NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

How Dunkirk and an atom bomb led 102-year-old Bruce Powell to a life of fulfilment

Bethany Reitsma
By Bethany Reitsma
Senior lifestyle Writer·NZ Herald·
24 Mar, 2021 06:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

102-year-old Bruce Powell knows a thing or two about the meaning of happiness. Photo / Supplied

102-year-old Bruce Powell knows a thing or two about the meaning of happiness. Photo / Supplied

At nearly 103 years old, retired engineer Bruce Powell has a lot more life experience than most of us can claim.

He narrowly missed the World War II battle of Dunkirk in 1940 due to a bout of meningitis, moved his family across oceans to New Zealand, lost his beloved wife Dorothy and become a great-grandfather of six.

All these experiences have taught him a thing or two about life and what it means to live a truly happy one.

Now he's as content as can be - so what's Powell's secret to living a long and happy life? Turns out a loving family unit and a happy mind are key to a fulfilling existence at any age.

"Age you can do nothing about," admits the 102-year-old originally from Middlesborough, northeast England.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"But you can keep yourself healthy, and socially active. If you look around at nature, it's on the go all the time. A sedentary lifestyle can be devastating for people."

So every morning Powell takes a walk around Metlifecare retirement village The Orchards, where he lives. "It keeps my mind and my body happy," he says.

"And that's the essence of happiness. You're content if your body and mind are functioning well."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

And the father of two, grandfather of four, and now great-grandfather of six says his family is the other great source of his happiness.

Ever the optimist, Powell somewhat had a debilitating illness to thank for beginning his family unit. Serving in France during World War II, he narrowly missed the battle of Dunkirk after contracting meningitis. The illness resulted in his meeting the love of his life Dorothy when he was sent back to England to recover.

The couple chose to move to New Zealand with their two children in 1955 to start a new life. Powell says he was getting sick of the English climate and felt deeply concerned Britain was developing its own atom bomb.

Powell lost his beloved wife Dorothy in 2009. Photo / Supplied
Powell lost his beloved wife Dorothy in 2009. Photo / Supplied

So when an opportunity came up to work as an electrical draftsman at the Auckland naval base, he jumped at the chance. Aotearoa seemed like a great place to build a new life - and it brought them closer together as a family.

Discover more

Royals

Queen reflects on year of 'grief and loss' in emotional note

23 Mar 08:24 PM
Lifestyle

'Dead sexy': Wife pens hilarious, heartbreaking obituary for husband

23 Mar 04:32 AM
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why we shouldn't pay our kids to do chores

23 Mar 06:00 PM
Lifestyle

World's happiest countries: How did NZ do in the year of Covid?

19 Mar 08:39 PM

"When you immigrate you don't know anyone so you become very close with each other," Powell says. "It takes a while to get to know people."

He couldn't be prouder of his kids and grandkids. When they were growing up in Auckland's Takapuna, he spent hours with them building houses, a spa pool, and even a television set.

Dorothy died in 2009 and his son moved back to Wales to live, but Powell is just as close with his children as ever - his son calls every week and his daughter visits him regularly.

Powell served in the British army during the war, mainly in weapons control. Photo / Supplied
Powell served in the British army during the war, mainly in weapons control. Photo / Supplied

He's lived on different continents and moved across oceans, and there's still no slowing down for Powell. Now living in a retirement village in what he calls a "DIY apartment", he still does everything for himself, from cooking and cleaning to laundry. "I don't see any difficulty at all."

It's staying active and connected that helps him stay happy, as well as looking after his health and wellbeing.

"I have a buddy in the rest home who sends me a text every morning to make sure I've woken up, to check I'm okay - and I do the same for her. That daily contact is important."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Whatever's next for Powell, he'll be giving it his best shot. And that's his parting advice:

"Whatever you're doing, do your best. Give your dreams your best."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Premium
Lifestyle

Can ‘reparenting’ yourself make you happier?

Lifestyle

Michelle Obama admits tough times in her marriage

Lifestyle

Prince Harry continues Diana's mission in Angola minefields


Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Premium
Premium
Can ‘reparenting’ yourself make you happier?
Lifestyle

Can ‘reparenting’ yourself make you happier?

New York Times: The concept is catchy, but here's what experts have to say about it.

17 Jul 01:00 AM
Michelle Obama admits tough times in her marriage
Lifestyle

Michelle Obama admits tough times in her marriage

16 Jul 10:23 PM
Prince Harry continues Diana's mission in Angola minefields
Lifestyle

Prince Harry continues Diana's mission in Angola minefields

16 Jul 09:58 PM


Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

01 Jul 04:58 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP