Suggest an edit to this item

Format: Photograph

Image Tags

Add

Show tags

no tags yet

Linked To

Location (city or town)

Greymouth

Map

Add

Comments

Add

By: William Gray15th Feb 2025 9:05AMJust to add further comment about Johnny Impey i got to know Johnny through my interest in Shipping over many years, and he always got me the yearly Waterfront Commission Calendar, they always had good photos in them. I still have them, 9 in total, and all in good condition, and i have just been looking at them. I will always treasure them. As was said in the other comments, he was good with the rope work, i can always remember Johnny doing splice work for the then P&T in Arney St.

Donate to West Coast Website

Tools

Full size thumbnail Fit to screen Fit to width Fit to height Rotate 90 degrees Zoom to 100%

Show Text / Transcription Show keyword hits Highlight keywords Download Add to My Collection Like this item Contact us about this Suggest an edit to this item Citation for this item

Does anyone remember Johnny Impey? - He was an old English fisherman in Greymouth.

About this image

DescriptionDoes anyone know what became of Johnny Impey. He was an old english fisherman, with a million stories and a million lies who was a mate of my grandparents in Greymouth. He’d be dead 20 years at least I reckon, but he’d turn up every few Sundays in Cowper St when i was there, have a few sherries and was a great laugh. Love to know anything about him.Map^[1]ContributorPicture Debbie Watson

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)GreymouthPersonJohnny Impey

From Facebook

CommentsGeoffrey King
He was a loyal customer at the Gilmer Hotel when I lived there. Also a loyal supporter and participant at St Johns.

Cross Cosand
He was our neighbour in High Street. Used to make us rope bridges, shared our driveway so it was a bit like The Castle. I used to pick grass for their budgies every day.

Cross Cosand
He was a merchant seaman and was torpedoed during WWII.

Mark Boucher
Author
So very glad to hear all these comments. He was a fleeting part of my childhood, but I remember him very well. His voice and his stories.

Colin Skates
I have just read all of these comments about a wonderful bloke. Johnny was an old school seaman first and foremost and was probably the most skilled rope splicer in greymouth, when we were building the extension to the Runanga working mans club the roof trusses had wire ropes as their bottom chords. Johnny was the man engaged to do the splicing work for this. I will also thank this man as I was a rugby player in this era and he attended me on more than one occasion at rugby park. Could not speak more highly of this stalwart of our community of not to many years gone by, One of the best was Johnny Impey
1d
Reply
Edited
Kerrie Lee
Johnny and Thelma Impey lived across the road from us in High Street. We used to collect seeds as kids and take them across the road for Johnny's budgies. I remember his stories from the merchant navy and the amazing ships in bottles he used to make. Thelma always had a biscuit for us too, and would sit and chat with mum. Wonderful couple

21h

Brian McIntyre
Lovely guy. Remember him and his beret well

Denise Eckersley
Johnny and Thelma looked after my sisters and me as we lived down the road a bit. Can remember big tapestries on the bedroom walls. The budgie and sitting in the kitchen. He was in a show we went to see as well. He also made rugs out of rags. Big part of my early years

Debbie Watson
Johnny was my great grandfather always had a cuddle for me. He was always telling us stories and always had a song to sing. He was always heading out the door every Saturday to do his St John duties and the race meetings. You felt special around Johnny and Nana they used to hold hands Johnny was devoted to Nana. He taught me how to do Macrame. We used to pull up outside 33 High Street and we were so excited and Johnny would open the front door put his arms out and pick me up and hugs and kisses all round. Great memories to have. We used to think we were special if he put his St Johns hat on us he was devoted to the St Johns as far back as I can remember. Great to read these tributes to a very special man.

Debbie Watson
Here's a photo of Johnny and Nana
May be an image of 1 person

Gail Whitnall
Johnny was buried in the Greymouth Cemetery in the RSA section. He was my Step Grandfather. We use to stay with him and my Nana Thelma at 33 High St. He was great company and very interesting. Always telling us great stories of his life.

Elizabeth Betty Woods
He was my mum and dad's best man at their wedding, my dad came out from England with him, plus three others, one I believe was Taffy Beard from Kumara. Yes torpedoed in WW 11. Mum kept the newspaper article for yrs, would have been dad's as he was 15 when he signed up as a merchant seamen. Dad was a year too young but he apparently found a way to join up, back in the day in Liverpool. Thelma I think was Johnny's wife's name, Celia might confirm that

Michael Delury
I remember Johnny he was in St John's when I was there he was very good at tying knots believe he was a seaman before coming to NZ

Maree Budd
Johnny was married to my Nana they lived on High St and yep be 20yrs since hes been gone, used to luv the budgies they had.

Beverley Hooper
Johnny was in St John's about mid 70's, same time as I was. I believe he worked on the wharf with my dad and others. Always had time to stop and chat. A lovely friendly person.

Colleen Cochrane
Happy memories of Johnny and his wife

Joe Kelly
John Francis Neuville Impey. I’ll see if I can find out what year he passed away and where he was buried.

Pam Skeats
Johnny impey worked on the greymouth wharf with my dad years ago.johnny and his lovely wife Thelma lived in a house in high st where the motels oppersite the catholic church.every monday when I was going to grey high school Johnny would pick me up take me to their place for lunch and the back to school.they were the most beautiful couple.when my dad was sick before he passed away johnny would visit him every week.johnny was known for tying knots and mending fishing nets for fishing boats

Ivan Murray Wilson
Had some great yarns with him - loved Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross" and said the music very accurately reflected the way the bird used to fly and follow his ship. Told me a professor had agreed with him that the invention of the knot was the basis of all technology.

Amanda Stephens
Pretty sure he was in St John's back in the day? Lovely guy

Anne Offord
My Nana lived a couple of houses away on High Street and I used to love going and having a cup of tea and the budgie would have a saucer full. Fond fond memories.

Alaine Bright
We lived directly opposite at 32 High St, I remember the budgies in the cages on the front porch and the Gillmans lived next door to John & Thelma.

Chippy McLean
Johnny was great mates with my uncle Dick Gifkins, they worked the Silver Fern together before Morry Hale and dad. Have great memories of Johnny he was a bit of a hero to a young bloke.

Denise Bradley
I remember him most for the magpie he had in the back yard.

Carolyn Luck
He was a lovely man.

Denis Skates
Johnny Impey St John zambuck at rugby games

Ivan Murray Wilson
Great accolade Skater, it really is.

Marilyn Coley
Thanks Mark for bringing up about Johnny Impey used to pop in to your grandad eh lovely MEMORIES always said go with God when you left his house real lovely people

OCR Text Transcription Edit Edit +-Close

Editing is temporarily disabled

Cancel Edit

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel

Menu

Does anyone remember Johnny Impey? - He was an old English fisherman in Greymouth.

Editing is temporarily disabled