A gift in recognition of a seamless service

There are lots of words Allison Beckham uses to describe her brother Peter. Creative, mischievous, a real character, meticulous. He was also compassionate.

“Peter didn’t talk about the fact he was leaving a gift in his will; we only found out when we read it. But by nature, he was very compassionate, so we were not surprised.”

Peter Gregory died in 2025 and left a gift in his will to the NZ Flying Doctor Trust. The NZ Flying Doctor Service had flown Peter to Christchurch and back to Nelson only a few months before his passing.

Allison said knowing he was being transported by the NZ Flying Doctor Service gave Peter such peace of mind.

“It was such a seamless service. It gave Peter such comfort knowing that he wasn’t going to be bounced around in an ambulance on such a long and winding journey,” Allison says

Peter was a computer aided design technician whose life-long passion was music – performing, recording, arranging, and encouraging others in their musical journeys across many genres.

“Peter was a real individual – I think that’s why he liked music and arranging because he could put a lot of himself into it. He encouraged his two boys and my sister’s children with their musical careers by busking with them, recording with them. He really loved that.”

Peter also loved a good debate.

“Whether it was about politics, who wrote the best New Zealand song of all time or who was the best Formula 1 driver in the world, he was always up for a discussion.”

Peter retired from Wellington to Mapua, Tasman, in 2024 to help look after his elderly mother.

“He expected to live a long retirement doing the things he enjoyed most – spending time with family, music, watching Formula 1 racing, and taking leisurely rides on his ebike. Those plans went out the window after he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.”

For cancer patients living in Tasman, most major treatments happen in Christchurch. Initially Peter was able to take commercial flights, but as his mobility and general health decreased, he was not strong enough to fly commercially and hated the thought of going by road.

“He was so grateful to be transported from Nelson to Christchurch and back by the NZ Flying Doctor Service and it happened so quickly – they organised the flight, got him to Christchurch and delivered him back to Nelson Hospital seamlessly.”

Just before he died, Peter completed a fundraising project for the Jack Inglis Friendship Hospital in Motueka, where his mum is cared for in the rest home. He captured a series of photographs of the gardens and flowers around the hospital and made them into greetings cards and a poster.

“That’s just another indication of how caring Peter was. If he found a connection with a group or charity, then he would do what he could to help them.”

Allison, along with Peter’s two sons and grandchildren, is proud of Peter’s decision to leave a gift in will to the NZ Flying Doctor Trust.

“We are so grateful to the NZ Flying Doctor Service for the work they do for critically ill patients like Peter. The care and compassion shown by the Service gives so much comfort to patients and their families.”