PHOTO/FILE
KAREN COLTMAN
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Booth is one of the oldest names in Carterton and three generations of Booths have taken up public life.
Dick Booth, who died peacefully last Saturday aged 86, was one of four in his family to have served on either Carterton Borough or District Council.
Before Dick’s time on council, AE Booth was mayor, then Howard Booth and then Dick got in John’s ear and nudged him on to council to become Booth mayor number three.
Dick’s cousin John is not sure where the next council Booth will come from but apparently there are several options.
“Dick and I were some 20 years apart and there are many Booth offspring around Wairarapa,” John said. “Who is the next craziest to be a mayor?
“I had a lot to do with Dick as our family farms are close by. He’s always been in my life and my mentor when I was elected to council.
“We spent many hours talking through things over a cup of tea.”
Dick Booth served on the council for 21 years and alongside him for even longer was his mate David Lowes.
“Thanks to Dick’s foresight the joining together of the borough and county council was smooth, and as you can imagine, it wasn’t easy,” Lowes said.
“I was on council for all of Dick’s years, I know him pretty well. He’s a very fair, compassionate man and knew his district very well.
“Dick lived a full life and I am glad he didn’t suffer. We will celebrate his life on Friday [today]. He was larger than life.”
Dick and his family are famous for the Middle Run daffodil paddocks where people can ramble over several acres of daffodils and pick them for a donation to St John’s and Plunket
every year.
Dick and John’s great grandfather bought this land from Charles Rooking Carter in the 1880s.
Dick was on the council when the old municipal hall was to be replaced and he was very proud of the Carterton Events Centre.
His funeral at the Carterton Events Centre will start at 11am today.
Messages to the Booth family can be sent to, C/- PO Box 185, Carterton 5743 or be left on Dick’s tribute page at www.tributes.co.nz
