Merv and Nellie Forman are both interviewed by Dorothy Jones on their lives at their home in Hawkes Bay.
Nellie Forman (nee Benney) born in 1930, was the third child in her family. At three months old, with whooping cough, she became deaf. Her mother thought she wouldn’t be able to get work due to her deafness, but she proved her mum wrong.
Merv (Mervyn) Forman, born in 1923, touches on aspects of his life, from his school days at Sumner. He was enrolled in 1931. Introduced to sport, he went on to be selected in the New Zealand basketball team, along with his Deaf brother Ray. They played in the 10th World Deaf Games in Washington, USA in 1965. The mens basketball team placed 6th. After leaving school, Merv worked as a panelbeater for 42 years. Merv also had an older Deaf sister, Doreen Howell.
