15. A passion for lollies by Ariana Harper
 

I looked forward to David coming to our house to look after me when Mum and Dad went out. He was a really fun babysitter.

Going down to the dairy to buy lollies was definitely the highlight. We would walk down the hill and go to both the dairies in Ngaio, making sure we got the best deal and so we were fair to both shops. 

I used to get the money out of my piggybank to buy the lollies. David would ask me if my parents allowed me to do that. I said they wouldn’t mind but I was probably lying. So David would help me get the money out, using a knife from the kitchen. We liked to buy raspberry licorice, sherbet and mixed sweets in little white paper bags.
 

One night when I went to bed I forgot I was still wearing my lolly-bead necklace. David said goodnight to me but a little while later I woke up screaming because I thought I had a weta crawling around my throat. David came into the bedroom and asked me what the matter was. I just kept on screaming, really loudly. In the end he just stood there blocking his ears because he couldn’t stand the noise. Finally I stopped screaming and we worked out it was the lollies, not a weta, I could feel tickling my throat. “I think you had better take that necklace off,” he said. “It’s time to go back to sleep.”
 

Sometimes David brought his play station over to our house. He was quite addicted to it. He would play his games while I watched and ate my lollies.
 

Another time he cooked up some cheerios and offered me some. I thought they looked disgusting because all their skins had come off and were floating about in the red water. So David ate them all, then I regretted I hadn’t had some too.
 

For Christmas 2004, James and David bought me a huge lego set. It was like a rescue airport, with little helicopters, buildings and people. They spent a long time helping put it all together for me. They used to play lego a lot when they were little. 

Other times we used to play monopoly together, stretched out on the living room floor. That was another of our favourite games and it was fun playing it with them. I was about twelve years younger than David but he was always patient and kind to me...

14. A very good friend - lost but never forgotten by Scott (aka Old Man) Bennett

I remember well the first day I met Dave. It was 2003 and we were both starting our Army basic training course, on our way to becoming sappers. Dave was selected to room with me and four others. It was quite funny, as here was this very youthful, almost baby-faced lad who was very quiet and looked rather nervous about was what coming. We were all in the same boat, our first day in the Army. 

From day one we started to get along. Some of the other lads would give him a bit of stick etc and he took it all on the chin. He never got angry or fazed by the quite tense situations that could sometimes occur when living in barracks. Even if things got touchy, I would say something to try and right the situation. After all, I was 30-odd, “the old man”, as the lads used to call me (hahaha). Anyway, I happily accepted this "tag" and, as the weeks went on, I started to get along very well with Dave and our other roomies.
 
I remember one particular night, when it was coming to lights out time for us. That is when the sergeant walks round all the rooms to check we are all in and in bed early, ready for the next day. Anyway, in comes Sergeant Brill, a big strapping, hard case sort of chap. He stands at our door and his figure casts an imposing, intimidating shadow across the room. Then he says to us: “Right lads, lights out and I don’t want to hear so much as a mouse fart!”
 
Well, we all crack up laughing, so he turns around and starts walking down the corridor, clump, clump, clump, in his heavy army boots. Then Dave jumps out of bed with a bloody camera and quickly runs to the door and takes a photo of the back of Brill walking away. Well, Dave had forgotten one thing, the bloody flash. Click goes the camera, the corridor lit up like Blackpool tower. Then we hear: “Who the bloody hell was that?” We were trying hard to conceal our laughter, which was very hard to do at the time. Brill ended up telling us all off, but he saw the lighter side of it in the end.
 
I never got to see that picture but it was such a bloody funny thing and who would have thought the quiet one of the room would take a chance like that, just to have a laugh? I will never forget that funny moment, as I will never forget Dave. He is always in my thoughts and his picture has pride of place in my home, next to pictures of my son. He is family to me and always will be. It is such a shame he was taken from us, especially from his wonderful mother Anne and family. My thoughts are always with you and your family Anne. You and your family have been so very strong and loving, and I know David loved you all with all his big heart...

13. Babysitting David and David the babysitter by Catherine Manchester (David's aunt and Godmother)
 

David was a charming boy. I quite often babysat the two boys, James and David.
 
As a one-year-old, David had the ability to switch off from the general hustle and bustle of family life. Even at its crescendo, I caught him gazing out of the window at the velvety rain cascading down outside.

When he was a year or so older, we would have animated conversations as I was putting him to bed. On one occasion, as a chivalrous gesture to thank his babysitter and aunt, he reached out of his bedroom window and plucked some white flowers, possibly roses, and presented them to me with a flourish. I was very touched by this little scene.

When our daughter Ariana was about one and David ten, we took a photo of him holding his little niece. It is one of my favourite photos of David. 

A few years later and on several occasions David would come over to Ngaio to babysit Ariana, which he didn’t want to be paid for, but we insisted. 

He was most caring and attentive and read her stories and, as they shared a love of lollies, they would take the longish walk down to the dairy to choose their favourites.
 

Later on, when Anne was overseas, David stayed with us for six weeks during some of his electro-technology apprenticeship. He was good company to us all and did a great job at fitting in. Again, he was happy to babysit for us. 

David will always be remembered by us as a charming individual.

12. English lessons by Nell Manchester (David’s Grandmother)

In David’s first year at Hutt Valley High School when he was thirteen, Anne asked if I would give him English lessons. Could I, really was the question. I was woefully unqualified, with only two years’ secondary schooling and a year at a commercial college, so called, to recommend me. Would I? Of course, it would be an unlooked for pleasure. But, there was the risk I might do more harm than good.
 
However, I prepared myself as best I could, wondering why my university-educated daughter had chosen me, of all unlikely people. Could she not perhaps have used her own skills?
 
