Fiancee farewells earthquake victim

Matty Beaumont. Photo / Supplied

Kelly Thorndycroft was robbed of her plan to marry her soulmate when the Christchurch earthquake took him from her.

But yesterday she got to share how much her precious time with her fiance meant to her in front of hundreds who gathered to remember popular Canterbury Television staff member and former television host Matthew 'Matty' Beaumont, 31.

"We had such great plans. It was going to be fantastic. And I cherished every day with you," Ms Thorndycroft said at his memorial service in Christchurch.

"Although our relationship was brief, it was wonderful, perfect and amazing. We had a connection I never felt before with anyone."

Mr Beaumont was a big film buff, but Ms Thorndycroft said the couple - who got engaged last July - had agreed to cut back on their frequent movie purchases to save money before their upcoming wedding.

"I would always smile ear to ear whenever I saw you, and pinch myself that we were together - and I know you did the same. I have never been so honest with anyone before. But with you it was easy. Everything was easy. We were ourselves, not having to pretend when you find your soulmate and best friend."

Mr Beaumont was one of 116 people to die when the CTV building collapsed in the February 22 quake. But it was only about a week ago that police were able to formally identify his remains found in the rubble of the building.

A small box containing the remains sat on a memorial table at yesterday's service, with photographs of Mr Beaumont and items telling stories of his life.

He was described yesterday as a charmer, an "old school" gentleman, and a joker - and speakers commented on what a good father and husband he would have been.

The service also heard about Mr Beaumont's passion for music - especially the group U2 - and the television programme Doctor Who. He only ever wanted to work in television, and hosted his own music and children's television programmes on CTV that gained a strong local following, before moving into programme scheduling and website work.

His father David spoke about the day he and his wife saw their adopted son for the first time in a Greymouth hospital.

"I looked in at this darling brown-eyed baby and said to myself 'that's my son'. The bond was instant. And it was a two-way thing. Only a few days old, Matty had chosen us as much as we had chosen him."

David Beaumont said the word closure had been used a lot since the quake, but there would never be closure for him.

"Nor should there be. The memories of the past are too precious for us to close the door on the treasures contained in them. The future lies ahead as an opening, not a closure."