Duncan Kennedy - R.I.P.

[Brian Probetts (Site Admin)]

With regret I learn that Duncan Kennedy died suddenly on March 8th 2012.
Duncan served his apprenticeship at the NZR Hillside Workshops and joined NZS in 1953.
His first ship was Hororata where he went from Junior to Second Engineer.
Subsequently he sailed on Sussex, Hauraki and Ruahine.
He met his wife Dawn in New Plymouth while on Hororata and eventually settled there.
Prior to his retirement he was a surveyor with the Marine Department.

[Tony Morcom]

Always sad to hear of another seafarer passing. My condolences to his friends and family.

[Peter F Chard]

I worked for the Marine Dept in the Auckland office from 1981 until I retired in 2001 and was surprised to hear of his passing.It does not seem to have been widely notified so I have rung a few of his old workmates and passed on the news. A Kiwi with a Scottish name but boy, was he tight with his cash !!

[Doc Vernon]

Another sad loss ,and as said before no matter who it may be,it is always so hard for the Family left behind!
My very Sincere Condolences to all the Family and Friends!
May he now find peace and let the winds blow in his Sails to the places he most probably loved so much!
Rest in Peace Duncan!!
Sincerly
Doc Vernon

[Keith at Tregenna]

"The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry W. Longfellow:

Hopefully appropriate ?

..." I am going,

O my people, On a long and distant journey;
Many moons and many winters
Will have come and will have vanished,
Ere I come again to see you.
But my guests I leave behind me;
Listen to their words of wisdom,
Listen to the truth they tell you,
For the Master of Life has sent them,
From the land of light and morning!"

-On the shore stood Hiawatha,
Turned and waved his hand at parting;
On the clear and luminous water
Launched his birch canoe for sailing
From the pebbles of the margin
Shoved it forth into the water;
Whispered to it, "Westward! Westward!"
And with speed it darted forward.
And the evening sun descending

Set the clouds on fire with redness,
Burned the broad sky like a prairie,
Left upon the level water
One long track and trail of splendour,
Down whose stream as down a river,
Westward, Westward Hiawatha
Sailed into the fiery sunset,
Sailed into the purple vapours,
Sailed into the dusk of evening.
And the people from the margin
Watched him floating, rising, sinking.
Till the birch canoe seemed lifted

High into that sea of splendour.
Till it sank into the vapours
Like the new moon slowly, slowly
Sinking in the purple distance.

And they said "Farewell for ever!"...

K.