It is always nice coming home and for John Gray return visits are pretty regular.
And he has made the trip from Canada to again take part in the Southern Trust NZ Masters Games.
Born and educated in Wanganui, Gray was head prefect at Wanganui Technical College (now City College), before leaving there to begin his studying for his psychology degree.
Once that was secure he headed overseas.
"I'd heard about bursaries to upgrade your qualifications and I went to Saskatchewan, one of the middle Canadian prairie provinces. I got a bursary which meant two more years of study in London before heading back to Canada.
"I got good jobs and that simply meant that's where I stayed and I've been there since 1966."
Now 74, he's well retired, and with his wife has been living in Victoria on Vancouver Island.
He's been to previous Masters Games in Wanganui and it is always a chance to catch up with family and friends.
"My relatives are the Steele family who are well known in hockey circles and we usually stay with them at their bach at Turakina Beach."
On Sunday, Gray took part in the 10km walk and was not too impressed with his effort.
"I finished second to last, which wasn't that flash."
In earlier years he was a very good springboard diver, competing against the likes of Robin Hood and Wally Park.
"The three of us used to vie for the Wanganui championships. Some years I'd win then Robin. But Robin went on to greater things, representing New Zealand at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica."
Today Gray is in the pool at the Splash Centre, competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle and that is a venue that holds a special memory for him On the wall of the main pool is a timing clock, dedicated to his father Gordon. It commemorates his father's input as a swimming coach in the city.
Gray said he and his wife have no plans to return to Wanganui fulltime.
"I don't sound Canadian but I am in the sense that I've been involved in that country for years. I was president of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada for a few years."