A Farewell To Jim

Thanks to John Willoughby for this reflection on the passing of old boy Jim Stuart.

Just prior to Xmas I learnt of the sad passing of Jim Stuart with a brain tumour.
 
Jim was one of the founding crew on the Wellington/ Blenheim bus that saw us travel to and from School each term. Brother Robert -  who sadly  passed away a few years ago -  was also a member of this team.
 
The bus stopped at Otaki for Jim (and Sean Ahern) and he was always keen to catch up with everybody after the holidays. I guess because of this friendship on the bus we also kicked around at school and he would often come to Wellington in the holidays.
 
Upon leaving school Jim attended Victoria University and in his first year boarded together with Peter Roebuck – ironically with the same lady that Brian Walsh (now Father) and John Bourke had been with in their first  year at Vic.
 
In those days it was still 6 o'clock closing in all the Pubs (seems barbaric now) so Saturday evening was always a  visit to the Midland Hotel where all the Uni students had a jug or three before time was called. The Grand Hotel become more popular after 6 o'clock closing finished with there being  no need to swill those last few drinks…….!
 
I lost touch with Jim in the early 1970`s but through his sisters knew that he had moved to the Nelson area in  latter years. Unfortunately he was not at the 50 year School Jubilee  in 2009  to catch up with each others lives in more detail.
 
May he Rest in Peace.