A death in the family

Janet Frame's beloved nephew Ian Gordon died suddenly in August this year at the age of 64. Ian was the "nephew sleeping in a basement room" of her famous poem 'Rain on the Roof' (see poster below), written when Ian was a teenager and Janet Frame was staying in a caravan in the back yard of the Gordon family home in Northcote.

Ian was a veteran Radio New Zealand engineer and technical producer of radio drama, having started working for the state broadcaster 47 years ago. More recently Ian had become an occasional comedic actor, featuring in short films and TV productions. He is dearly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

 Tribute to Ian Gordon in Phantom Billstickers Café Reader #4

 

 

 Ian 'Flash' Gordon (Radio NZ Obituary)

 

 

In his memory Radio New Zealand has instituted the Ian Gordon Memorial Award for excellence in Technology. The first award was presented recently in Wellington by Ian's brother Dr Neil Gordon (with Ian's daughter Aimee Tolhopf present from Auckland by video link). The winners were Shannon McKenna and Matt Thomson.