Half a century may have gone by, but a Christchurch memory lives on for a group of ex-Tauranga Boys' College students who found themselves cheering on a fellow Kiwi in an electrifying Commonwealth Games race in 1974.

On Sunday, 50 years later, they finally got to meet their Timaru-based sporting hero, Dick Tayler, when they invited him to a lunch in his honour at Tauranga's Harbourside Restaurant.

“It was Tom [Roper]’s idea to have a reunion whether Dick could come or not,” says Bruce Simister.

“Getting Dick was a bonus.”

Sunday was the first time Richard John Tayler, now aged 75, had met his mostly Tauranga-based fans.

“We didn’t think he would be able to make it. We insisted that he come and he says he was happy that he did,” says Bruce.

‘Tayler, Tayler, Tayler’ – the Tauranga lads, sideburns and statutory red hats, willing our man home in the 10,000 metres in 1974. From left: Adrian Brady, Bruce Simister, Gordon Yates, Wayne Ruegg, Don Hall, Ross Percy, Brian Hamill. Tom Roper was the photographer.

The group of seven was once a group of ten mates who had gone to the 10th Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, finding themselves mesmerised by the sight of Dick striding around the track.

“We were at QE11 Park that first day of competition and the atmosphere was absolutely electric,” says Tom.

“We never met him in 74,” says Bruce. “But we did egg him on during the race calling ‘Tayler Tayler Tayler. He says he remembers hearing us.”

Bruce says there were seven of the original 10 at the lunch with Dick on Sunday.

The 10,000 metres took 27 minutes 46.4 seconds in 1974 – a new New Zealand record.

Dick Tayler, in the black singlet, going for glory – working his way through the field in the 1974 Commonwealth Games’ 10,000 metres event.

Bruce says Sunday’s lunch was nearly four hours of laughing and joking.

“Dick’s an incredible guy the way he can talk. And the stories. He had us laughing all the time.

“We’d heard he was a good story teller but we were astonished by his storytelling. There were stories and jokes – he was world class.

“Dick kept talking and everyone had a magnificent day. Getting him here was a privilege for all of us,” says Bruce.