From Robert Nobby Clark Kia Ora The Bland Whanau and friends The parting of Grahame from this world has hit us all hard after his battle against MND but he is now pain free and relaxed looking down on us all. My thoughts go out to Michelle, Chloe, Fox & Avril who were a massive part of Grahame’s day to day life, from what I saw Grahame was an amazing father, husband and partner who put his families needs before his own, I am glad to have had the pleasure of meeting and knowing you, and to the rest of the Bland clan I am sorry for the lose of a great man that will be remembered by myself and many others from the other side of the world. Myself and my family first met Grahame Michelle Chloe and Fox ( Fox that was one mean hair style you had back then ) when we went to visit them in Lincoln prior to them coming over to New Zealand to ask them for advice as we were following them 6 months later to NZ , and although they were rushing around getting ready for there new adventure the other side of the world, the Bland clan went out of there way to help us. In particular Grahame as he put his needs second to help us out which showed us straight away what sort of person Grahame was. I’ll start of with Grahame’s inability to read dates on a calendar: Grahame was supposed to meet us at the airport in NZ to welcome us in to the country and show us around, unfortunately when we arrived no Grahame. So I phoned him up to see where he was, his reply was I’m away playing soldiers out in the field and the words Oops sorry I thought you were coming next week came out. What can I say that hasn’t already been said by all his family and friends on face book. Grahame was one of the most professional soldiers I have ever had the pleasure to meet who put 100% in to everything that he did, Grahame was know more for his trade skills than his regimental side, reason being if he heard the word Drill or marching he suddenly disappeared. Even though Grahame was 40 plus while he was over here he was one of the fittest blokes in the unit, he kept up and beat most of the youngsters while out running or on the sports field, he had the most competitive dad syndrome I have ever met or play alongside and against, his competitive streak showed on the pitch as he received a few yellow cards (popular with the referees LOL) while playing football over here and that was just one of the reasons we loved him. It was great to catch up with Grahame one more time when he came over to NZ with Avril, Grahame was on crutches at that time same as me, I know if I raced him then he would have still beaten me. In a nutshell to sum up Grahame: a man with many friends, Top Soldier, Top sportsman, Top bloke who would put everyone else’s needs before his own, I feel privileged not only to have know Grahame as a work colleague but also as a great friend where I have many fond memories with him both sober and drunk. The Bland clan, my door is always open if ever you need a place to stay in NZ I will be raising a glass to say good bye on the 22nd and another on the first day of the football season for his beloved Leeds One thing now he is closer to the main man up in the sky, when he prey's for Leeds Utd to win he might actually here him Your good friend always Nobby

Poem: Grahame Created by Eddie is father SOLDIERS HAVE MANY BATTLES, THIS BATTLE YOU FOUGHT IN VAIN, BRAVELY THROUGH PAIN AND SUFFERING, NEVER ONCE, DID YOU, COMPLAIN. NOW YOU ARE FREE FROM SUFFERING, OH! HOW YOU SUFFERED SO, EVEN THOUGH IT BROKE OUR HEARTS, WE HAD TO LET YOU GO. SO MANY HEARTS WERE BROKEN, THE DAY YOU PASSED AWAY, AND EVEN THOUGH, WE WANTED, WE COULD NOT LET YOU STAY. NO HARM , YOU DID TO ANYONE, YOU WERE LOVING, KIND AND TRUE, IF WE SEARCH THE WHOLE WORLD OVER, WE WOULD NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU. WITH EVERY NEW DAY DAWNING, WE WILL REMINISCE, OF OUR DEAR SON GRAHAME, WHO WE WILL FOREVER MISS. OUR TIME ON EARTH IS LIMITED, WE ALL HAVE TO GO, BUT WHY YOUR'S CAME SO EARLY, WE WILL NEVER KNOW. R.I.P GRAHAME ANTHONY BLAND A LOVING, FATHER, PARTNER, SON, BROTHER, UNCLE, BROTHER-IN-LAW AND A TRUSTED FRIEND TO MANY. GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.

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