North Canterbury News: June 28, 2022

Peter Charles Richard
Cornelius
25.07.1935 - 01.07.2021
“It’s been a
good ride”
Chatting about Dad, and sharing with you all
– officially called an Obituary.

Where do you start when
you are writing about your
own Dad? This pondering
has taken a while. Wanting
to put something into print,
and to thank others for
their friendships, that have
come about since Dad
had ‘finished his ride’
on this earth.
So, let’s start at the
beginning ‘it’s a very
good place to start . . .’
as the song goes.
– Susan Waller
Early Days
First memories- this has to be life through the RAF. Dad
was in the RAF (69th entry, 28th August 1951) through
which he met our mum when in Australia. He had
arrived there on his 21st Birthday, 25th July 1956, at
RAAF Edinburgh Field, Adelaide, as part of Operation
Buffallo, to do with the Atomic Bomb tests at Maralinga
(49 Squadron). He was a Corporal Technician, 586929
and calibrated the navigational and bombing equipment
on the Valiant (Green Satin radar equipment).
Upon his return to Australia in July 1958, with 543
Squadron he met up with Janet Paltridge, who was
on night nursing shifts, and after 2 weeks courting
(understand Adelaide River Bridge was a popular
place!), they continued in communication. He proposed
by post and mum made the 5 week ship journey to
England, arriving on 11th October 1959, and started her
new life.
They were married 23rd January 1960 at Watford,
Hertfordshire, and spent their early married days moving
around Norfolk in Caravans, a flat and RAF Married
quarters. My earliest memories are from these days,
when I was approx. 3 years old. Blackberry bushes, toy
box under the stairs, and having a photograph taken
with my younger brother, Richard (‘Itchy’, because I
could not say Richard!)
1

Back to before Mum, myself or brother Richard (Itchy)
appeared on the scene, Dad had been evacuated
during the war, and it was a pleasure in recent years
to have ‘email conversations’ with him, and using
the modern internet to not only know about these
early days, but to also see ‘Google maps’ and find
out about his growing up days in Plymouth and
evacuated to Liskeard. Many fascinating life stories
and experiences. Dad’s parents had been ‘separate’
for many years due to Grandad being in the Royal
Marines, so Dad’s older sister Pat, and younger
brother Colin, where born years apart. One of the
most moving things Dad shared was the first time he
saw his Dad.
6 years old, while evacuated at Liskeard, he was
playing outside a neighbours house, and saw this man
walking down the street, and shouted out ‘It’s my Dad!
It’s my Dad! No dad we don’t live here, we live next
door’ or words very similar to that, is what he shared.
To go back further, Dad was almost born in Malta
(Grandma had saved up for her and their daughter
Pat, to join Grandad when he was posted there), but
she chose to return to England. Malta is one of those
countries that has been a special place for Dad, he
also spent some time there with the RAF. (As a side
note, Grandad (Sydney Charles Cornelius) was in the
Royal Marines in WW1 and WW2, and wrote about
his experience on 21st November 1918, as Captains’
buglar, on the bridge of the “Orion”, he witnessed the
surrender of the German High Sea Fleet surrender to
the Allies. He never spoke about it to us, but I guess
we never asked either!
543 Sqdn Photo Reconnas
Trials Team
R.A.A.F Edinburgh Field
South Australia
August 1958
Dad was a very keen motorcyclists and
rode Triumph motorbikes (his first bike
when 19yrs in 1955, was a 1955 199c
Triumph T20 Tiger Cub (photo for you!),
then a T20C competition model, and
rode that for ‘the One-hour Sunbeam
MCC Trial at Silverstone’ and won a 1st
M/Class pewter tankard (Richard now
has this). He relayed many stories of his
RAF biking days. Both some RAF antics
and motorcycling experiences, and it’s
through these that you start to realise
that your Dad ‘was in fact young’ and
not just a dad!!! He soon changed to a
car when mum arrived (this was a brief
intermission in his biking life).
2

