On the Mangonui waterfront, to be precise. Neville was riding his motorbike with a mate as his pillion passenger, when he spotted Glennis Hughes and offered her a ride home.
Four years later they were married, thanks in large part perhaps to the mate who was prepared to be marooned on the waterfront to smooth the path of true love.
The couple were married at the Mangonui Methodist Church on June 22, 1957, beginning their working lives together sharemilking for Arthur Powell at Double Crossing, just south of Kaitaia, then buying Neville's parents' farm at Paranui.
Neville also spent time fishing, while Glennis worked at the Mangonui telephone exchange (which later enabled her to monitor her children's behaviour or, according to Laura, to make sure the veges were on the stove).
Glennis made her way to the Far North from the King Country via Moerewa, while Neville was in Nelson. His family duly moved to Auckland, then to Mangonui in 1947, buying what would become the family farm at Paranui.
All four children attended Taipa Area School.
