Aldy Butcher

– Aldy Butcher 1929 -1938

Lifelong Loyalty

Contributed by Helen Tait

Aldy Butcher (Taylor), Naida Lyttle (Gardiner), Kath Hart (Armstrong), and Jo Tait (Pitcaithly) started Rangi in 1929. They were joined through the 1930s by Joy Vincent (Duckworth), Biddy Smith (McDougall) and Gwyneth Turland (Hall).

The group became firm friends who continued their friendship throughout their lives, catching up with monthly meetings – during the evening through the war years, then once they had young children, they met during the daytime in the 1950s. As the children were old enough to be left at home with dads, it was back to evenings out, and finally in older age, when some didn’t feel confident driving after dark, they enjoyed lunches and afternoon teas together. In those later years, Dorothy McMillan, another 1930s classmate, joined the group.

The last survivor of this loyal group, Aldy Butcher, turned 100 in April, celebrating with a “locked down” gathering – her family on one side of the fence and her neighbours from Archer Retirement Village, where she lives in an independent villa, with her on the other. Realising that the rest of the loyal group of friends would have turned 100 this year, I thought it would be an occasion to bring together the amazing centenarian and “old girl” daughters of some of the others in the group, so we gathered to catch up and share memories of Rangi over morning coffee.

Of course, this being Christchurch and the Rangi community, we knew of, and discovered all sorts of connections – like Jane and Sue living across the river from one another. Robyn and Sue are part of a regular Friday morning RROG walking group, and closest link of all, after the death of my mother and Robyn’s father, Naida and my father married at the lively age of 75.

We were all most impressed with the memories and observations of our guest of honour, and agreed that she provides us with a great role model. Aldy recently had her driver’s licence renewed, and has a busy round of social and family activities (she had to check her diary to see whether she could fit in the morning coffee).

The gathering also gave us a chance to celebrate another honoured Old Girl, as Robyn Bisset was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in the recent Queen’s Birthday honours for services to the community.

From the left: Naida’s daughter Robyn Bisset, Gwyneth’s daughter Jane Mundy, guest of honour Aldy, Joy’s daughter Sue Fox, Aldy’s daughter Sally Clark, and me, Jo’s daughter. RROG daughters missing from the gathering were Biddy’s daughter, Janine Johnson, and Nicky Vincent.