The RAF and
Family Man
Mum and Dad’s first home together (a caravan in
Snettersham, Norfolk) included a model railway
(TT3 Great Western Railway), alsation dog, no
running water or mains electricity! When I joined
them in 1961, Mum’s parents had came over
from Australia for approx. a year, and stayed
in a nearby caravan. Dad took photos of us all
going on trips out together. Gosh so many more
wonderful stories and memories relayed, but have
to stop it there!
Our final RAF family home together was at RAF
Marham, (dad 49 squadron and still with Valiants).
Richard joined us 23rd December 1963 (little
‘itchy’). Dad spoke about the model railway
club in the museum at the base, and living in
RAF married quarters, said it was not really for a
family (so different than today). There are some
fabulous family photos of us in this home, garden,
birthdays and picnics. Dad has always taken
lots of photos, and when we came to empty their
family home in 2021, there seemed to be every
camera he had ever owned in the cupboard,
along with boxes of slides and prints!
Dad left the RAF in 1965 and after us all living
briefly with his parents, we moved to 131
Longcroft, Watford. I can still remember us all
moving in, and Dad worked hard on making
that house into a home. We had another dog
join us, and he chewed the wood that Dad
had pannelled the kitchen wall! Richard and I
started school, and mum walked us there and
back every day! Dad worked with IBM, the
early days of computers, that took up a whole
room. IBM included the younger family for
Christmas parties, and when older to London
for Pantomime on Ice. I also remember
going around an IBM office with lots of large
computers and a ‘desktop’ type screen with
questions you had to answer. It made Dad’s
work seem like fun! He also travelled at times
and brought back our first taste of Muesli
from Switzerland!
3

It was not long before Dad was back on the motorbike
(the 1970/80’s UK fuel crisis), and soon after mum was
riding bikes, and they had many years of fun together.
That included researching & breaking the dating code’s
of triumph machines manufactured after 1923 (lost when
the Coventry factory was bombed 14th November 1940
during WW2) and Dad became the Marque Specialist
for Triumph Motorbikes 1923 to 1933, for the Vintage
Motorcycle Club, UK. Over the years he recorded his
research and documented these in multiple books. My
brother Richard is now making these available to all,
publishing them online through Amazon (Triumph The
Facts). A copy also goes into the national archives. (As
a side line, dad has also written about his eclectic life
experiences (which you will find out more as you read
on!) in a series of books titled ‘Chance’.
Our life as a family has various memories. Mum and dad
were always hospitable so we welcomed people from
all parts of the world, when visiting the UK through IBM
(including France, Turkey and New Zealand). We moved
from Watford to 4 Cuckmans Drive Chiswell Green, St
Albans in approx. 1970, and the garage filled up with
motorbikes, the drive had 2 cars in it, and our bicycles
(essential for paper round and getting to school) were
in the back garden shed. Mum had a greenhouse and
garden pond.
We were also joined by a cat (Winnnie) and dog
(Caesar). You will note that the garage had two railway
finials on the roof above the doors. These were from the
Great Western Railway (obviously no room for the full
signals at the house!)
Summer family holidays often included Dad’s parents for
a week in Devon and visiting relatives. And a second
holiday with just us 4 (& the dog!) on the canal. Dad
was able to be away from work and being ‘on call’, the
days before mobile phones! Richard and I soon learnt
to swim so we did not have to wear the life jackets! We
also regularly saw dad’s parents who lived down the
road in Garston, North Watford.
4