David arrived for his first “lesson” with his skateboard under his arm. Throughout his teens he was an avid skateboarder. Prior to that, he and James had been much into hurling missiles. Often I had feared going to the back of the house in case I was caught in the cross-fire. But that phase of their lives was by now, I thought, behind them, though Guy Fawkes night in their company could still be a bit scary.
 
At thirteen, David was a fetching little fellow, not yet giving a hint of the quite tall, fine young man he would grow into. We had a drink and something to eat before we settled down to the work where I was put to the test. We often had our lessons at the picnic table at the back of my cottage on Marine Parade. David enjoyed the afternoon tea I put out for him and applied himself to the tasks I set with a ready willingness.
 

The boys found it difficult expressing themselves verbally, hence their hyped-up physical activity, missile throwing, et cetera. This must have seemed strange to many people who knew the parents to be bright and educated, socially adept, and very articulate.
 
I hoped that reading aloud to me might help David over this particular hurdle. Other aspects of my “job” would not be so easily managed. But some progress at least was made and I know Anne believed it all helped him to get through his School Certificate English examination two years later.
 
I’m not sure how long David and I shared this coming together experience, how many months, a time that was precious to me. Perhaps it was the closest I ever got to him.
 
Getting to know the splendid young man was to be a period so brief, when it had promised so much.

11. An awesome month – Emma remembers her Dave  
by Emma Hatcher 

It was December 10, 2004, and I felt sick. I cried as I put on my ball dress because I had waited all year for tonight but I was miserable as I felt horrible. For weeks leading up to the ball, my friends and I had joked to each other about whether we would have a date to take, but we didn’t, and that was fine, as deep down we were cool with that. We really wanted to cherish that night together as a group that had finally got through the course – we had made it and we were finally teachers!
 
We got to the Duxton Hotel about 9.30pm and went straight to the bar to get drinks sorted. It was my second visit up to the bar when I met you. I remember noticing this blond cute guy standing there who didn’t look familiar, so I quickly introduced myself; you were simply “Dave from the Army”.
 
I felt something for you straight away: I liked your deep voice, the way you looked warily at me from the sides of your eyes, how you were not troubled to help with my drink issue, how you seemed on the outside a hard man but I could sense that inside you were soft, loyal and kind, and above all I liked your white shirt – you had good taste!
 
After chatting for a while, I asked you to dance and you replied, “Nah, I don’t dance, but if you can get the DJ to play SHOUT! I will dance with you.” After a few hours, the song finally came on, and you kept your promise. As I pulled you onto the dance floor, I couldn’t believe I had met you. We looked deep into each other’s eyes and I felt a connection, almost like you and the night were meant to be
 
December 10 was the start of an awesome, exciting, wild month. I felt I was walking on air. Questions would pop into my head, “How did this happen?” “Where did this blond angel come from?” The funny thing is, Dave, I had never been attracted to a blond guy before, but you mesmerised me. I adored your blue eyes, your long eyelashes, your cupid-shaped lips, your soft ear lobes, and I loved the caramel blond strong arms you held me with!
 
I thought about you constantly. I loved the way you spoke to me, the simple word “babe” that just captured my heart. I had finally met someone who could show true feelings. You loved me in a way no one else had before. I loved your hard exterior and adored your soft interior, the way you could express your love for James, Anne, and your deep flowing loyalty for your friends, especially Thomas. I felt so safe with you, like no one or nothing would hurt me. I felt, as long as I was with you, then everything would be ok!
 
I loved the way you drank your coffee – strong with whipped cream. I loved the way we would argue about our differing opinions on music. I loved the way you went out for a smoke at 4.30am “because there is never a time too late for a smoke”. I loved the way you would take your shirt off and throw it to the ground. I loved the way you cared for me and I loved your heart – how strong it was and how fast it would beat – you were just so alive.
 
That month was the best I have ever experienced. I felt so happy, so sexy, so cared for, so mesmerised, so excited and, above all, anxious that maybe you would leave my life as quickly as you had entered it.
 
Thursday night was so awesome. We did not know it then, but it would be our last night together, ever. We really opened up to each other that night. You told me about your childhood memories -- Ariana, your childhood sweetheart, Thomas your troubled friend who you would die for, and our desire to keep seeing each other.
 

That night we expressed how we were so lucky to have found each other and how random the circumstances were. You said you would come down every second weekend. I was so excited, what an adventure we were going to have. We really loved each other that night. There was such a strong connection, an energy between us. I felt I was falling for you. I wish so much I had told you that now!

I was so excited to see you that night (New Year’s Eve), as it was going to be our last night together before you went back to Linton. I really wanted to go with you to Brooklyn but you wanted to spend the first part of the night with James and I wanted to spend some time with my friends. The whole time I was at Nicole’s, I felt lost without you, there was something missing. I now know that’s how you were feeling too. I caught the 11.30pm train into town and tried desperately to find you, to contact you, but it was in vain. I didn't find out that you had died till 10am the next day. I just couldn’t believe it: it was like a bad dream. How could someone so alive die? How could that fast, strong heartbeat stop?
 
I am so glad I got to see you during the days leading up to your funeral. It was really healing and I hope you knew I was there. At your house was where I found peace. I could feel your presence and knew you were comforting all of us. You looked amazing in your army uniform, so sexy and smart. I wish so much it wasn’t in death I got to see you in it. Dave, did you feel me touch your hand and kiss your forehead? Did you hear my words of love for you?
 
We all have so many questions, so many “what ifs” and so many shattered lives to rebuild. It’s just so crazy. Why did you come into my life for such a short time? Are all our lives mapped out, and you were never supposed to live beyond 21 years? I am so confused.... I miss you so much!
 
I will always remember you, smile at the times we shared, cry for the future we can’t experience together, dream of you, and hold on to my belief that I will, one day, dance with you again!
 
All my love Babe

Emma xxxooo