I met His Grace Archbishop Grand Chief Sir David Hand GCL KBE, CBE after he retired to an ordinary three bedroom, high set AR20 (medium covenant) house at Waigani.

He had mentioned to Sir George Constantinou, for whom he professed a very high regard, that he was having trouble getting up the steps and Sir George produced a design
for a new downstairs 'granny'" together with a 'costing' and like a flash the boss's new residence appeared.

Years later, he would remark, "I must ask George for an invoice for this place".

Pappa George was a very generous man; extremely well thought of by all. He certainly didn't deserve to be murdered by low lifes while he went about his business in Port Moresby. Probably only Sir Brian Bell was as universally well thought of; like Sir Percy Chatterton.

Bishop David suffering circulatory problems with his legs and became a bit unsteady on his feet. But, typical of the man, he moved back upstairs to let an invalid adopted relative have his downstairs flat.

I have no doubt this contributed to his passing; this was the measure of the man.

A lovely beguiling old man, whom my wife and I used to spend quite a lot of time with at his house, or ours, and who we were privileged to call 'Epi'.

He filled us in on quite a few decades of PNG history. He loved a good feed and a wee dram with his coffee.

His book "Papua New Guinea and I" has been reviewed by talented friends and I will not try and improve on His Grace's autobiography, which is not only expressed in the masterful prose of a Master of Arts Oxford scholar, but is a fascinating read.

One bit that he did not mention, concerned a mutual friend, the late Yauwi Wauwe Moses of Chuave, Simbu Province.

Elimbari-Salt/Nomane was Yauwe Moses bailiwick when Bishop David walked from Goroka to Elimbari, via a few Anglican parishioners' plantations, and inaugurated quite a large enclave of Anglicanism, which had previously been claimed by the Popi’.

The highway between Goroka and Kundiawa was not yet open, so the Elimbari area was about as far as you could get from either Goroka or Kundiawa.

After the usual 'coat trailings' and huffing and puffing by the priest next door (Sina Sina?), Bishop David visited the Catholic Bishop, overnighted with him and on the basis of "if you can bring the Light to these people, please go ahead", sealed with a single malt, established a Lake of Anglicans in a Sea of Catholics.

Amicable and friendly relations ever since. Bugger all difference anyway.

Upon first meeting the Big Man, Yauwe Moses, Bishop Hand was feted and welcomed by a large group of people and later, invited to spend the night at Yauwe Moses' house.

In the morning, Bishop David was having a look around and asked Yauwe Moses what a nearby building was for. Yauwe explained that he had it built to be a meeting place, until a real church could be built.

How nice the Bishop thought, and went in to inspect it.

In a prominent position, on the wall in the front was an A3 poster sized glossy of Missus Kwin, proudly announced by Yauwe, who was an intensely loyal man.

Former RPC during the war, who stood for 'Law na Oda' and became President of the Chuave LGC, MHA, and then Provincial Member, Minister and Speaker of the Simbu Provincial Government, all the while protesting that 'Hunderpants' had come too early and wanted all the Mastas to come back.

A lovely old dude who was one of that old breed, the traditional Big Man, Ruler of his own little Empire.

There are lots of Big Men around these days, mostly of the porky pig variety.

Bishop David noticed that the glossy poster was still there next time he visited and, when the new church was opened, presented Yauwe Moses with a framed picture of Her Majesty, to replace the Playboy pin up of some luscious looking beauty, whom Yauwe had decided must be a Kwin.