Tamahere’s Sue Pickering was a Francophile of the first order – she had a lifelong love affair with the republic, and spoke the language with such fluent ease even native French speakers were often confused into trying to pin down her dialect to a part of France.

Sue grew up in Auckland near One Tree Hill with her sister Mary and brother Jim. She went to St Cuthbert’s and then on to Auckland University, where she studied English and French.

Sue and Tom Pickering live on Pickering Rd, Tamahere, and when they give their address to people or fill out forms that require such information, it inevitably arouses interest.

“People always comment,” Tom says. “It’s a bit embarrassing to be honest.