that relentless wind.
My journey for Uncle B was not over yet, as we still had to get to Karori and our beds for the night.
The next day dawned, very wet. (I have only ridden in the wet once before and that was on a deserted HW50.) I got seperated from Mstrs and hXc and took a wrong turn, ending up back at the Ngauranga gorge, where Mstrs rescued me yet again and we finally got to Seaview to cach up with my son. I was wet, and cold, (I'm hopeless when I'm cold) and my cordura was letting the rain through.
We had lunch and I purchased a pair of polyprop longjohns to wear underneath, then rode off to the meeting point again for loosebruce's funeral, another very sad occaasion.
Eventually we headed off back over the 'takas to spend the night in Carterton. The rain had gone and the wind had dropped. I was looking forward to my second trip over the infamous hill. hXc had gone ahead (to have a little play but http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...24&postcount=1 ). It is a horrible thing to see your son's bike jammed up against the Armco..
Finally we tackled the hill, it was dark, raining and bitterly cold as we wended our way ever so slowly over just ahead of the Southerly front, which tapped our shoulders all the way to Carterton.
I was in the lead, but with my visor and glasses both fogged up, I pulled over to let Mstrs ride in front. We had hXc between us as he had his tinted visor on and needed a tail light to follow.
It was three bedraggled riders who turned in to elle33f's driveway, where we were greeted with hot drinks and a warm fire, thanks mate.
Saturday morning, and it was 5.15 am all too soon, hXc had to be at work early, so a feed of eggs and toast for him and he was off home alone.
We waited for Crashe, the patches of blue sky diminished but at least it wasn't quite so windy. We all gassed up in Masterton and set off, it wasn't long before I was cold and wet again. A food stop at Woodville, where the fire was going, a welcome sight it was too.
Before long we were on our way again, in some places the road was dry and the sun tried hard to break through, by the time we hit HB it was warmer and only the odd shower to contend with. I was ever so glad to pull into my own gagre about 3.30 pm.
You taught me well, Uncle B, even though I never rode with you. It was your advice to newbies that was playing like a recording in my head on that whole 800 odd k journey - calm, relaxed, smooth, focused, clean lines, awareness.
It was thoughts of you that kept me going, when I just wanted to stop.
You made a mark in the sand, and I stepped up to it. Thoughts of you gave me courage and determination.
Respect for you was what made me attempt it.
Thank you for your guiding hand and your care.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you for believing in me.
God speed my friend, safe trails.

[knight rider]

Well the news on Sunday .....
God speed my friend, safe trails.

great type up yungatart. very heart felt moment

[snuffles]

Will be sadly missed, RIP Bruce, a great friend to many and a top man.......

[Hawkeye]

You taught me well, Uncle B, even though I never rode with you. It was your advice to newbies that was playing like a recording in my head on that whole 800 odd k journey - calm, relaxed, smooth, focused, clean lines, awareness.
It was thoughts of you that kept me going, when I just wanted to stop.
You made a mark in the sand, and I stepped up to it. Thoughts of you gave me courage and determination.
Respect for you was what made me attempt it.
Thank you for your guiding hand and your care.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you for believing in me.
God speed my friend, safe trails.

Thank you for putting it so succinctly. A very fitting tribute to someone who was admired so much.

[Jase W]

This is truly unbelievable - Bruce was an absolute top bloke. He took me out to teach me some stuff to improve my riding - I wanted to ride like he did. Hard to believe this could happen to someone who was so smooth & controlled in his riding. Rest in peace Bruce.