"I would see them to bed at 11pm and then head out to work," said Norman.
All five children are now in the medical profession and Norman says he and Catherine passed a love of gardening onto all their children.
Norman says life at Liston Heights is paradise, and he puts two gardens from Taupō winning down to the inspiration from manager Clare Jordan.
Norman Gray, winner of the Bupa New Zealand award for best one-bedroom garden. Photo / Rachel Canning
After seven months' marriage, Leicester-born Robbie Shearer, 94, lost her New Zealand-born husband bomber pilot Edward Robinson in World War II.
"He always said if anything happened to him, I should go and see his people."
Two years later Robbie, aged 20, came to Wellington to meet her husband's parents. They lost two sons in the war.
"They wanted a daughter and they asked me to stay. So I bought two sections, one for my parents who came out from England to live."
A builder was required, and the builder arranged for Robbie to go a ball with his son, Stan Shearer.
Stan and Robbie Shearer enjoy their winning balcony garden. Photo / Supplied
"And that was that! After Wellington we went to live in Blenheim and bought a section that was full of beautiful old roses. Our love of gardening had begun."
Their fondness for gardening was passed also onto the Shearers' three children. When they left home Stan said to Robbie, 'let's do something, you go and buy some land'.
