The death occured yesterday 4 January of Bruce Murray, a very long term resident of Piha. Bruce’s family had long-standing connections with Piha, having taken over the Piha Store from the Crichtons in the early 1950s and run it for a number of years. Bruce was one of three Murray children; his brother was Graham and his sister Colleen. The Murrays owned a large block of land overlooking Piha, reached from Garden Road and after farming south of Auckland, Bruce and his wife Janet came to live on the property. 

For quite a time Bruce ran a lawn-mowing business at Piha, and  he was a regular face at the RSA and the Bowling Club. Bruce suffered a stroke early last year and had not been in good health. He is survived by his wife Janet.