PHILIP THOMAS BINT 1880


	DORIS CATHERINE HOOPER (nee BINT) 1911-1961 Doris Catherine Bint married tanner Reginald Charles Hooper (born 1890) at Auckland in 1939. They had four children, Rae Alison Hooper (1941), Rex Wayne (1944), Marilyn Joy (1947), and Gail Patricia (1949) Doris died in 1961 when her youngest child was only 12 years old. Doris Catherine was born 25 June 1911, only daughter and third child of Philip and Eliza Bint. Not a lot is known about Mum's early life but I have been told that aged 2-3, she was the "mascot" for the Ponsonby Band in which her father Philip and brothers Eric and Roy were involved. Marilyn The family lived in Wanganui Ave, Herne Bay and Doris attended Seddon Tech, which at that time was situated in an old building in the city. Aged about 18, she won a scholarship to the Australian School of Sketching and we all recall her beautiful, delicate pen and watercolour sketches. Before her marriage, Doris regularly wrote for "N.Z. Farmer" and worked as stenographer / secretary for Sharland & Co and the Hikurangi Dairy Co. As children, we never tired of listening to her many rhymes, stories and her singing of lullabies. Not only was Doris artistic, she played cricket, badminton, tennis and also swam. She was involved with Guides, taught Sunday School at All Saints Church in Ponsonby, sang in the choir and played the harp.
			Doris Catherine Hooper 1911-1961

	A younger Doris		Ponsonby Boys Band 1918




			Mother met Reginald Hooper at All Saints, where he was the organist. She told me she used to think he was "making eyes" at the person behind her - but it was her!. They married in August 1939. Doris never lost her beliefs and I recall her going to see Dr Billy Graham, when he visited N.Z. in the 50s. Before I started school, we moved into a new 4 bedroom house in Avondale. At that time, the area was still very new and there were only another couple of houses in the street. We had polished floors and a brick fireplace, a copper, concrete tubs, an old wringer and wooden washing board. No agitator or automatic washing machine for Mum!
	Gail & Marilyn


	Doris was a superb cook and needlewoman. Our "Neeco" stove was the older style, with the oven top / bottom buttons. Out of that came a multitude of delights, especially on a Saturday, baking day. Beautiful Madeira, gingerbread, melt-in-the-mouth shortbread, featherlite scones and tarts. She preserved, made sauces, jam, jelly and chutneys. Yet another skill, was her knitting and sewing, which she did beautifully and people often commented on our clothes. Her treadle, Singer sewing machine stood in a corner of our dining room. My younger sister Gail and I, were frequently asked if we were twins because we were usually dressed in the same style and fabric but in a different colour.
			Our Mother didn't have a lot of the "mod cons" we take for granted. Our polished floor was swept with a broom, mats were hung over the clothesline and beaten with a stick. A new "McAlpine" fridge was only acquired shortly before her death. Prior to that, food was kept in a "safe", butter put into a bowl and into a sink of cold water, to try and stop it melting.
	While I was at Primary school, Mum worked as a machinist at Steeles in Rosebank Road, Avondale. She also worked for a time as a cook at the Auckland City Mission, in Pitt Street. Just prior to her death, she worked as a milliner for Abbott, Armstrong & Howie, behind the Strand Arcade in Queen St.

			I would have been about 11 years of age and one day after school, visited a neighbour with my Mother. During our visit, the neighbour's son came in and asked his Mother if he could have a shilling to buy something at the local dairy. His Mother said no. He then became upset and made a comment about it being his birthday and it was'nt fair that he had'nt been given anything. Mum offered to give him the shilling - something that would be very politically incorrect in today's climate. We were a poor family and that shilling would have been a lot for Mum to give. He got his shilling with a birthday greeting from my Mother. For some reason, this incident has stuck with me all my life. For me, the lesson learnt was to never, ever let a birthday go by without some kind of acknowledgement of a persons "special day". I know Mum did'nt wish to interfere, it was merely the act of a person with a kind and loving heart.
	Marilyn with grandson Jamie

	Our Mother was gentle, kind, warm, sympathetic and generous in nature. Very spiritual, sensitive, sentimental and the hardest worker we have ever known. I never once recall her saying a bad word about anybody or complain. When she passed away on 3 June 1961, people attended her funeral who had not seen her in years but remembered some kindness from schooldays, work or everyday living. They seemed to mourn her almost as much as we. She was universally and justly loved and to this day, we all thank her for her love, efforts and sacrifices.


