OBITUARY

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 61, 5 August 1965, Page 6

OBITUARY

Mr

GODFREY

TAYLOR

A Taupo man who was well-known to most people interested in boating and water sports on Lake Taupo, died in the Rotorua Hospital on June 25, after a long illness. He was Mr G. J. Taylor, son of Mr and Mrs J. T. Taylor, Nukuhau, Taupo. Mr Taylor was born in Napier and educated at the Napier Boy's High School. His parents left Napier to start a boat building and repair business in Taupo in 1932. Mr Taylor travelled with them, but later returned to Napier to continue his education. At the outbreak of World War 2, he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force and he was in the services until 1945. He was overseas during the war and he was in the landing at Guadaleanal. After his discharge in 1946, Mr Taylor was apprenticed to a boat . builder in Auckland. He returned to Taupo in 1950 and, with his •father and brother, Mr E. p. Taylor, he formed the company of Jack Taylor and Sons Limited. Mr Taylor was best known for his interest in enginedriven craft and aquatic sports. He was a member of the Taupo Motorboat and Aquatic Sports Club and he was considered an authority on boat - building and boat repairing in general. In the 14 years he was in Taupo he built a large number of pleasure craft for a clientele who did not live in Taupo, but used the lake for boating activities. One interest Mr Taylor had away from the lake was snow ski-ing. He was a foundation member of the Taupo Ski Club. Through the years, Mr Taylor was called on several occasions to assist in rescue work on the lake and he took part in the search for the prison escapee, George Wilder. At his funeral in Taupo last week, a large number of people who had become acquainted with him through his work in the boat building business, paid their tributes. Mr Taylor is survived by his wife and two sons, John and Philip.