Dunedin's well-known oyster-eating resident Richard Reid died earlier this week at the age of 103.
The Oxford Court Resthome resident was renowned for his birthday visits to the Best Cafe, in Lower Stuart St, where he would treat himself to a plate of deep-fried oysters.
Mr Reid died on Wednesday. His niece, Anna Reid, said she would remember her uncle for his "droll sense of humour''.
"He loved a joke and he loved oysters. For his 100th birthday he said, "Blow the cake, I want my oysters.''
Mr Reid lived in Carroll St for most of his life, and worked at the Hillside workshops.
Ms Reid recalled the "brotherly love and bond'' her father shared with her uncle.
"I can still remember them, long dark coats, trilby hats, and they really did look like a couple of figures from the Al Capone era.''
Mr Reid was still as charming as ever at the age of 103, she said.
"He just looked at life and grabbed on to it with two hands and that's what he did.''
Oxford Court Resthome administrator Sandra Hines said Mr Reid was "one in a million''.
"There are some people that you come in contact with that just make everything lovely and he was one of them.''
He had such an impact on the staff and residents of the rest-home his unit, The Reid unit, was named after him, she said.
A service for Mr Reid will be held on Monday.
