Personality
Arthur Toye

One of Gisborne's more unas suming business men, 82 year old Arthur Toye and his brothers and sisters enjoyed a family reunion recently at the Marina.

Arthur was born and educated in Auckland. While on a trip to Gisborne in 1938 playing rugby for Auckland Marist, he noticed there were no fabric shops in the town. He loved the place, the beaches and atmosphere and decided the time was right, with his marriage to Amy Healey imminent, to move to Gisborne and set up in business. Arthur and Amy opened the first shop next to Bushnells and Amy worked in the business until the first of the 5 Toye children arrived on the scene. Today there are 13 shops throughout the North Island. Daughter Therese is a Director of the Company and runs the store in Gisborne, while another daughter Mary is in charge of the 4 shops in Auckland where they are known as Mary Toye. A son Peter manages the 3 in Wellington.

Arthur has maintained a close association with the sport which brought him to Gisborne. He served on the Management Committee of the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union, was President in 1967-68 and is a Life Member. Still a regular attender at rugby games, Arthur manages to take Amy to plenty of test matches as well.

Instead of retirement Arthur continues to be a Director of the Company, keeping a benevolent eye on the business. An incredibly good staff share in the rewards of working together towards a common goal based on Arthur's belief that if you obtain goods at good value then you pass it on to the public. Arthur Toye believes in loyalty and integrity and this is reflected in the high esteem in which this delightful man and his family are held in this community.