In Memory of Ngaire Bailey (nee Keys) 1929-2023

Remuera Heritage notes with sadness the passing of Ngaire Bailey in January 2023, aged 93. Ngaire was a member of Remuera Heritage and the granddaughter of Leonard John Keys, the first store owner in Remuera.

L J Keys’ “Clonbern Store” on the corner of Remuera Road is one of the oldest local commercial buildings still standing. It was operated by L J Keys for only 7 years but continued as a grocery store until the mid-1960s, with the 30 year period from the mid-1930s as Marriott’s. Albert White, the father of pioneer New Zealand aviation photographer Leo White, ran the grocer’s store for Keys while also growing and selling flowers from an ‘impressive garden’ at home in 4 Woodbine Road in Greenlane. (2)

Leonard John Keys (1880 – 1958) was born in Patea, brought up in the Thames district and then served an apprenticeship in the grocery trade in Auckland. In 1903 he married Sarah Marjory McMaster; the Keys had 3 children, Stan, Basil and Alison.

Mr Keys is remembered particularly for his development of early passenger transport in Auckland’s eastern suburbs. The initiative to move into passenger transport may have evolved from the necessity to deliver goods as part of his grocery business.

In 1915, having moved to St Helier’s Bay, he established a bus service, the first vehicle being a Chase. Known as the “K” buses, the business later became L J Keys Ltd and eventually expanded to a fleet of about 40 buses, which was bought 34 years later in 1949, by the Auckland Transport Board. [1]

Ngaire is survived by children John and Kay, David and Frances, Peter (deceased) and Edna, Susan and Chris, and Chris and Iris, with nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. [2]

Also in remembrance of Leonard James Keys:

KEYS, Leonard James. Born August 20, 1936. Passed away peacefully on May 02, 2023 in Auckland Hospital after a short illness. Dearly loved son of the late Marjorie and Stanley Keys, and loved brother of the late Gwenyth and Ngaire and beloved uncle to eight nieces and nephews. A service for Leonard will be held at Purewa Cemetery on Tuesday 16th May in the Lounge of Remembrance at 11.30am. The family would like to thank the staff at Auckland Hospital for their care of Leonard during his stay there. A special warm thanks to the staff at IHC Inkerman Street for their kind care of Leonard over the years.

[1] L J Keys  https://remueraheritage.org.nz/story/l-j-keys/

[2] https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/ngaire-bailey-obituary?pid=203631363