Alan John Sayers was a New Zealand journalist, photographer and athlete who worked for The New Zealand Herald prior to World War II.
11 Facts About Alan Sayers
1.
2.
Alan Sayers was born in the Auckland suburb of Royal Oak, the son of Mary and Horace Alan Sayers, a builder.
3.
Alan Sayers won national 440 yards track title in 1937, represented Waikato in rugby union and played rugby league for one season, during which he scored a total of seven tries in a senior game on Carlaw Park, a record yet to be beaten.
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Alan Sayers coached track athletes, a number of whom won national titles, broke records and represented their country.
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Alan Sayers was patron of the Hibiscus Coast Waterwise Society.
6.
At the beginning of World War II Sayers enlisted in the 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment but was seconded into the Royal New Zealand Navy, where he served as an intelligence officer reporting on enemy activity in the South Pacific.
7.
Alan Sayers was a member of the Kings Empire Veterans and the Silverdale RSA.
8.
Alan Sayers gave the eulogy at Allen's funeral at the age of 96.
9.
In 2014, aged 98, Alan Sayers published his second book Deadline, which received wide publicity in the media, including a segment on the Seven Sharp national TV programme and articles in the NZ Listener, The Rodney Times and other publications.
10.
Alan Sayers turned 100 in December 2015 and died in Auckland on 19 August 2017 at the age of 101.
11.
On 6 December 2015 Alan Sayers celebrated his 100th birthday, which was acknowledged by the Auckland Council.