Sir Ed's funeral service

[roadracingoldfart]

When i was a bit younger i was at a course for the Navy at Anakiwa in the sounds and Sir Ed came to give a speech to the boys.
After it about a dozen of us asked if we could get his signiture in our log books and he abliged and told us we could all get a photo of him and he would get them to us very very soon. About 20 mins after he left the camp we were summond to the mess and given a crisp $5.00 note with his image on it each from Sir Ed. What a clever bastard.
Im ashamed to say i spent it and now wish i had kept it as the special gift it was.
Keep guiding people Sir Ed and now you can look down at the peaks you conquered.

[eliot-ness]

In the fifties Ed Hillary was as much a hero in England as he was here. I remember the school closing for half a day and all pupils went to the local cinema to watch the film of the ascent. A lifetime of great achievements by a great but humble man has finally come to an end. He was, to my mind anyway, the only man of the last century who actually deserved the title "Sir". He will be missed

[TonyB]

Well we all knew it had to happen, yet it doesn't really make it any easier. A truley great man has passed.

[Toaster]

A very good idea. The last state funeral in NZ was for Micheal Joseph Savage. Hillary is at least as deserving .

Absolutely deserving! And fyi here are three state funerals since Savage that I have tracked down and confirmed:

In 2003 the "Unknown Warrior", whose body was returned from a World War 1 European battlefield, was given a state funeral, and so was New Zealand's then last Victoria Cross holder Jack Hinton in July 1997.

The last state funeral before the Unknown Warrior's was the one held for former Governor-General Sir David Beattie in 2001.

[Scorpygirl]

I met him in 1990. A very humble man indeed. Freaky cause the Sky Documentary Channel has a programme on him conquering Everest screening now. All scheduled before his passing. I won't say RIP or .... or RIP... cause I don't know him and might offend some people!!!

PS Go with the gods. I have my prayer flags flying for you.

[WelshWizard]

I remember watching him back in the fifties giving an interview just after he had done the big climb, when ask why, he said he did it for the Empire, Old school like Burt will be missed as he was an example of how to act, not by just saying , but doing it.
You gave your family much to be proud of, may they remember you with fond memories for a long time to come.

[Maha]

Absolutely deserving! And fyi here are three state funerals since Savage that I have tracked down and confirmed:

In 2003 the "Unknown Warrior", whose body was returned from a World War 1 European battlefield, was given a state funeral, and so was New Zealand's then last Victoria Cross holder Jack Hinton in July 1997.

The last state funeral before the Unknown Warrior's was the one held for former Governor-General Sir David Beattie in 2001.

And Norm Kirk?...

[Toaster]

And Norm Kirk?...

Doh! Good point.... highly likely given that he was serving at the time of death wasn't he... August 1974? He was the fifth Prime Minister to die in office.... that office must have been a tad smelly by then!

[Rhino]

And Norm Kirk?...

Norm Kirk (former Mayor of my old home town Kaiapoi) died on August 31 1974. I can't remember the date of the funeral, but I'm sure that it was the next one after M.J. Savage.

[Toaster]

And Norm Kirk?...

... you'd remember Savages funeral wouldn't ya Mark?

[huck farley]

Rest in Peace Sir Edmund, I can still recall as if was yesterday standing at assembly at school when the headmaster announced It is official the New Zealand's Edmond Hillary has conquered Mount Everest.

But what he should have said was Quote: Well we knocked the bastard of" Unquote. You conquered many things in your lifetime to make us all very proud to be Kiwis"

I am sure the whole country would say the same thing. It's sure going to be quiet around the place now that you have gone from this world. So you will Just have to start over again with a few beehives at first, and later I'm sure you will find something up there to Conquer.
You will be sadly missed
Our thoughts are with your family.
From the Phillips Family
Wanganui

[Maha]

... you'd remember Savages funeral wouldn't ya Mark?

Yes im 90...
There was one other state funeral i think, Sir Keith Holyoak?

[Ixion]

I think it may be a matter of definition. There's a difference betwen a State funeral (equivalent to the funeral of a King) and an official funeral.

I follow the UK definition: a funeral consequent to a act of parliament, officiated by the Archbishop, and officially attended by the Queen's personal representative.

Savage's was (I think). I imagine the Unknown Soldier was, not sure about the others.

But as Hillary was a K.G. ( was he the only Kiwi K.G. ever ?) he's entitled to a Garter funeral anyway.

[Toaster]

Yes im 90...
There was one other state funeral i think, Sir Keith Holyoak?

Prime Ministers who died in office:

Ballance (1893), Seddon (1906), Massey (1925), Savage (1940), Kirk (1974).

Holyoake stepped down as Prime Minister in early 1972 (because I was born and he couldn't handle the thought). He stayed on as an MP until 1977 when he was appointed Governor-General. He was Governor-General until 1980 and died in 1983 - therefore would not have been entitled to a state funeral as he was no longer appointed to either office at the time of death.

[Swoop]

The type of person that many of our youth should aspire to be.

RIP.