‘Not sure? Ask us'. Citizens Advice Bureau's tagline rang true for Richard Cox, a life member of the organisation's Tauranga Branch.

He started at the bureau in 1997 and volunteered there tirelessly until his passing on January 22, aged 92.

CAB Tauranga branch manager Kim Saunders remembers their friendship and the impact he had on everyone at CAB warmly. 'He joined the bureau in full ‘Richard style', with great gusto,” says Kim.

'He's been stoic for us. Nothing was ever too much trouble.”

The Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, confidential, independent information and advice. The organisation helps people know what their rights are and how to access services they need.

Richard was at the Tauranga branch nearly every day for the 25 years he volunteered there, even if it was only for 10 minutes at a time, says Kim.

'He just loved it,” she says. 'I think it's what made him get out of bed in the morning.

'He was my right-hand man really,” says Kim.

Richard trained hundreds of volunteers across different branches, served as the chair four times and was the treasurer for more than seven years. He became a life member in 2017.

He would assist people with anything they needed, from helping someone to fill out a form to being a support person at a dispute tribunal hearing.

The passionate advocate for people's rights went so far as going to a store with a lady who was having trouble returning an item that wasn't fit for purpose. The store had refused to return the item, but with Richard's help she received a replacement.

'We're supposed to empower people rather than do the job for them,” says Kim.

'But there are times when people need that little bit of extra handholding and he used to do that.

'He just wanted to help people. He was a lovely man.”

Kim reminisces about how Richard would always lose his glasses, only to find them sitting atop his head.

When it came to quiz nights Richard was hugely competitive and would always want to be on the winning team, Kim recalls with a smile.

Richard's winning attitude and love of helping people will be remembered by the CAB team and those he assisted for years to come.