I was born in 1917 to English parents who had settled in the village of Taradale, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. This was an English colony in the Pacific Ocean. The district...view moreI was born in 1917 to English parents who had settled in the village of Taradale, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. This was an English colony in the Pacific Ocean. The district was completely rural, with many small fairy farms, orchards, vineyards, and Chinese market gardeners. Such an environment resulted in my future being strongly attached to the soil and nature.view less