Taking care of others as a St John Ambulance volunteer became part of his routine as a teenager in England.
When he started work for the Bristol Ports Authority at 14, he took classes to gain his first aid certificate.
Wearing a uniform he bought for himself and offering bandages paid for from his meagre wages, he attended boxing matches, ice-skating rinks, cinemas and dirt-track speedway.
"This was during the Depression, so it was my source of entertainment carrying out these duties."
He also volunteered at weekends on the accident ambulance, with days stretching to 2am.
Early in World War II, he helped to protect Bristol civilians during enemy bombing raids using an old furniture van as an ambulance.
He volunteered for the RAF medical corps and while serving in Egypt, met New Zealand servicemen who encouraged him to emigrate.
A highlight of his service in New Zealand as a St John volunteer was being officer-in-charge at the Timaru civic reception for Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1954.
An interest in natural health took him back to England to study and qualify in chiropractic, spine manipulation and medical electricity.
In Takapuna, he ran Darr's Health Clinic, retiring at 70 and taking up bowls.
"I won a $500 prize playing when I was 91."
At Fowey Lodge Bible School, his friends praise him for a positive mental attitude, generosity and ability to recover from bone-breaking falls.
He ties his own shoelaces, nimbly moves from his armchair and agrees he could pass for someone 10 years younger.
"It's mainly genes," he said in a clear, strong voice. "I knew my mother's mother's mother. I remember her wearing a black bonnet.
"But I was very fussy about my diet and even refused my mother's meal - I preferred a wholemeal loaf to white bread.
"My father was very strict about no smoking and no drinking, and I carried that through life."
