The son of Norman and Gwen Hayes, he was born in Invercargill on Dec 1, 1954, and died last Thursday at the age of 69.
As a young man he enjoyed tennis, water-skiing and was an accomplished Southland representative soccer player.
Neville, the great-grandson of Ernest Hayes, who founded iconic Invercargill hardware firm E Hayes & Sons, inherited more than a business from his forefathers when he became managing director in 2005 after his father died — he also inherited a family passion for motorcycles and motor racing.
At age 14, he bought his first motorcycle, a BSA 250, which became the first bike in a lifetime collection.
Neville only ever considered himself to be an average rider, but he enjoyed every minute he dabbled in racing, speedway, motocross and road racing.
As an accomplished mechanic, Neville also spannered for national motorcycle rider Roger Freeth, who became a house guest during visits to the city.
In 1977, the Hayes’ passion for motorsport led Norman and Neville securing the iconic Burt Munro collection of parts and motorcycles which included the "The Munro Special" Indian Scout motorcycle.
A blank cheque offer from an American buyer during a middle-of-the-night phone call to Neville was bluntly declined.
He and his father wanted to see the collection remain in the south where it belonged, and gave it a place to call home.
In 2014, their personal collection went on display at The E Hayes Motorworks collection.
The collection helped make up the props of Roger Donaldson’s film about Burt Munro’s life in The World’s Fastest Indian.
Each year, thousands of enthusiasts of the Burt Munro Challenge visit the E. Hayes store to view the original Indian Scout motorcycle.
Neville loved the motorcycle industry for the lifelong friendships it developed.
He had been heard to say "in my experience, you don’t get many a...holes in the motorcycle fraternity. They generally are a good bunch of people ... "
Teretonga Park’s racetrack was once hired so he could share his passion for bikes with others.
Neville, the "long haired lout", started work at the company in 1972 as a delivery boy, where he could learn about the business from the bottom up.
Everyone knew when Neville arrived at work in the morning — his trusty Ariel Square Four motorcycle, that he had restored himself, would rattle all the shop windows on his way down the drive.
It was at the shop he truly discovered how much of a people-person he was — especially interacting with the customers and working with the staff.
The staff loved Neville as well, and all attended the funeral service held at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on Tuesday where his family, friends and colleagues packed in to say their farewells.
He was known for special character traits like the knack he had for remembering people’s names, random statistics and event details like no other.
In business, he became widely respected and valued for his hard work, old school business principles and ethics.
He had the knack of telling a story and was never short of a witty come-back.
His family knew Neville did not suffer any hint of a fool on the road; his "road rage" caused some embarrassing moments but left fond memories and smiles for them.
Neville’s wicked sense of humour manifested itself through his colourful and cherished tie collection.
Family and friends wore some of his tie collection at his service, while many were sown together and draped his casket.
Neville Hayes is survived by his partner Vicki, two children Jarn and Clelia, and grandson Levi.
- By Toni McDonald
