"COLPEPPER":

Colin Robertson was an old mate who passed yesterday morning (Sunday).

aka "Colpepper"

 I have known him since my arrival in New Zealand way back in February 1976 with my wife and two young kids - Only one week after arriving in Christchurch I was tipped-off by a new neighbor - that another close Oaklands neighbor Colin was a dodgy type who had been raided by the police for involvement with firearms.

A Carton Of  STEN Gun Magazines -
Col's Collectibles Confiscated by Cops.

I'm guessing that most intact males are indeed somewhat "dodgy" ... that first  'dozer-driving guy' & I certainly were - both being over fond of 'DB Draught' frothy liquid when hosed into jugs in those early days of smoke-filled Canterbury pubs .. when the only means of travel was to drive oneself home afterwards.

In those days uniformed "real Police" patrols would direct you which roads to take from the pub to home - to avoid any Traffic Officer's attentions.

(Note: unfamiliar beers can have very dramatic effects at both ends of the digestive tract when consumed for extended hours by a fresh new-chum at a table of tough local construction working jokers 😁).

- Col and I both later became fully licensed and endorsed shooters, collectors, and hand-loaders. - Col edited and wrote our pistol club 'Journal' for decades - and inspired my own efforts to blog positively about shooting and firearms. - We both enjoyed our playful banter about our 'Brand' choices - he being very loyal to S&W magnum revolvers and Colts 1911's, - while I favored Glocks and Rugers. - He was also very handy at clay busting with a 12 Gauge shotgun.

Colin was a familiar figure and 'character' known at several Pistol Clubs where he would call-in to 'sign the book' and socialize .. He was speechless when recently recognized as a Most Meritorious Member by the governing body of target pistol shooting here in New Zealand.

A smoker to the end - even when hospitalized for lung cancer .. he complained that he had to get-up three or four times a night & was unfairly forced to leave the building to smoke outside in all weathers 😆. - His guns have all been transferred and his weighty heap of bullet casting lead & Linotype alloy now sold on ..

- If I was to be missed near as much as Col will be - I'd be content.

 As you get older you certainly get to know more dead people.

Marty K.