Reunion at 90 Mile Beach for long-lost friends

John Olsen (left), his father Neil and his mate from the UK, Ricky Kirrane, about to set off up 90 Mile Beach last week.

What might have seemed a long shot in September 2016 was nothing of the sort — and now the goal of reuniting a couple of mates who worked together as fitters and turners for GR cars in Essex, England, in the 1990s, has been achieved.

It began some 16 months ago when Dunedin man Pat Cummings asked the Northland Age to help him find John Olsen, originally from Peria but at that time of parts unknown. Winnie Harris, who lives at Peria, read the plea, contacted John's parents, who live not far away, they contacted their son in Auckland, and within 36 hours John and Pat were in touch with each other.

The third leg of the trifecta was English mate Ricky Kirrane, who Pat had visited a few weeks before.

"If we can find John Olsen I think (Ricky) and his sister, who nursed with my wife in Dunedin 40 years ago, might come over here for a reunion and cover the country from the Far North to the Deep South," he said.

That appealed to John, not least because he had missed his chance to meet Ricky when he was in England a few years ago.

"Ricky had his own business by then, and I was tempted to look him up but didn't. I didn't think he would remember me," he said.

A reunion appealed to Ricky too, the seed being sown when his sister and her husband Pat and his wife travelled around Europe in 2016. The plan was actually hatched over a meal at the Duck and Waffle restaurant in London, where Ricky provided the clues John Olsen, Kaitaia, "and is there a 90 Mile Beach?"

Pat said he'd find John, and so he did. The old friends picked up where they had left off via email, John suggesting that Ricky visit New Zealand.

"He said to come in summer, when it doesn't rain," Ricky said last week as he, John and John's father Neil prepared to head for Cape Reinga via 90 Mile Beach.

"We landed in a monsoon."

He was indeed planning to cover the country from the Far North to the Deep South, and last week was staying with John's parents at Peria, from where they covered the Bay of Islands, Matauri Bay, the Mangonui Hotel, Taipa Tavern and other must-sees.

And one small dispute might have been settled. Two seafood encounters had done nothing to change Ricky's view that the world's best oysters are to be found in Ireland. A memorable meal in Kawakawa did not entirely dissuade him, but he had conceded that perhaps the honours should be shared.