Mum’s parents were in Australia (Grannie and
Grandad Aussie) and we spoke with them
once a year on a ‘pre-booked 10 min call’,
otherwise it was letters and photos in the post
from our Australian grandparents and cousins.
There were always photos of them on display,
and their lives living on farm seemed so
different than ours! It wasn’t until 1977 when
we met them for the first time (apart from
when I was a baby!). We all took a sudden
family trip to Australia, when Grandad was not
well. Dad had been saving up for us all to go,
and it was mum’s first trip back to Australia.
For the first time got to know the other side
of the family, and their lives. This included
Richard and mine first experience on our
cousins off road bikes on their farm. Many
fun memories, and grandad wore his Scottish
Beret from his trip to England in 1961 (proud
of his Scottish ancestry)! As a child you just
‘go along with these things’ but it’s not until
later years you realise the thought and effort
that your parents put into these parts of your
lives.
One of these is learning to ride motorbikes
in England! As a family we all soon learnt to
ride, and Dad took us approx. 45 mins down
the road to Watford to the RAC/ACU Training
scheme. A very strict course, including hill
start, road test and bike maintenance, before
taking the ‘not so strict’ government legal
test. The examiner just stood on the road
watching us ride past! Dad then permitted us
to go on the road!
Life takes a turn and
moves ‘Down South’
Life for Mum and Dad was about to change
again in 1978 when Dad’s work took him to
New Zealand for 3 months. IBM New Zealand
were looking for a course instructor and offered
Dad the opportunity of going and taking the
whole family, and then stopping off at Australia
on the way home.
We rented a house in Karori, the hills of
Wellington, Dad went to work at IBM Nae
Nae, Richard ‘got the short straw’ and went to
school, Mum (I’m not sure what she did!!!), and
I went to dad’s work to help out (filing, copying),
then saw advertised a short typing course in
Wellington, and then went onto Petone College
and learnt bookkeeping and to ‘touch type’ (a
skill that continues to this day, hence typing
this!). New Zealand has a lot to answer for!
And the travel by Trolley Bus, Cable Car and
Wellington train were special experiences.
Dad met some friends through this work that
they still have to this day (Lindsay and Vivienne
McIsaac who came to the rescue of the English
lady who didn’t know how to shop in New
Zealand!). Dad somehow managed to also
squeeze in trips for us as family around the
North Island to Rotorua, Mount Egmont, glow
worm caves. And a trip to the South Island
including Arthurs pass, Franz Joseph Glazier
and panning for gold.
They fell in love with the country and the
people. After returning to England, Mum & Dad
went out a New Zealand a few more times for
Motorbike rallies (incl 1986 First Pan Pacific
Rally) and new friends loaned them motorbikes
to ride on (including Richard Caldwell).
Then in 1991 Dad took early
retirement (at 56years!) and on a
bike trip around New Zealand, they
decided to look at houses. They
found a detached 2 story (“you have
to go upstairs to bed” dad said) at 9
Strachan Place, Rangiora, that had
that a large enough garage for dad’s
bikes and garden for mum, and they
chose to emigrate to New Zealand!
5

So on 13th September 1993 (noted in dad’s
flying log, and saved plane tickets!) Mum, Dad,
cat Smutty and dog Chum, along with around
12 motorbikes, 2 cars, bike parts and their
home contents, they left England and their two
‘children’ for a life in New Zealand! They were
made so welcome on their arrival and I’ve only
recently found how much. Derek Upton met
them at the airport and gave them somewhere
to sleep that night. He has continued to be
a friend, and almost part of the family! The
shipping company, Pickfords, said they had
not moved anyone with so many bikes since
Barry Sheen!
When they emigrated they took their whole
lives and memories from England with them,
documents, paperwork and memories from
RAF life, Watford home and St Albans home,
all to New Zealand. We discovered this when
going through their home recently. Just glad
dad stopped at a 5 bedroomed house!
They had a further 27 years of retired life
in New Zealand, and celebrated 61 years
together. It is only recently that I’ve found
out through their friends, that dad’s eclectic
enjoyment of life continued!
This included the Daimler and Lanchester
Spare Parts Club. Dad was actively involved
(see photo of flip chart with ideas for
membership!), he had his own area for parts,
which he proudly showed us when visiting,
and was editor of the magazine ‘The Flut’ed
Grill’ for 6 years, 2010-2016 (John Galey and
Kay McCallam, thanks for your input and
friendship ).
6

Mum and Dad never really learnt
how to retire, and at the age of 70yrs
Dad had flying lessons at Wigram,
just outside Christchurch and
obtained his private pilots licence
when 72years young! He also passed
a course for multi engine rating
flying Cougar ZK-PAP at Wigram.
Mum and dad joined the Canterbury Vintage Car Club
(thanks Jeff Rogers for your friendship) and dad would
source information from the club library and went on
many car and bike events (his diary has this recorded
and planned ahead!). Gloria Micallef from Waimack
Classic Cars has relayed the joy and experience of
meeting them at many of these events. Dad somehow
managed to fit into their lives time to continue
researching triumph motorbikes, and communicating
around the world by email, letters and welcoming
visitors.
In 2010 Dad set up the Rangiora Menz Shed (Morris
Harris has relayed memories). We as children have seen
many photos over the years of the club building being
developed, fund raising events and items made, and
had the privilege of being introduced to members when
we visited. In 2019 Dad retired as Chairman, with life
long membership and received an Acknowledgement of
Service Certificate, presented by Mayor David Ayers.
I have recently found that dad had kept a typed diary
on his computer, for many years, and had typed up
what they had done, and who they had met, with his
own ‘special way of commenting!’ One of their early NZ
friends are Richard & Audrey Caldwell, Dad mentioned
them visiting most years, for motorbikes of course! (I
omitted to say that steam trains and traction engines
were also part of our childhood, but he never owned
one, otherwise I’m sure that would have been shipped
to NZ!).
Mum and Dad never really learnt how to retire, and at
the age of 70yrs Dad had flying lessons at Wigram, just
outside Christchurch and obtained his private pilots
licence when 72years young! He also passed a course
for multi engine rating flying Cougar ZK-PAP at Wigram.
In 2014 the Model Railways boxes were opened again,
including his original 1961 Table Top Great Western
Railway, in 3mm size (he had never cancelled his UK
3mm Society membership!) Dad was a foundation
member of the North Canterbury Model Railway club,
and after a brief break (as busy with the Menz Shed
Dad) returned to his layout on Wednesday nights
and Saturday mornings. Dad shared by email many
photos of his ideas and models, and his considerations
and attention to detail continued with these small but
important replicas. (Thank you Arthur Linnell and Kevin
Ching for sharing with us Dad’s life and enjoyment at
the club, and the club having a running track at Dad’s
funeral reception!)
7

When mum and dad emigrated to NZ, they left
Richard and myself behind in the UK. Dad was
never a ‘religious’ man, and attended Church
for particular and special events. He always
encouraged us as children to be involved with
Sunday school/choir etc. Mum has a strong
Christian Faith in the Lord and has testimony of
being healed from Arthritis, and has continued in
strong health and exercising many dogs over the
years. Mum when in NZ occupied her time with
many new friends and Church life, Nursing/Care
home visits, and dog training. She even managed
to fit in studying for Theology Degree, and her thesis
was ‘Why Spiritual Care for the Elderly’ (copies
available). She also supported dad with his triumph
bikes and classic cars and all their activities and
events.
Dad never stopped mum with her Church life, he
would support and when they celebrated their 50
years, they had a recommittal of their marriage at
Church, followed by a car rally event! As a family we
also met up for a week together in Singapore, and
Dad was great at organizing all our varying ideas and
what we wanted to do – he got a flip chart from the
hotel!
Dad was a great lover of ice-cream, and I make
no excuse in sharing with you one of my favourite
photos from Singapore. Mum and Dad with
an Icecream in the café under our hotel! Great
memories!
On 23rd January 2020 they celebrated another
milestone of 60 years marriage! Their friends John
and Kay Galey hosted a tea party for them, and
a journalist from the local North Canterbury News
newspaper visited, with a subsequent article printed
‘Years on, love still triumphs’. A title that summed up
their lives perfectly!
8

