Tributes for gentleman of the game
The final whistle has gone, the game is over but his legacy will live on. That was one of the final tributes paid to Peter Burke by Taranaki Rugby Football Union chairman Lindsay Thomson before his casket was taken from Yarrow Stadium’s Legend’s Lounge where hundreds had gathered to pay tribute to the former All Blacks player and coach.
What those gathered to remember Burke, 90, who died peacefully in New Plymouth on Monday, heard what they almost certainly knew – the man known affectionately as ‘Bugle’ was a true gentleman.
That was abundantly clear from the eulogy delivered by his three daughters – Liz Clegg, Cheryl Foreman and Helen Burke – who described their father in universal praise for his manners, patience and loyalty.
Helen Burke remembered fondly the late Ross Brown admiring the size of the girls’ thighs and telling them they would have made great rugby players if they were men.
While there might have been a presumption that her father might have wished for a son, she said he never gave that impression.
Instead, he was a fiercely protective father who always encouraged his children along with his late wife of 62 years, Betty.
His girls were certainly no strangers to Rugby Park but they remembered spending more time at Fitzroy Beach while they also recalled their father’s great love of Bay of Plenty where he grew up.
Burke’s granddaughter, Brigitte Hollander, recalled how he would send the grandchildren test rugby jerseys while he also made sure they got plenty of photographs with modern day All Blacks when they were fortunate enough to accompany him to matches, a privilege he had earned through his life membership of New Zealand Rugby.
But it was Thomson who spoke the longest about All Black No 534 whose test cap sat neatly on his casket.
While his playing, selecting and administrative roles with Taranaki and New Zealand are well documented, Thomson also recalled the lengths Burke would go to to ensure many others got to enjoy the national game.
That included organising van loads of residents from a retirement village to attend Yarrow Stadium and watch Taranaki play, especially during the last Ranfurly Shield tenure, while he also coached a Tukapa under-8 side when no one else could give up their time to make practices.
There were also the frequent calls to Thomson and the visits to Taranaki Rugby’s headquarters with his offer of help.
The man known affectionately as ‘Bugle’ was a true gentleman.