Neville Bertram Elliott was born January the 2nd 1936 into a farming family on the hills of Brooklyn West, Wellington. His Dad Bertram Arthur, and Mother Ethel Jane, were hard workers. Bertram worked with his brothers on the family milk runs. They had 3 children, Nola, the eldest, Gilbert, and Neville, who was 8 years younger than Gilbert. Nola died of cancer at the age of just 19. The 2 sons found it very hard in the days after Nola had passed over. Their Mum never really accepted the death of her only daughter, and in those days there was no form of help to get over such a loss. Consequently, the boys suffered a lot as their Mum did not always cope well. Neville was always a little "go getter" and never let much grass grow under his feet. He left school at the age of 15, finding himself a job pumping petrol at what he always called "The Bowser". His mum was disgusted, as she never wanted him to leave school that young. She had just been out and got him all new school books for the year ahead. So off he went to work in an effort to compete with Gilbert, who was already out in the work force. Neville was a hard worker all his life, and I can never recall him being out of work. He was self taught, and tried everything. Taxi driving, Truclean Drycleaning deliveries, garden maintenance work, building, landscaping, farm sale yard work, and running a farm. A man of the land. He met and married Susan Burnell-Browne in 1960, and they made their home in Karepa Street Brooklyn, not far from his parents and the rest of the Elliott family, who all lived close to each other. Unfortunately for them, Susan was already pregnant with their first child, Marie Jane, who arrived on January the 31st 1961. They were not quite ready for a baby at this stage, but tried to make a go of married life. Susan’s Dad set them up in their first home to get them started, and Neville worked hard to pay him back. Life was not easy for them and their new baby girl. Things appeared to get harder and their marriage fell apart soon after. Neville was devasted that his marriage was over, and he was left to bring up their baby girl, as Susan was unable to care for her due to an illness. His Sister-in-Law Shirley came to the rescue and looked after Marie for a few months until Neville told his mother what had happened. Shirley was so kind to Neville and was very supportive over this time. A lovely lady, and still is today. He had a lot of time for her, and told me this before he passed over. From then on, his Parents brought Marie up. Neville later moved back with them to help until he met and married Maureen Johnstone in 1966. Their marriage lasted 21 years, and they had 2 sons, Peter and David.
He met and married Susan Burnell-Browne in 1960, and they made their home in Karepa Street Brooklyn, not far from his parents and the rest of the Elliott family, who all lived close to each other. Unfortunately for them, Susan was already pregnant with their first child, Marie Jane, who arrived on January the 31st 1961. They were not quite ready for a baby at this stage, but tried to make a go of married life. Susan’s Dad set them up in their first home to get them started, and Neville worked hard to pay him back. Life was not easy for them and their new baby girl. Things appeared to get harder and their marriage fell apart soon after. Neville was devasted that his marriage was over, and he was left to bring up their baby girl, as Susan was unable to care for her due to an illness.
His Sister-in-Law Shirley came to the rescue and looked after Marie for a few months until Neville told his mother what had happened. Shirley was so kind to Neville and was very supportive over this time. A lovely lady, and still is today. He had a lot of time for her, and told me this before he passed over. From then on, his Parents brought Marie up. Neville later moved back with them to help until he met and married Maureen Johnstone in 1966. Their marriage lasted 21 years, and they had 2 sons, Peter and David.
