Early life and career Comber was born in
New Plymouth in 1939. He received his education at St Joseph's Convent,
New Plymouth Boys' High School, and
Victoria University. He married Diane Holyoake, a daughter of Sir
Keith Holyoake, in 1966, and they had three children together. He was a senior rugby player, representing North Island Universities as a student, and was later a member of the
Wellington Rugby Football Union's management committee. He trained as an accountant and was chief accountant for National Electric (1969–1972), and then general manager of John H. Walker and Co. Ltd (1972–1973).
Political career Comber joined the National Party in 1967 and was the secretary of the Wellington Branch (1970–1972). Holyoake "neither encouraged nor discouraged" Comber in his decision to seek the National nomination for Wellington Central when
Dan Riddiford announced his retirement. Comber felt his father-in-law hadn't given him much chance of beating local lawyer
Barry Brill for the candidacy, but he prevailed. After a closely fought campaign, he trailed Labour candidate
David Shand on election night by 51 votes but 12 days later after special votes were counted Comber overturned Shand's majority by 27 votes giving him the ironical nickname 'Landslide' in Parliament. Despite the closeness of the result there was no hint of animosity between the two candidates and when he heard he had won Comber said he genuinely felt for his opponent. In 1977, Comber was awarded the
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. He made two attempts to win the centre-right
Citizens' Association nomination to run for
Mayor of Wellington. In
1992 he was successful, beating, the Citizens' leader on the council Les Stephens, Eastern Ward councillor
Ruth Gotlieb, former councillor Bryan Weyburne and former mayor
Ian Lawrence. Comber's win was labelled a surprise by the media. The mayoralty race pitted him against Wilde in a "grudge match" repeat of 1981. Comber finished third with 15% of the vote to Wilde's 33%.
Later life and death In 1991 he was appointed chairman of the
New Zealand Fire Service, holding the position until 1996 when he became commissioner. Comber died of cancer in
Wellington on 6 December 1998, survived by his wife, two daughters and son. ==Notes==