Anzac Day services in West Otago were noticeable for the absence of two well-known locals.
For 24 years Campbell Stuart, who died earlier this month, and his wife, Ruby, played the violin and piano at the Tapanui services.
Yesterday, Mrs Stuart carried on the tradition, volunteering after pianist Barbara Shaw took ill.
‘‘It felt very odd, like I was only half there. I missed the violin,' Mrs Stuart (80) said.
While it was different without her husband, she said she was thrilled to be asked.
Also missing from the Tapanui Heriot and Dunrobin services was parade marshall and Vietnam veteran Roger (Mingo) Menzies, who suffered a heart attack on Thursday.
He was back home yesterday afternoon, after a few days in hospital, but was a ‘‘bit cheesed off'' to miss the Dunrobin service as he had put a lot of work into preparing for it, he said.
