Kete Horowhenua

In 2005 he received the Queen's Service Medal. Peter Franklin reviewed his achievements:

Levin man Richard Denton is humbled and tickled with the thought that people in the district think that much of him to put his name forward for the Queen's Service Medal honour bestowed on him.

"Everything I've done I've done because I enjoyed it," he said.

Mr Denton was first elected to the Horowhenua County Council in 1962, became chairman of the rural district council, was a member of the

Horowhenua Lake Domain Board from 1962 to 1978 and has been a justice of the peace since 1984.

He has carried out judicial duties in Levin and Palmerston North since 1992.

In 1990 Mr Denton became acting coroner assisting when the need arose.

Mr Denton has also been a keen member of Jaycees, Lions and the Masonic Lodge and was a foundation member of the United Nations Society and a member of the Horowhenua Historical Society.

He has also been a vicar's warden at St Mary's Anglican Church.

Mr Denton said one of the things he would like to see is relocation of the old district court building to Parker Avenue near the scout hall for use by the historical society.

"I feel it is appropriate, the building is over 100 years-old, it is a magnificent building. Of course it is out of date for what it is being used for now but as a place for historical records and other items pertaining to the district's long history it would be ideal," he said.

Mr Denton said in his early days on council one of the major issues he worked through, the noise from motor racing, made him unpopular in some circles.

"I was never shy when it came to having my say," he said.

Residents were complaining about the noise the racing cars were making early on Sunday morning approached Mr Denton.

"I was a councillor and they were ratepayers someone had to stand up for them and get their voice heard,"

The main complaint was the hour in which the cars would start revving up.

After Mr Denton took the matter up and faced the anger of the motor racing crowd when council agreed that the cars would not start before 1.30pm on Sundays.

"I wasn't against the racing but I had to act on the ratepayers' behalf. Some thought I was bastard, others didn't."

Mr Denton said the Queen's Service Medal means a lot to him for two reasons.

The first was having the respect of people who thought that he deserved such an honour.

The secondly was that it was nice because the Denton family had been in Horowhenua for 100 years.

Community Contributed

Richard Denton, QSM

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