Now that’s what you call a lifetime of service
"I don't know what to wear, a suit or my old rugby shirt." Arthur Pacey on his upcoming investiture ceremony
Rugby stalwart Arthur Pacey only hung up his boots two years ago at the ripe old age of 90. His reward for a lifetime of service to the game; three special letters at the end of his name.
The Marlborough retiree has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal, or QSM, in the New Year Honours list this year.
Although Pacey gave up playing rugby for the Vintage Musseleers two years ago, his involvement in rugby over the years has included coaching, scorekeeping and the little jobs that keep a club running.
‘‘I made sure I would be 90 before I gave up. I enjoy it, the friendships you make and the people you meet,’’ he said.
Pacey also voluntarily looked after the Spring Creek rugby grounds for more than 21 years, maintained the Otamawaho urupa burial ground, north of Blenheim, at his own cost, and helped to build the Parerarua Centre and marae kitchen extension at Wairau Pa.
He was a member of the Spring Creek School committee for 10 years, six of those as chairman, and was caretaker of Spring Creek School.
Pacey said he never expected a recognition like the Queen’s Service Medal. ’’I don’t think I did any more than anyone else would do,’’ he said.
Rugby was a huge part of his life, and he recalled listening to rugby games on the wireless as a child, ‘‘like kids in front of the telly today’’, he said. ’’But in those days, the big thing was the Ranfurly Shield, not the All Blacks.’’
Over the years, Pacey pulled on many different rugby jerseys including that of Waitohi Rugby Club and the Moutere Rugby Club, as well as the Air Force rugby team in 1943.
A lot had changed since those days, and Pacey was sad to see club memberships dwindle, he said.
‘‘It’s getting to the stage where you’re going to lose clubs because there just isn’t the people playing rugby anymore.
‘‘In the old days all around was farms, and the fellas off the farms would play for the closest club. It was a social thing.’’
Pacey’s four children passed his love for the game down to his grandchildren and his greatgrandchildren, and he was proud of their natural ability, he said.
‘‘That’s the thing, on the field it’s not what you’ve got or how you were brought up, it’s who you are that counts.’’
Some of Pacey’s family would accompany him to the ceremony at Government House in 2017, he said.
‘‘I don’t know what to wear, a suit or my old rugby shirt.’’