Handyman...

T 3 EECE DISCOMBE, of the New Hebrides, an engineer-in-general and the complet underwater handyman. Born in Cambridge New Zealand, in 1919; served his time as motor mechanic, then worked in sawmill: During the war he was an instructor on ligH armoured vehicles and tanks.

He took up car racing seriously and witi marked success. Then he took a trip to thr islands in the Fairmile "Wailana", giving hi) his first introduction to Norfolk Island, Nee Caledonia and the New Hebrides, with syndicate of young men seeking to pick ui quick fortunes. When this proved impossible they sold the vessel to Andre Nature! of Santo Discombe sold up in NZ and took up cm racing professionally, finally becoming thr "Champion of Champions". He moved on tl Australia, married, and immediately afterward took off back to the Hebrides to work on thi salvage of war-material for an Australian firm He had done an underwater course with thr newly developed Cousteau Aqualung, and fell willing victim to the lure of the deep blui underworld.

He was then employed salvaging and ship; ping out cranes, bull-dozers, lighting plants am other scrap from the fabulous dumps at Billion Dollar Point at Santo, firstly for the firm am later for Nature).

About this time the BP schooner "Koro'i struck a niggerhead of coral in Undine Bar and settled down on her side in 60 feet oo water. After some months she was giver: up as a total loss and Reece was able to bur her "as she lay" for £2,000.

It took him 12 months to get her refloated: repaired and back into running order. He their formed a partnership with a Frenchman nameir Moledoux, for some private ventures with wan materials. But while he was ui New Zealanu meeting his new daughter Janet, the "Korot again went to the bottom, in the Loyaltf Islands, with a cargo of scrap metal.

There followed a job of salvage on "L«.

Fleche" during which he lost the sight ill one eye from a wire breaking, and othes underwater surveys, including some underwates photography on the US transport "President Coolidge" and the US destroyer "Tucker"

Then came the refloating of the "Lautoka" at Vila, the "Deutgan" at Tanna, and the landing craft "Pacific Star" at Erromanga.

What must be the final test for a handy* man came a couple of months ago at 1.3(f a.m. on the Condominium Customs jetty hi Vila, while Reece was escorting wife Jean tit hospital to have their second child. Th.i blessed event occurred on the jetty itself, ami Reece was really left holding the baby. MichelM is her name.