Living Legend receives further kudos

BOB BOYES

The author is past president of Marlborough Riding for Disabled and project manager for building its Blenheim facility.

On returning to Blenheim from a trip down to Bluff and back, I was interested in reading the article on Norman Crafar and your tribute to him in the Marlborough Weekly of 25 March.

Norman played a pivotal role in establishing the grounds for the Marlborough Riding for Disabled at Churchwood Park.

In taking over the old tip site to establish the area for the much-needed Riding for Disabled facility, Norman became a dedicated supporter with his trucks and diggers.

Every Friday at day’s end, he would ring to say, “There is a truck and digger for your use over the weekend” – this continued throughout the development of the site. When work was finished, often late on Sunday evenings, the equipment was returned to Crafar Crouch’s yard, ready for the week’s work ahead.

Nothing was a problem. Norman was more than happy to offer advice on drainage and foundation work. He also supported the fundraising ventures.

With the site being the old tip site, it wasn’t just constructing buildings.
The area had to be covered with a clean coat of soil obtained from around Blenheim. Some 13,000 cubic metres was delivered to the site and used as a cover; this was required to prevent horses used for RDA from coming in contact with objects protruding the surface.

Norman Crafar’s diggers were used extensively in spreading the topsoil. All contractors in Marlborough had a part to play in the delivery of clean fill: Crafar Crouch, Simcox Construction, Gill Construction, Fulton Hogan Construction, and TC Nicoll Ltd.

The RDA facility has now been in operation for 30 years. It would have been more than difficult without Norman Crafar and other contractors. I will never forget all organisations and people who helped with the funding and support to make this facility a proud part of Marlborough’s history.

My personal appreciation of Norman Cafar supports your article. He is a man who helped shape the region and its activities. Thank you, Norman; you’re a champion.