Background
Sayers was born in the Auckland suburb of Royal Oak, the son of Mary and Horace Sayers, a builder.
Sayers was born in the Auckland suburb of Royal Oak, the son of Mary and Horace Sayers, a builder.
He was educated at Royal Oak Primary School and Auckland Grammar School.
When the war was over he was invited to join the Auckland Star where he was the first reporter in New Zealand to receive a personal by-line. In 1953 he was an official journalist on the tour of Queen Elizabeth 11 to the Pacific Islands and New Zealand. Athletics In 1938, although recovering from a serious car accident, he competed in the British Empire Games in Sydney, winning a bronze medal as part of the men’s 440 yards relay team
Rugby Yachting In the world of yachting he was chairman of both the Auckland P-Class and Starling Associations, the largest youth classes in New Zealand.
As patron of the Manly Sailing Club, Whangaparaoa, he was partially responsible for the building of a new waterfront clubhouse including the raising of $70,000 towards its construction. He is also patron of the Hibiscus Coast Waterwise Society.
At the beginning of World World War II Sayers enlisted in the 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment but was seconded into the New Zealand Navy (special branch), where he served as an intelligence officer reporting on enemy activity in the South Pacific. In August 2011, at the age of 96, he was entrusted by Sir Fred Allen, the only undefeated All Black coach with 37 games undefeated, to write his biography Fred The Needle which became New Zealand’s best seller during the week beginning August 29, 2011.
He also gave the eulogy at Allen funeral at the age of 96.
In 2014, at the age of 98, Sayers published his second book Deadline, which received wide publicity in the media, including a segment on the Seven Sharp national television programme and articles in the New Zealand Listener, The Rodney Times and other publications. He turned 100 in December 2015.