="
  Press F11 to limit top toolbar - Press again for toolbar to return
Roland Hughes
 
Roland Hughes 6 Aug 1920 - 28 Apr 2013
 
South Taranaki has lost one of its finest in Roly (Roland) Hughes - a well-known sportsman, farmer and Returned Serviceman who died on April 28.
 
Roly, who played cricket in his younger days for Auroa, Manaia and was a member of the revival of the Normanby Cricket Club in the 60s, fell seven years short of his century, passing away at 93.
 
He captained the Manaia team that won a South Taranaki title, a feat his son Brenton achieved also as captain in 1992. His other sons, Larry and Richard, were also handy cricketers, the latter playing minor county cricket in England.
 
Finishing his cricket days at Normanby, Roly retired in his mid-40s, then traded in his whites for an umpiring coat.
 
Next was an administration role and later he became chairman of the South Taranaki Cricket Association.
 
When World War II broke out Roly enlisted, seeing action in the Pacific with the RNZAF and on his return in 1945 he married his sweetheart, Myra Wren.
 
He met Myra before the war and they kept their love alive by writing each other hundreds of letters before entering into a marriage that lasted 67 years. They embarked on a farming life at Otakeho, Inaha, Mokoia, Awatuna and Otakeho.
 
Ill health caused Roly to give up farming to work at the Riverdale dairy factory for five years. Then in 1962 they moved to Tokoroa to take over the Hughes/Wren farms. They built a new house on the farm and 16 years later moved to Dives Avenue in Hawera. His last few years were spent at his Marie St address.
 
After retiring to town Roly became a director of the then Hawera Star and later started a courier service called Star Couriers. His son Brenton now runs the business.
 
Roly and Myra have six children: Larry, Randall, Gaelyn, Brenton, Coralie and Richard, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
9/5/2013 South Taranaki News (Correspondent Cliff Hunt)

">