Digby is enjoying his retirement just how he planned it – almost.
“The only thing is that Jan isn’t travelling the world with me,” Digby says.
Digby Gemmell was married to Jan for 53 years. She died 3 years ago from ovarian cancer. You don’t have to talk to Digby for long to realise she was the love of his life.
“She was so beautiful … I sometimes think she was too good for me.”
For years Digby and Jan gave an annual donation to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.
“I watched the helicopters early on. They’d fly over the house to the Port Hills somewhere. I remember once it looked like the helicopter had landed on one skid, with the crew having to trek down to find the patient. The way that rescue crew worked was incredible.”
After Jan’s passing, Digby updated his will, leaving bequests to three charity organisations that meant something to him and Jan. The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust is one of them.
“The rescue helicopters are an essential service and the Trust does such good work to keep the service running,” Digby says.
Digby was born in Westport and still loves the Coast. He remembers moving a lot while growing up, ending up in New Brighton, Christchurch. He still catches up with some of the class of 1956 from the former New Brighton District High School.
“It was a fun place to live, running on the beach, playing in the sand, flying kites.”
After school he met Christchurch lass Jan while in town one evening. The rest is history.
Digby and Jan made a home and life together. Digby still lives in the house they built, although he sold his signwriting business seven years ago.
“You don’t need to work forever. Now I have that money to travel with and to give to organisations that are important to me – like the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.”
Digby says the process of putting a bequest into his will was simple. And while it’s Digby’s wishes that will be honoured, it’s not just his legacy. It’s the legacy belonging to him and Jan.
“Jan was a trained beautician and was very creative. She made her own wedding dress, even though she wasn’t a trained seamstress. She loved reading and wrote books and poems. She even wrote a book about her cancer.”
Jan is always with Digby, remembered with a pendant he wears around his neck. He’s pretty sure she would be proud of him and the decisions he has made about how their life together will be remembered.
When asked if he would urge other people to consider leaving a bequest to the Air Rescue Trust in their will, Digby says “just do it”.
“It’s no use to you when you’re gone. If you can, give it to an organisation like the Air Rescue Trust that can use it for good.”
