Broadcasters Keith Quinn, John McBeth, Grant Nisbett, Tony Johnson and Bill Francis, sports writer Joseph Romanos and cricket statistician Warwick Larkins chatted among themselves while veteran sports broadcaster Peter Sellers held centre court.
The doughty right-hander made 90 not out yesterday and his friends were all there to celebrate a great knock.
"They're my best friends. This is just terrific," Mr Sellers said.
In the background, the walls were covered with photos of the birthday boy with sporting luminaries, such as 1936 Olympic Games hero Jesse Owens, All Black Colin Meads, New Zealand three-time Olympic gold medallist Peter Snell, golfer Sir Bob Charles and personally signed photos from the likes of Muhammad Ali and Mark Spitz.
There was even a framed letter from British comedian Peter Sellers, joking about their shared name.
The group had travelled the length of the country to mark the milestone with Mr Sellers.
"We were all keen to come down for this," Mr Quinn said.
"He's such a great guy. He was my inspiration when I was a young broadcaster." "He's a great friend and a legend of New Zealand broadcasting and sport," Mr Romanos said.
Mr Sellers was a radio sports broadcaster for more than 35 years until he retired in 1987.
"I was trying to think the other day how it all started, but it was so long ago that I forget," he said.
"It was a great job. I always wanted to get a job like that. I always wanted to meet people and talk to people. I was just lucky that I got a job like I did."
Mr Sellers' encyclopaedic sporting knowledge still impresses his colleagues.
"I rang him up when he was 88 and said 'Good innings'," Mr Quinn recalled.
"Peter said: 'Stan McCabe got 88 in the 1936 England-Australia cricket test'. I looked it up and he was absolutely right. Yet it was something he wouldn't have even thought about since 1936."
Mr McBeth remembered working with Mr Sellers at 4ZB in 1971.
"It was my first year as a sports broadcaster and Peter was hugely influential. It was his memory and his way with words that made him so special," he said.
Mr Francis said Mr Sellers' passion for sport had influenced all their careers.
"This whole group has stayed in touch with Peter and remained friends. He's such a great correspondent. I left Dunedin 30 years ago and we're still in regular contact." Mr Sellers looked in good touch yesterday, continuing a rich vein of excellent form.
However, he would not be pressed on his chances of making a century.
"Ninety is a good innings. The average person doesn't live that long," he mused.
"But 100? I don't know. Ten years is a long time."
