Gavin Gullery celebrated his 90th birthday at the Wanganui RSA earlier this month.
Born in Blenheim in 1924, Mr Gullery came to Wanganui as an 8-year-old and has lived here ever since.
Growing up on a farm in Kakatahi, there were horseback rides to school and back, then it was on to Wanganui Technical College before Mr Gullery worked on a farm and later trained to be an accountant.
He went to work for Dalgety Ltd, where he met Mary Rita Greig, whom he married in 1943.
The couple had five children and there are now 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
As a World War II pilot with the RNZAF, Mr Gullery flew Corsair planes over the Pacific.
"I never went to Europe - there was too much likelihood of not coming back," he says.
He continued flying after the war, with the Wanganui Aero Club, and was club secretary for 40 years. When asked which types of planes he flew, he replies: "All of them."
Mr Gullery returned to accountancy, eventually starting his own firm.
He has an impressive array of photographs and paintings, one of which is of a young Gavin Gullery astride his Sunbeam motorcycle and wearing a jaunty cap.
"That was painted by a bloke who was a member of the aero club. I can't remember his name."
For some years there was an Aston Martin sports car and an Austin Healey that he restored.
When the family moved from Hipango Terrace to Bell St in 1982, the cars were sold and he later took up leadlighting.
There are examples of his stained glass work displayed around his home.
Mary Gullery also had a number of hobbies and was a published writer. The couple enjoyed 63 years of marriage until her death in 2007.
Mr Gullery has now moved to St George's Gate, where he continues to lead an active life.
A slideshow on his computer is evidence of a life well lived, with photographs of scenes from his own childhood leading to present-day pictures of great-grandchildren.
He often writes to the Chronicle expressing his views on current news and reminding other readers of the benefits of living in the area.
"Wanganui people are lucky to have so many amenities. The observatory is well worth a visit."
Among the guests at his 90th birthday were Donny, Olga and Joline, his brother and two sisters, who all still live nearby.
Mr Gullery does not have an answer as to what has been his proudest moment - there have probably been too many of them.