Mr Burton said he never thought of Pinetree as the famous rugby legend. To him, he was the great friend, drinking buddy, bowls partner, racehorse co-owner. Someone he would talk to about life, family, business and maybe the odd bit of rugby.
Later in life, they owned a few racehorses together, the first of which they called Colvern after their wives Colleen and Verna.
On January 1, 1981, Colvern won the 2-year-olds' race at Ellerslie - and Sir Colin won a tidy packet at the TAB.
They were invited to the President's room to celebrate.
"Pinetree was wearing this safari suit that he and Verna bought in South Africa. So we go up and the guy at the door says you've got to wear a tie to go in."
The doorman rented SIr Colin a tie for $5 and in they went, soon surrounded by racing's finest.
"I just looked at him and said 'I don't think this is us mate, I think we should get out of here and go down to the public bar'," Mr Burton said.
Mr Burton laughed heartily remembering the car ride home after that night, Sir Colin complaining of being uncomfortable in his seat before whipping a wad of cash out of his back pocket and chucking it through the car, notes scattering.
"He was a bit of a rough diamond, Pinetree. He called a spade a spade. He was a man's man," Mr Burton said.
They last saw each other three weeks ago at Meads' home. He was glad to have had that opportunity for a last catch up.
He always admired his friend's commitment to the community.
"He was generous in giving his time. He'd hardly ever take any money - 'just pay my petrol, pay my beer', that's what he'd say."
After speaking at his first Tauranga Police CIB Charity Luncheon in 2002, Sir Colin attended every one that followed as a special guest, said Pete Blackwell, event organiser and former head of the Tauranga CIB.
"He was always the icing on the cake."
The pair forged a strong friendship over the years, and when Mr Blackwell left the police, Sir Colin spoke at his farewell.
Mr Blackwell said he would never forget one of the last times he saw Meads. Just before the Lions' tour he spent 90 minutes in Sir Colin's home with Dick Tayler sharing stories and catching up.
"I am so fortunate to have connected with him and maintained a good friendship with him. I will treasure it very, very dearly."
Bruce Cameron, former director on the New Zealand Rugby Union board and chair of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, said Meads would always be remembered as an outstanding New Zealander who devoted his time to the community and to rugby.
- Meads spoke many times in the Bay of Plenty. - Owned a couple of holiday houses in Papamoa. - Member of Mount Maunganui Bowls Club, regularly attended annual rugby tournament.