A memorial service will be held at Wellington Cathedral on Monday A memorial service will be held for Wellington gay community stalwart Peter Sumner on Monday. The 84-year-old was an ex-Army Lieutenant Colonel who came out before Homosexual Law Reform. Aided by his former rank, he lobbied MPs with a military background to vote in favour of the legislation. Sumner was also a long-time volunteer for the Gay Switchboard and Wellington Gay and Lesbian Helpline, who manned the phones for many Christmas Eves. Those who worked alongside him describe him as a fair-minded and unwavering leader with a great sense of humour. Dear friend Marty Bergin says Sumner was a very special man. “I think he is best summed up as a gentle man of absolute integrity, honesty and generosity,” he tells GayNZ.com Daily News. He quotes a fitting reference he found, dated 1945, from one of his teachers: “he is in every way desirable, thoroughly reliable and very likeable. He possesses good leadership when this quality is called for but he uses it entirely without obtrusiveness.” There will be a service for Peter Sumner at Wellington Cathedral on Monday 13 January at 2PM.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 9th January 2014 - 9:49am