A wealth of characters inhabit Peter's stories — from famous literary influences to foolhardy gelignite thawers and the frisky local doctor — but underpinning them all are the members of Peter's own family. Here are some of them, photographed in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Two became centenarians.
BACK ROW. Joyce (Fred’s wife). Fred (Peter’s brother) holding son, 'Mick' (Perry). Bill (Peter’s brother, and 'John the Scribe's' father). Peter. Jean (Peter’s wife, Myra Jean).
FRONT ROW. Peter’s father (Earnest Charles (Mick) Leyland), holding grand-daughter, Donna. ‘Old Phil’ (Peter’s grandfather who lived to 103, here flanked by two of his seven children). Aunty Florrie (Peter’s maiden aunt), holding Young Phil’ (Peter and Jean’s son, aka Pip). (Palmerston North. New Zealand c1949)
FRONT ROW. Peter’s father (Earnest Charles (Mick) Leyland), holding grand-daughter, Donna. ‘Old Phil’ (Peter’s grandfather who lived to 103, here flanked by two of his seven children). Aunty Florrie (Peter’s maiden aunt), holding Young Phil’ (Peter and Jean’s son, aka Pip). (Palmerston North. New Zealand c1949)