Pete Yarrell - Sharing the love

Pete Yarrell may have interviewed Louis Armstrong for TV, hit Sir Cliff Richard in the face with a tennis ball and almost toppled a former Prime Minister off his political perch, even received a QSM. But you won’t find this 81-year-old from Lake Hayes boasting about any of that.

He gets far more kicks out of fundraising for Kiwi charities through the Tour of NZ Cycle Race that he founded in 2012.

Pete and his race support team have had the pleasure - through eight events - of channelling what’s totalled over $2.5m to organisations like Child Cancer, Endocrine Cancer, The Spinal Trust, Heart Foundation, Bikes in Schools and Tearfund. “I’m so amazed it’s raised that,” he says. “To sum it up its about racing and raising money for many less fortunate. A fabulous harmony of adventure and purpose.”

Sky Sport will be screening this year’s highly scenic race eight times from 1 September.

Born in Wellington, bike racing was a passion as a teen, Pete the Wellington Junior Cycling Champion in 1960 at 16, even racing later in England.
A very successful 50-year insurance sales career followed, and Pete would be 50 before he picked up racing again. The Coast to Coast with son Simon, netted a third place in the family section.

After a challenging upbringing, at 15 Pete was searching and attended a Billy Graham Christian crusade. “That was a turning point in my life. I needed that simple faith in God, and since then so many miraculous things happened,” he says.

As an innocent 17-year-old, his father sent him off to England for a “broader education”. It was a learning adventure for Pete, who narrowly escaped serious injury, or worse, while working as a pool lifeguard when he ordered six troublemakers to leave the pool.

He became a chauffeur driver for wealthy Londoners in 1962, no idea about directions or street names. Thankfully, his passengers were very understanding, New Zealanders held in high regard due to the brave Kiwis who fought alongside UK soldiers in World War II.

Back in New Zealand in 1963 Pete worked at TV1 as a news cadet – “one of the most exciting journalism jobs imaginable”. He was out on aircraft carriers in Wellington Harbour and even interviewing the legendary Louis Armstrong on one of his visits to Wellington, but all that was about to change.

Called to the Army for National Service, Pete was quickly promoted to officer. “One moment I was a carefree teenager then the next I was conscripted compulsorily into the Army with Army discipline imposed,” he says. “Thankfully, two weeks before our training ended, we were told we weren’t going to the Vietnam War after the NZ government pulled out of its defence alliance with the USA.”

Pete became a successful AMP Insurance broker until at 27 he and wife Jill sold up in Wellington and built a house near Lake Hayes – living there from 1971 until 1982. “I had a Jag and place by the beach and was making serious commissions, but we wanted to give back from our prosperous lives to help those less fortunate,” he says. They built a suitable house and took in underprivileged people with various addictions, he says. “Some guests came for two days others for six weeks.

“We were now a family of six with a very busy routine listening to hurting guests and trying to think of ways to help, working day and night,” he says. “We just shared what we had – several horses, two simple yachts, took them on picnics into Skippers in our old Land Rover, and hoped they’d experienced something of God’s love.” A bit worn out after 10 years they moved to Christchurch for their kids’ schooling and more family time.

Through an Auckland insurance client Pete met the manager of a private hotel who hosted Sir Cliff Richard on his visits and tours. A lover of tennis, it was suggested that Pete arrange for Cliff to play in Christchurch at a friend’s Fendalton court.

“Here I was playing Cliff Richard, looking down the court at him standing ready to receive my serves. It was surreal,” he says. “In one game I raced to the net in our doubles match and miss hit the ball, hitting Cliff in the face!” It was all brushed off with a laugh.

It was the year of the sharemarket crash and people were hurting so Pete and a colleague organised a Christchurch Town Hall luncheon in Cliff’s honour. “It was no problem getting around 400 people to attend. Cliff’s talk around his faith and meeting Elvis Presley was fascinating.”

In 1990 Pete tried his hand at politics, landing only 1000 votes or so short from ousting Prime Minister Mike Moore. “I’m so pleased I lost. I was 40 and so naïve about politics.

“A prominent motivational speaker once said to me, ‘Work hard to make others successful and you too will be successful in whatever you undertake’. That for me has been absolutely true.”

Pete shares his incredible story in his book, ‘Born to Live’, available on Amazon or by contacting peter.borntolive@gmail.com