Rex Hooper	Marilyn	Gail

	RAE ALLISON AVERY 1941-1997 Rae, the eldest daughter of Doris, was born in July 1941. When she wrote to me from Mangere, Auckland way back in 1982, she described herself as a freelance writer, poet and painter, preferring to paint portraits and old houses as well as having a serious passion for old books. Tom After discussion with family, we have put together this brief profile of Rae. I have included some of her sketches and one of the few photos that sadly seem to be in existence of her. These sketches were done when she was in her early twenties and unfortunately, no known examples or knowledge of later artwork are known by the family. As you can see, we had yet another artist in the family!!! Marilyn
	As a result of catching diphtheria as a child, Rae had a scar on her throat and spoke with a slightly husky voice. Growing up, I remember Rae being very clever. She could speak several foreign languages and at one time, had 28 pen-friends. I remember, one Christmas, getting a gift of a red bambi brooch with silver bell around its neck, from one of her American pen-friends. I thought that was wonderful! I remember sitting fascinated, as I watched her delve into her chocolate box of beads and pearls and make beautiful earrings, which she used to sell. At this time, Rae also showed a great talent for dress designing and I remember her many sketches, which would be freely given to any friends looking to expand their wardrobe!!!!

			Another love at this time was the reading of novels and Rae could frequently be found with book in hand! After the death of our parents, Rae developed a great interest in tracing our family tree and with her natural flair for language and writing, her journey quickly became a passion, which was to last over 20 years! Rae married Raymond Williams in 1958 and they had four children, David (1959), Sheryl (1961), Jennifer (1962) and Trevor (1964). In 1970, Rae married Denis Cartledge and they had a son Denys (1973). In 1985, Rae was to marry David Avery, they did not have a family. She passed away suddenly and quietly on 7 August 1997.



	Extracts from a letter sent by Rae to Tom Bint who was living in Berkshire UK. 14th of October 1982 The family tree has'nt sprouted any new twigs this year at all. I've been working on a poem for my book, written a 15 minute adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" for a puppet theatre, some radio scripts, anything - except genealogy. This week a friend and I have about 40 individual character dolls we've made, on display at the local library. Now I'm free to devote the rest of my time to writing and the pursuit of the Bint line! I envy you your proximity to the record office and library. I am the world's worst browser-amongst books. Have to be forcibly dragged away from ancient and interesting, and probably irrelevant bits of information! I'm all for the idea some county family history societies have of reconstituting a whole village - the families and the way of life. I'd be the first to volunteer for a project like that! Muriel (Soanes?) and I share our records in the belief that it is better for all branches of the family to have up to date and accurate information. If anything happens to us and the 'tree' we have done and the certificates we have brought etc are accidentally lost or destroyed, then we know there are copies of the lot in the hands of each branch.

	Even though I am the one who has been asked to write these profiles, I just want to say again, they have been done so with the support and after reading first, by my siblings. And again, we all want to thank you for the time and effort in putting this altogether. Our best wishes and kind regards Marilyn Clarke

			REGINALD CHARLES HOOPER 1890 - 1965 by Marilyn Clarke My father was born June 5 1890 at Timaru. He was born into a very musical family and was the eldest of 4 children. His father Charles had a bakery in Arthur Street, Timaru and later, one in Ponsonby Road, Auckland. I remember Dad saying how he used to help his father make the deliveries by horse and cart. He had a lifelong love of horses and as a very young child, I remember him owning at least one. While in his mid twenties, he enlisted in World War 1 and spent time in England, France and Europe. During his time in England, he took the opportunity to visit a number of churches and was invited to practice on the organ. On at least one occasion, he was invited to play for the Sunday Service, when on leave. At the time of meeting my Mother, he was the organist at All Saints Anglican Church in Ponsonby.

	He was also a very talented watercolour painter and this he combined with his love of horses. As we lived close to the Avondale Racing Club, he was able to visit as need be, to ensure the particular horse he was painting, was the exact colour. He was also a founding member of the Avondale Art Group.

			As a younger man, Dad also bred Fox Terriers but his other great interest was the breeding, showing and painting of pigeons. How I remember both the smell and my Mothers despair prior to show day, when Dad insisted on cleaning them in the bath!!!!!! How proud he was of his prize ribbons and eventually he was asked to become a judge at the Auckland A & P Show. He was always happy to share his knowledge. He both visited and was visited by many up and coming bird breeders. Dad passed away May 14 1965. Marilyn Clarke
	tom.bint@tiscali.co.uk


Philip Bint
Eliza Hoggard Day was the daughter of John Day, who was born in Cambridgeshire, UK, and his wife Catherine Duxbury from Exeter in Devon, who were married at All Saints Church Stepney, London in April 1865. Philip and Eliza had four children, Eric Philip (1902), William Roy (1906-1996), Alan Neville (1917) and Doris Catherine (1911).

Eric Bint 1902-1968	William "Roy" Bint 1906-1996	Allan Bint born 1917


	Avondale		Charlotte Allman