Neil McMillan
I am saddened to report the passing of Neil McMillan of Invercargill on 10 December 2010. Neil had reached 77 years. Jane and I were priviledged to be able to attend Neil's funeral at First Presbyterian Church in Invercargill.
Neil was a man of many parts quite aside from being a "thoroughly good bloke". At the service mention was mad eof his lifetime involvement with many pipe bands in Southland, his membership of the Masonic Lodge and his major work in charge of the Southland Catchment board, especially at the time of the Invercargill and Southland floods in 1984. The New Zealand Vintage Car Club was represented at the service. Neil had been president, secretary and treasurer, and in 2009 was elected patron of the Southland Vintage Car Club. He had received his 50 year badge in 2008.
Neil was a Packard man, he alone for many years kept the Packard flag flying in the Deep South. He was a walking encyclopedia of informaiton regarding especially 1920's Packards. He mixed wisdom with humbleness. Neil wrote the Southland Vintage Car Club's 50 year book. Although it runs to over 200 pages, the references to Neil himself are minimal.
He was a "Restorer" in the true sense of the word. He restored the 1928 526 sedan starting in 1962 and Neil and Pam took it on the VCC Haast Rally in 1965. Members on the 2010 West Coast Wander will recall Neil and Pam's 1928 526 Roadster which he built from a very tired chassis and engine. All of the rest of the car was made by Neil (and Pam) to his consistent high standard. His inner drive, determination and Scottish hard work ethic were evident in everything he did. In addition to the two 1928's, Neil restored a 1939 Super Eight Sedan which he saved and stored for many years until sold to the Chamberlain Collection in South Canterbury.
Neil had restored a veteran Vulcan car and along with Pam, rallied veteran motorbikes in the '50 and '60s. The Vulcan and early bikes are still in the sheds.
He had a gift for writing knowledgeable letters mixed with a wry humour, a number of which were published in our club magazine. Great reading even if you did not want or need the technical information. I know many members, myself included, benefited from Neil's willingly given advice.
Neil and Pam were married 53 years ago. Everything they did was in partnership. Neil is survived by Pam, and their children, Neil, Lana, Roddy and Kirsty as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be missed by many.
Tony Devereux
Neil McMillan's 1928 526 Packard Roadster