Life changes
again
On 13th May 2021 Dad’s life changed direction again.
He sent us an email stating ‘don’t by any gifts for my
birthday this year’. His birthday was 25th July. He
had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a
few weeks/months to live. He started to put various
affairs in order. How do you do that, with a lifetime of
experiences in the house. I later found out that you
do what you can, and then leave the rest for the family
and friends!
Mum by now was also in the early stages of
Dementia, still enjoying life to the max, but not always
remembering it all! So dad had been increasingly
supporting her in various ways, over the recent years.
His concern for her was expressed in various emails to
me and phone calls.
Back in England Richard and I prepared to travel from
England and applied for New Zealand Visas during
COVID lockdown. Many years before, the Lord had
made it clear to me, that ‘If I put Him first, He would
take care of our family’. I truly believed that, even
though it was not always easy being so far apart from
them. I didn’t realise it, but this was that time.
Since Mum and Dad had emigrated, the Church that
myself and my husband Alan are part of (His Church),
have grown in their Humanitarian Aid work and moved
further north to Lincolnshire and occupied a large
50,000 square foot Hangar for a warehouse and other
buildings on an old RAF site. I was back again at an
RAF base! We as a Church are restoring the buildings
and ex-pilots & RAF personnel visit, sharing their
memories. It is like life is coming back into both the
buildings and the people. I was sharing this with Dad
over the recent years, and it increased in our last few
weeks. We had a giggle as I said “My first home was a
caravan with the RAF and it looks like I will be finishing
it in a caravan at an RAF site!”.
The miraculous care that was given to both mum and
dad in his final weeks was just awesome to watch.
Cousins Jim and Jodie Bowden travelled over from
Australia and cared for them both, which ended up
being for 7 weeks. Anne Barnes from mum’s church
was prompted to visit their home and has assisted with
practical provision, and still does.
The ‘nursing home bed from nowhere’ that became
available for dad’s final days, The personal help from
Judith at Older People’s Health, including Adriel House
as a ‘unique’ new home for mum and a room available
immediately. The provision for a new home for Bluey
Dog, Katelyn visited & immediately fell in love with him.
The team of ladies from mum’s church that sewed on
all her clothing labels. Ann Jelf and Morris Harris that
helped finish emptying the house. Neighbours, Les
and Shirely Nelson who looked after the house when
empty and thoughtfully cared for the garden……….
the list goes on………….
9

It says in the Bible John 21v25 ‘But there are also
many other things which Jesus did; were every one of
them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could
not contain the books that would be written’, well
those 5 weeks was just like that time. I can’t express
how much The Lord did for His care for both Mum and
Dad, and His continued care since then for Mum.
The Anglican Church in Amberley have welcomed
mum and Pamela Welch was there to meet her on
the day she moved in! Pamela and Sally regularly
walk mum to church and back on Sundays, and Mary
Shaw from New Life Church ‘bumped into mum’ at
an Adriel House church meeting, years after mum
visited her mum in a Rangiora Nursing home! The St
Johns Church in Rangiora continue to keep in touch
with Mum, and she can’t speak highly enough of Tina
Thorpe, a precious friend to her.
Adriel House has been a perfect provision, in endless
ways (thanks Mischael & Elaine!), including gardens
for mum to walk around and weed, and she has her
own bird bath. The staff have been so personal and
become ‘telephone friends’ to us when we call from
England. We may no longer have dad with us, as
‘he’s had his last ride’, but have now gained so many
of dad’s friends, and mum’s new friends as part of
our extended family! Your kind words to Mum and
obituaries to Dad have been so thoughtful.
Just want to finish with thanking all those that have
written & came to Dad’s funeral on 7th July 2021,
at St Johns Church, Rangiora. It was a very special
moment in time, including the Last Post by the RSA.
Our Church back at RAF Binbrook, England also
lowered the flag to Half Mast at 11am. A mark of
respect. Our heavenly Father has certainly taken care
of them both. Thank you.
Susan Waller (nee Cornelius)
10

The FACTS
Peter Cornelius – Riding Forwards
Dad’s research, covered more than 4 decades, and so Mum suggested that he
put it down into book form for the future generations. This advice he took
and wrote 22 books covering every model of Triumph in detail up until 1936
plus a further 6 books on the history of Triumph and its founders 1863-1940.
His son, Richard, is now in the process of publishing these
so they are available on every continent via Amazon.
Peter’s wife Janet, and his son and daughter Richard and
Susan, can be contacted via: cornelius@actrix.co.nz
Peter’s website is still available at it’s new home of:
http://earlytriumph.com
And his books are becoming available through
Amazon, in most countries:
Search for “Triumph The Facts by Peter Cornelius”
or type https://www.amazon.com.au/
s?k=triumph+by+peter+cornelius