| PEOPLE |
YEAR: 2007
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His recent death marked the end of a long, rewarding career in the Nelson district in which his activities were awarded with national honours. For his services to racing and the hop industry, he was awarded an OBE. He became a Paul Harris Fellow for his services to Rotary and he was awarded the Order of the Hop - the highest honour that can be bestowed from the world hop industry.
He joined the trotting club in Nelson in 1951, ans over a 20-year period he was either President, Vice-President or immediate Past President. He was elected a life member of both the Nelson Harness Racing Club and the Nelson Jockey Club. He opened the members' stand in 1958, was instrumental in the building of Redwood Hall, and was President when the club bought land and a house adjacent to Richmond Park.
He raced numerous horses, the first being the galloper Fairhall Lad, in partnership with his wife, Nana Jean, followed by Desert Cloud and Sovereign Cloud, and the pacers Polita, Daring Dancer, False Fella, Thunder Boy, Gold Boots, living Lady, Turf Lord, Joe Allan and Royalty. His best horse was Blue Chip Rock, which won the 2004 Easter Cup at Addington.
Hill made many friends in the harness racing industry, hosting parties at their Gladstone Road home over race weekends, and he shared a long friendship with the late Ted Lowe
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 9May07