Memories of Neil McMillan
The Haast Pass Rally of the mid 1960’s, promised to be a great event and having recently purchased a very original, low mileage 1924 Studebaker Special Six Tourer, ‘Haast Pass here I come’ entry form completed, cheque ready. Ten tyres came with the Stude. All twenty-four inch and all pre-war (2nd World War, not the first!), and ranging in diameter from cycle car size to one ton truck.
I sat and pondered, assessing my chances of reaching Ngaruawahia, let alone Nelson and had to tell myself “Bryan me lad, you aint’ going nowhere”. Cheque cancelled and I mustn't waffle on as my life’s problems are not the purpose of this correspondence, but I feel obligated to inform you my dear friends, that the Horseless Carriage Club were to motor to Taupo for a long weekend and were adamant that I needed their company. They assured me that with four on the wheels and six in the rear, I’d have no problems. Being born an optimist, I stupidly agreed to accompany the tour and arrived late back at Mangere with four on the car and none on the rear.
It was the early hours of the morning and one hell of an explosion, the unwashed who had predicted, were right; the world must be coming to an end. I grabbed my gown and out to the stable, three tyres held air. Go’in nowhere!!
The 1972 International Rally at Wakefield, Nelson was the next Vintage Car Club event and the recently restored Studebaker sported a brand spanking new set of tyres purchased from Owen Hayward, an Auckland member who had obtained an import licence.
The large park south of Nelson was covered with tents and caravans, looking all the world like a gypsy encampment. It was a great atmosphere, all these never seen before ancient automobiles, sausages cooking and much hilarity Come sundown, each evening a lone piper resplendent in his kilts, would walk the rows of the ‘temporary township’ piping for our pleasure “Amazing Grace, Scottish Solider,” etc. etc. An accomplished musician he closed our day to a beautiful end.
It was here that I met the man with the Unic, a 1911 touring car. He introduced himself as Neil McMillan, a nice guy, easy to talk to, one of us. By the time I had the history of the Unic, I was beginning to like him.
Over the ensuing years, at swap meets, rallies etc, I had company with Neil, often in his much loved 28 Packard, and when visiting Southland my Dorothy and I would always spend time with Neil and Pam and son Roddy. A very talented family, it was a privilege to view their latest endeavours. Pam, an accomplished artist, her paintings a delight to see, and always in demand at her exhibitions. Son Roddy, a master woodcarver and sculptor, his creations are world class and beautifully executed His commission to sculpture Southlands renowned dedicated motorcycle speedster, Bert Munroe, will make many aware of Roddy McMillan.
It is sad to say goodbye to Neil, who had a deep love and was very proud of his loved ones and their achievements. Very talented himself and a great solver of any mechanical problems, Neil would think them through, do much research and share the end result.
Neil had a great sense of humour as you already know, and with that unique ability to always laugh at himself, when a result went belly up! A kind sharing person, Neil held his friends in high regard and his contribution to the car clubs and our own magazine was always forthcoming.
It is now some years ago, the five of us were reminiscing over a cup of tea, in the McMillan kitchen, and the long gone Nelson Rally surfaced. The tours, the auction, the final banquet at the airport in the largest hangar, without toilets, and a bus provided to ferry the fairer sex, further afield to seek comfort. We all had our reminisces and one such that topped my list, was not car related, but the Piper in full regalia piping his farewell to another wonderful day, as I told my listening audience, “I can still hear that magic music. I never met him, he may not have been an entrant, I never thanked him.” Neil smiled with his lovely smile “I’ve still got the pipes if you want to hear more”.
Neil was widely recognised as an accomplished Piper and brought pleasure to many. For some years with family commitments, a demanding job, and pensioner, automobiles to keep roadworthy, the bagpipes spent quite some time marinating, but later in life his love of music resurfaced. He donned the pipes and a number of ambitious young would be pipers benefitted from Neil’s life long experience.
We say goodbye to Neil, a good guy, loving husband and father, a compassionate man, an honest man. The world would be a better place with more Neil McMillans. I speak for all who held Neil in high regard, and offer our condolences to those so dear to him.
With Love, Bryan and Dorothy Belcher
