Candlelight memorial held for man found dead in city centre

Friday, 19 February 2021

Awhena Peachey lights a candle for Owen Wildbore-Brumby at his memorial.

Dozens of candles surrounded a white cross as people gathered to pay their respects to a well-known Palmerston North man whose body was discovered in the city’s centre.

Owen Charles Wildbore-Brumby, 40, was found dead in a garden in Te Marae o Hine-The Square on Tuesday.

More than 300 people gathered at the site to share their stories and sing waiata on Thursday evening, paying tribute to their friend and reminiscing about the times they had shared a drink, a cigarette or a memory.

Written tributes were collected on a door, with “in loving memory of Owen” written across the top. Sitting on a motorbike, the tributes surrounded a picture of Wildbore-Brumby.

Wildbore-Brumby, 40, was found dead in Te Marae o Hine-The Square on Tuesday.

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Reuben Read, who has known Wildbore-Brumby since Read was a child, writes his thoughts among the other tributes.

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Friends and acquaintances shared their memories of him, with many calling him a kind man who will never been forgotten.

Bryan Skinner recalls fun times with Wildbore-Brumby, when they rode the Esplanade miniature railway.

Awhena Peachey, a close friend for many years, said he was taken too soon from their lives.

“You are in our hearts forever. Aroha mai, my boy, aroha mai.”

Ngamo Cribb, from Legacy Church, said Wildbore-Brumby would be missed.

“He touched so many people. This is so sad. He was a good person and we are going to miss him.

Peachey, centre with microphone, speaks about her memories of Wildbore-Brumby.

“He’s in peace now and his legend will live on.”

Bryan Skinner met Wildbore-Brumby when they rode the miniature trains at The Esplanade.

Skinner said he was a funny man whom he had much love for.

“I used to chase you around the Luck Venue and you'd always come back and give me s…, and I’d give it back to you. You little b……. I’m going to miss you. You were a hard case.”

Wildbore-Brumby was Ramona Mar’e's security detail at Legacy Church. Together they shared many funny memories yelling backwards and forwards as they worked together.

Mar’e sang her final song to him, saying: 'You are our dream come true.”

The circumstances of Wildbore-Brumby’s death are yet to be determined, but an autopsy has taken place.

Police are continuing to make inquiries.