Obituary: Molly Eagles

* Molly Eagles, Devonport identity. Died aged 86.

A piece of Devonport and North Shore rugby royalty has slipped quietly away with the death of Molly Eagles.

She had cherished her title of the Duchess of Devonport, and was never happier than when sitting on her favourite, if modest, throne - a bench behind the North Shore deadball line from which she held court, delivering praise or shrewd advice to her rugby heroes, and treating her favourites from a bag of blackballs.

Molly Eagles formed a New Zealand branch of the Pink Elephant Club, a worldwide organisation to help paraplegics, and served as secretary of the local scout committee for 10 years.

She spent 30 years with the Civilian Maimed Association (later the Centre for Mutual Aid), and also served as a justice of the peace. Her community work was recognised by the award of a New Zealand Commemorative Medal in 1990 and a civic award from North Shore City in 1993.

Molly cherished her family, her beloved rugby club, her work, her life and her title.

And she especially cherished zooming round Devonport with a green-and-white North Shore flag flying from the rear of her mobility scooter.

Even when in her 80s, she delighted in pursuing a cause.

She thought the Devonport footpaths were too rough and challenged the chairman of the community board to road-test the paths on her scooter.

He accepted the challenge. The footpaths were fixed.