Judea retiree Bruce Nicholls, (right) with his wife Terry, pays tribute to Josh Tingey, who was killed in a paragliding crash on Mauao last year, in a new book. Photo / George Novak
Judea retiree Bruce Nicholls, (right) with his wife Terry, pays tribute to Josh Tingey, who was killed in a paragliding crash on Mauao last year, in a new book. Photo / George Novak
A book of poems has been dedicated to the memory of a Tauranga man who died in a paragliding accident off Mauao.
Bruce Nicholls, 88, from Judea said he and his wife Terry were deeply affected by the death of Joshua Tingey, 28, in February last year.
Nicholls, a retired Tauranga teacher, is the main author of a new book titled Poems by Bruce and Others.
The book includes a mix of poems - plus one short story - about subjects including death and loss, as well as a poem about Tingey entitled Not Lost in the Oceans of Memories.
Others have also contributed to the book, including an ode called Poem to Josh by Tingey's 13-year-old cousin Milan Hood.
Nicholls said he had known the Tingey family since he was 4 and he met Josh's grandmother Pamela and her twin sister Patricia, who married his brother Jack.
Josh Tingey was killed in a paragliding incident last year. Photo / Supplied
"The Tingeys are a much-loved and respected family and Josh's death is a huge tragedy. We are all still feeling the loss deeply today," Nicholls said.
"The aim of this book is two-fold. I have sent two copies to each of high schools in the Western Bay in the hope it can be used as part of the students' classroom lessons.
"I hope that it can also encourage people to contribute to the memorial fund set up in Josh's memory with all the proceeds going to help youth in the Western Bay of Plenty."
A tearful Terry Nicholls said she was once Tingey's nanny, describing him as the "perfect boy" and an "outstanding" young man.
The memorial fund set up by the Tingey family and his fiancee Rebecca Wotton's family is managed by the Acorn Foundation.
Theresa Tingey said so far $42,000 had been raised, which included an inaugural donation by her son's Otago University Bachelor of Surveying classmates.
"Josh was a kind, caring person and an influencer who was passionate about wanting to help other people to enable them to become the best they could be.
"We hope this memorial fund will change the lives and the futures of so many young people in this district for many years to come."
Janice Wotton said Tingey and her daughter Rebecca were passionate about giving a little bit more of a helping hand to those who were life's underdogs, including at-risk youth.
"We hope this is something very positive to come out of such a horrible tragedy and become a lasting legacy to honour Josh's passion for showing kindness to others."
Donations can be made to bank account number 02 0466 0117382 02, quoting the reference J Tingey and your name.
