A tribute from Peter Layne

Dear Betty

Many thanks for finding the time right now to share with us the news about Rex. He has had a wonderful life and has been an influence and mentor to so many people in his long journey.

Through his and Dad's association with the airline industry I have known of Rex since 1960, even though I was only 11 years old at the time. Little was I to know however that he was to come into my life 40 years later when I shared in writing the SPANZ story. I did so with the greatest of pleasure and for me personally that was the main stepping stone to furthering my writing in books and magazines.

Only recently we were up in Rarotonga where I viewed in the Museum the story about the Solents operating the Coral Route. Realising the 50th anniversary of the cessation of that service was imminent the natural thing for me to do was to report it the Cook Island News and, next thing I knew, I had agreed to write a feature article!

I realise that I am only one person that he has encouraged; there are many folk out there who could say the same thing. Rex has always been a natural leader among his family, friends and colleagues and for that we must all be grateful.

It has also been both a pleasure and a privilege to market his book. It does continue to sell and, as you say, it has paid itself off.

Rest assured Betty, we are thinking of all of you during these sad times. Please pass on our kindest regards to Rex, a man we; both look on as a friend and a father figure to all who have known him.

Would you like me to pass on your message to others? Those who immediately come to mind are Eric Carpenter and Thos Caldwell and of course Richard Waugh and Graeme McConnell. Let me know if I can help in this way.

I will put a version of this email in the tributes.

Warm regards

Love

Peter and Stephanie.