Ashley John GARDINER [Ash]

1946 - 2021  (74 years)

• Name	Ashley John GARDINER
  Known As	Ash
  Birth	10 Dec 1946
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1969  [1]
  	Storeman, New Plymouth, Taranaki
  Occupation	1987  [1]
  	Manager, New Plymouth, Taranaki
  Death	18 Jan 2021	New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand   [2]
  Cremation	23 Jan 2021	New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand   [3]
  Person ID	I23576	NZ Genealogy Project
  Last Modified	11 May 2024

  
  

  Family	Linda Kathryn HAWKINS,   b. 1949   d. 24 Nov 2021, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand (Age 72 years)
  Marriage	Bef 1969  [1, 4]
  Residence	1969	New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand   [1]
  Residence	2005	New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand   [1]
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living
  Family ID	F8372	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	31 Dec 2024

  
  

• Event Map		Residence - 1969 - New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand Residence - 2005 - New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand Death - 18 Jan 2021 - New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand Cremation - 23 Jan 2021 - New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Ashley John GARDINER

  
  

• Notes

  RUGBY. Ashley John GARDINER played ruby for the Tukapa Rugby and Sports Club in New Plymouth, for the Taranaki Province and the All Blacks. Starting with the Senior A's in 1966, Ash was part of the legendary championship-winning team of the 1960's, a side which under the coaching of Pat Doherty, won three club championship titles (1966, 1968, 1969) and were runners-up twice (1965, 1967) within a glorious five year span 1965 to 1969. Ash?s performances for Taranaki in the late 1960s as a specialist tighthead prop were soon recognized at higher levels. He was selected for a Junior All Black (Under 23) trial in 1967 and went on to captain the Junior All Blacks in 1968 for their match versus Japan at Athletic Park. During the next six seasons Ash played prominently at both club and rep level, racking up vast experience with Taranaki including a host of matches against international teams such as Wales (1969), the Lions (1971), the Wallabies (1972) and England (1973). Ash?s selection for the All Blacks came in 1974 when he was one of a number of long-serving provincial stalwarts who JJ Stewart promoted into the All Blacks for their tour of Australia in 1974. In all, he played in nine of the 12 matches on the tour, scored tries in wins against ACT and Queensland and capped off his tour by gaining test selection for the third test against Australia played on 8 June in Sydney. The All Blacks won that test 16-6 to wrap up the series two to nil, with one test drawn. Later in 1974 Ash played for the North Island and had another All Black trial prior to being selected for the All Blacks tour of Ireland at the end of the year. On tour he played in two of the six matches, his appearances being against Munster (won 14-4) and Ulster (won 30-15). Ash carried on playing for Tukapa and Taranaki in 1975 and was once again chosen for an All Black trial match but after reaching 102 games for Taranaki was forced into retirement on medical grounds. However, he continued to serve Tukapa as a coach and an administrator, with his last year on the club Executive Committee being in 2000. For the All Blacks, Ash played 11 matches including one test for a total of 8 points (2 tries, under the 4 points for a try scoring system in use those days). Source: Tukapa Rugby and Sports Club, 30 Jul 2020.

  
  

• Sources

  [S614] NZ Electoral Rolls, 1853-2010, (Ancestry.co.uk.), none. [S789] Death Notice. GARDINER, Ashley John: Passed away peacefully on Monday 18th January 2021 at Taranaki Base Hospital. aged 74 years. Cherished husband of Linda. Loved and respected Dad of Shane and Leigh. Mark. Nikki and Rod. Loved and adored Poppa of Paige. Koby and Elle: Monique and Jesse: Justin. Deja. Trey and Xavier. Much loved brother of Bruce and Glenda. Grant and Judy, Kay and Michael. In lieu of flowers donations to Parkinson's Society of NZ, Taranaki Branch would be appreciated and can be left at the service. All messages to the Gardiner family. c/o PO Box 4016 New Plymouth or online at wabraham.co.nz/notices. A service to celebrate the life of Ash will be held at Tukapa Rugby Club. Gladstone Road. Westown on Saturday 23rd January at 11.00am, followed by private cremation. - Publshed in Taranaki Daily News 20 Jan 2021 [S789] Death Notice. [S1982] Archives New Zealand Online - Probate File, (Archives New Zealand, https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz).