This is taken from an email with background information from Les Brass, sent to Verne Linkhorn’s daughter Robyn, the day prior to Verne’s funeral…
Hi Robyn,
I am Les Brass and I wish to pass on to you my sadness at the news and sincere regrets that I am unable to be with you on 10.10.2017.
I can, however give you some information about the ‘GRADUATES' and when they began.
There was a TEAL Apprentices Prize giving to be held and the "manager loosely in charge / control" of us all was looking for some talent to make a sort of show for the families and management who actually expected to see a good show.
Well they got what they wanted.
I had learned to mime to tapes but as a single act only and was asked to find a couple of likely idiots from the "apprentii" group.
I was an Instrument basher, and along came Bob Brann (the tall one from somewhere downstairs) then Verne Linkhorn (Electrical Shop - the one with the tiny saxophone) with me (the short one and one short from the Instrument Shop), supposed to be the straight man.
We were given time off, permission to proceed and a huge tape recorder to make some humour.
We put together Stan Freberg’s "Shaboom" and "The Banana Boat Song"
Old humour, and with the occasional props – with the aforementioned Saxophone in Verne's hands we made a bit of a hit.
This led to a slightly professional shot at show time entertainment with some success.
We toured with
"The Howard Morrison Quartet"
"Ray Columbus and the invaders"
"Ann & Jimmy Murphy"
around the entertainment capitals of the North Island, such as
"THE SHERALEE NIGHTCLUB"
"MONTMARTRE NIGHTCLUB" [AND SLY BOOZE JOINT] ( Maître d', Kenny Ball) ,
THE AUCKLAND TOWN HALL
"FEATURING HOWARD MORRISON ETC. AND The GRADUATES - WELL KNOWN MIME TRIO".
Verne and Bob taught me things I had never known, such as starting a show with my very first hangover ever at Mount Maunganui sound shell.
This time was most educational and I treasure the times we had.
A few years later (1966) I started as a Flight Steward with Air New Zealand aka "TEAL, grownup" and things changed a little..
Before I retired I did have the pleasure of crewing with Verne then a Flight Engineer and had a bit of a catch-up.
There is now a gap in our lives where Verne use to be and we may be the lesser for that, but such memories can never be erased.
Farewell dear friend and rest at whichever place you so choose. You are missed.
Robyn I hope this can fill in a few gaps for you.
Kindest regards even though we haven’t met. "Let the glasses clink, for the Link"
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