An hilarious insight from ad industry guru and ex creative partner Len Potts had many of the guests laughing so hard they fell out of their Zimmer frames.

Ex Toyota CEO Bob Miller gave a passionate speech that touched on the great working relationship between Colenso and Toyota, a relationship that made and sustained Toyota as the top selling car in New Zealand for nearly two decades.

Hilton Mackley was the last speaker. The CFO of the Clemenger/BBDO network reminded all gathered of the humble start that the two had way back in the early sixties. Starting together in the mailroom at Charles Haines in Wellington, Hilton also reminded MacDonnell that he owed him for cheese sandwich and a chocolate milk shake from 8th August 1965...

MacDonnell was given the chance to reply and gave a heartfelt speech. In a room full of family, friends, ex wives and clients both old and new, he talked warmly and graciously about the great people he had worked with and the passion he still has for adverting and creativity.

He speech brought smiles to the faces of the partygoers, many of whom had traveled far: David Blackley and Hilton Mackley from Melbourne, Richard Maddocks from Sydney as well a good contingent from Wellington: Duster, Paul Nagy, Tony Stevens and Chris Martin. In the crowd were many familiar faces of the old guard: Gary Gwyn, Neil Livingstone, Terry 'pockets' Cornelius, Hannerhan. Along with the new guard Jim Moser, Brent Smart, Neil Livingstone and Nick Worthington. During the long montage of memorable spots the crowd foot-tapped to hundreds of jingles written and produced by the great Murray Grindley, who we found looking very pale. When asked what was wrong, he spluttered that he hadn't invoiced for the pinky bar jingle from 1973...

It's with a tear in our eye that we say goodbye for now to one of the great men of advertising and hope that we get to share an insight into his wisdom and passion for the business as a speaker or writer at upcoming industry functions or in leading industry publications.