‘So many wonderful friends, family and memories’
Clive Kenyon is Katikati’s last World War II veteran and this week celebrates his 100th birthday. When asked the age-old question about the secret to longevity, Clive says to “choose your parents”.
But other than good genes, he puts it down to leading a very lucky life.
“Considering I shouldn’t be here,” he adds, referring to illnesses which affected his life’s trajectory.
As a teenager he had appendicitis, peritonitis followed by rheumatic fever.
This saw him turned down for the army at age 18 but accepted for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) a year later.
“Looking back, I lost three years of what is a fairly important time in a young person’s life.
“But on the other hand I gained so much experience in so many different ways . . . I could never work out if I gained or lost because of the war.”
These days Clive lives independently and spends his days reading, enjoying visitors and looking after his pot plants.
He says reaching 100 years is “not really that great as one can no longer do the things one would like to do, and those few things you can still do, you’re usually hurting somewhere”.
But the journey has been important, “and my journey has given me so many wonderful friends, family and memories”.
He celebrated his birthday with friends and family at Katikati Bowling Club on April 20.
Clive Kenyon was born in Hamilton on April 15, 1924.
He was one of five siblings and his parents farmed at Mangawara, Waikato.
In 1927 they moved to a farm at Riverlea where Clive attended primary school.
The family moved to Tauranga, where Clive attended Tauranga District High School (Tauranga Primary School, Fifth Ave).
But just three weeks into fourth form he became ill and was diagnosed with appendicitis, ending his school days (he also hated algebra and refused to go back). He began working at Tauranga’s Mann Hardware.
As a teen Clive wanted to join the military.
After being turned down by the army he joined the RNZAF in 1943.
“I had ideas that I wanted to be a pilot but it was never going to happen as I didn’t have the schooling for a start.”
He trained as an armourer, graduating with the rank of leading aircraftman.