Mourners crowd in to farewell sheep-dog stalwart Keith Satchwell

The funeral for Keith Satchwell yesterday, with longtime sheep dog trialist Don McLeod (centre). Photo / Doug Laing

It was as big a funeral as you'd see for someone who's passed away in their mid-90s when Keith Satchwell was farewelled in Napier yesterday. The Hawke's Bay Sheep Dog Trial Centre patron, retired farmer, former national straight hunt champion and war veteran was regarded as one of mankind's true gentlemen.

He was also a man used to hard graft, growing up with nothing and restarting by settling a block north of Napier after serving in World War II.

He died on Sunday, aged 95 and surrounded by family, including wife-of-69-years Nan, at home on their retirement block at Rosser Rd, in the Bridge Pa-Mangaroa area near Hastings.

His funeral was held at St Mary's Catholic Church, Greenmeadows.

Fellow dog-trialling stalwart Don McLeod, who'd taken him to the trials in recent years, said: "Look at the number of people here. You wouldn't normally see this many at a funeral for someone of his age. Usually, a lot of their friends have passed away. But this is a real testament to who Keith was. Everyone knew Keith."

Yesterday they came from as far as the South Island, with many long-time sheep dog trials friends from the Gisborne area.

Only standing room was available at the entrance of a tight service, which included an Returned and Services Association (RSA) tribute and the playing of the Last Post.

Other tributes were left to the wake at the Taradale Rugby Club.

Born on November 25, 1922, and having played the Ross Shield Primary Schools rugby tournament for Central Hawke's Bay in 1936, Keith Satchwell left school at the age of 15 and worked in the Te Aute area.

He enlisted as a Regular Force soldier in 1942 and went to North Africa and then Italy, where he survived the Battle of Monte Casino, which claimed 55,000 Allied casualties, early in 1944.

In Rome at the end of the war he was diverted to Japan, and returned home in 1946, soon taking to sheep dog trialling as he and Nan settled a developed a resettlement block off Ridgemount Rd, Tutira.

Satchwell's competition history spanned almost eight decades.

He first competed at the Hawke's Bay championships in 1954 with early success. He and Rusty finished fourth in the North Island straight hunt in 1956 at Te Aute and won the national title in Marlborough in 1960.

He competed in more than 60 Hawke's Bay centre championships, including 48 in a row, and his last trial was about two years ago, having in competed up to two years ago — along with having his weekly round of golf.

At the age of 90 he was runner-up in a centre long head championship at Wairoa, with which he had his last win a year later at Waikoau, when Sue was 11.

He was also a trials judge for many years and, maintaining a youthful outlook, was well-known for his encouragement of young trialists.

"He certainly helped me a lot when I got going," said Don McLeod, now in his 80s.