Opinion: Bruce Horne writes a tribute to John Chadwick

Bruce Horne writes a tribute to John Chadwick this week. Photo/File

Tribute to John Chadwick MNZM
I had just finished gardening when I got the text.

Stevie had lost her beloved John.

In the blink of an eye I found myself in one of those surreal moments when it feels like you have mysteriously transported to another time and place.

Time loses shape and your mind goes into overdrive.

When I lost my father in 2001, also in unexpected circumstances, the grief was crushing.

Losing a parent is one thing, but the loss of your best friend and life-long partner quite another.

I have no formal mandate to speak for Steve, but I am nevertheless confident she is drawing strength from the wonderful outpouring of care and support that has been extended to her and her family over the past few days. And rightly so.

Both John and Steve have been passionate and committed leaders who have faithfully served this community for many years.

I also suggest both the generous and giving character of Rotorua's people, and the manner in which this community quickly pulls together during the tough times are things this city has become renowned for - it is one of it's strengths.

They say suffering unites, and you need look no further than the response of Rotorua's citizens to the Chadwick whanau in recent days to see the wonderful way in which the Rotorua community rallies around those who need their care and support.

No one who either visited the Chadwick home in recent days or attended John's tangi could walk away without feeling warmed and encouraged by the tangible outpouring of love and support to Steve and her family.

The professional responsibilities of police officers and defence lawyers means they are frequently operating from opposing positions.

Nevertheless, I would like to think there is a healthy respect between the two professions, particularly when one party demonstrates a high level of skill in their respective craft.

I was reminded of this during the eulogy delivered by Judge Louis Bidois.

When speaking of John's skills as an advocate and an orator, he told a story about a time when John was a defending a man on a serious driving charge.

Apparently, John was able to convince a jury that the defendant's vehicle was guilty of the offence, but not the defendant who was driving it.

I understand his argument was crafted in a much more complex and persuasive construct - but when you broke it all down, that was his key point. Outrageous, but also hilarious.

Due to our respective roles in the community, I have had a lot more contact with Steve than John over the years, but I remember well the first time we met.

After the standard introductions, John asked me about my whakapapa.

On learning that my father was Scottish, he smiled. I sensed a joke was coming, but eyed him cautiously.

After all, we had only just met, and he was an accomplished defence lawyer and I was a police officer. And everyone knows that lawyers are tricky.

"So you're of Scottish descent. Did you know that the Scot's invented copper wire?" asked John with a poker face.

Apparently it is an old joke, but I had not heard it and John played me well.

"No I didn't", I replied rather flatly.

"Yes, it's true", he replied, "It happened by accident when two Scots were arguing over the ownership of a copper penny. Neither would let go of the thing and by the time they had finished, the coin was stretched out to become fine wire."

We both laughed and the tone for our relationship was set.

Rest in peace John, you will be missed. Our love and support to Steve and the Chadwick whanau.

Bruce Horne is a retired police inspector who was the Rotorua police area commander from 2003 to 2016.