2010 WCOBA Lampstand

The

L AMP S T A ND

THE ANNUAL MAGAZINE OF THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION Number 20 • September, 2010

WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION PO Box 16073, Wellington, New Zealand 6242 • Telephone: 04 802 2537 • Facsimile: 04 802 2542 Email: oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz • Website: www.wellington-college.school.nz

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 1

WCOBA ADMINISTRATION

Wellington College Old Boys’ Association

WITH THANKS • Special thanks to Paddianne Neely, our Archivist for providing material for The Lampstand and to Gil Roper (195961) who proofread The Lampstand. Thank you also to staff and Old Boys for sending in news that helps form The Lampstand each year.

Stephanie Kane, Editor

PO Box 16073, Wellington Telephone: 04 802 2537 • Facsimile: 04 802 2542 Stephanie Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer Email: oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz

Don't forget to check out our website for news from the College and the WCOBA at www.wellington-college.school.nz

Wellington College

Founded 1 8 6 7

Home

About Us

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THANKS

F

Got A Spare $5?

W

ith escalating costs of producing The Lampstand (around $25,000pa for printing and mailing alone), our magazine has become an expensive outlay for the Association.

With extensive news to report on Old Boys, as well as past and forthcoming reunions and events, we would never dream in stopping production or reduce the content back to the six pages we previously had, so we have been looking at solutions to assist with costs.

ollowing our request in the 2009 Lampstand for help towards our magazine, the WCOBA received around $10,000 in $5.00 denominations which certainly helped with the cost of printing and mailing the 2009 publication.

Our sincere thanks to all those who ‘helped out’. If you would like to support the 2010 issue and can spare $5.00, we’d welcome your donation so we can continue to bring you our news.

We invite all readers of The Lampstand to support this publication by sending us $5.00.

Support from our Old Boys will ensure this publication continues in its current full format and accordingly we can meet our printing and postage costs. Thanks for your support.

T

he Lampstand is the Registered Newsletter of the Wellington College Old Boys' Association.

Correspondence can be sent to: The WCOBA Executive Officer, PO Box 16073, Wellington 6242.

Back issues of The Lampstand can be found on our Website: www.wellington-college.school.nz (Our Community/Old Boys/Lampstands).

Please support The Lampstand by joining the WCOBA today. Your support assists in producing and mailing the magazine, funding Old Boys' activities and events, as well as funding College awards, buildings, activities and maintaining the Archives.

Life Membership: $150.00 (Includes a Certificate of Life Membership and Lapel Pin) JOIN US ON FACEBOOK • Our numbers on Facebook are growing. If you’re on Facebook and not a member of the Old Boys group then you need to be! Just login to Facebook and search for “Wellington College Old Boys”, click on “Join Group” and that’s it – nice and simple.

EMAIL US • Help us to tell you news from the Association (including forthcoming reunions and events) by providing us with your email address, so we can keep you up-to-date. Email us at oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz with your details and save a tree or two!

OLD FRIENDS • Don’t forget to sign up to Old Friends - a NZ based website that you can register and associate yourself with your school. There are around 2000 Old Boys who have already registered under Wellington College link (www.oldfriends.co.nz), many who have recorded their memories. Others are using the ‘Looking For’ link to find missing Classmates and others have posted Form Class Photos. It’s worth a look!

2 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

O

ld Boys may be like to subscribe to The Collegian (the College’s monthly newsletter) to acquaint themselves with current news of the College and forthcoming events. Each issue includes news from the Headmaster, the Head Prefect and the Board, plus coverage of our Arts and Sporting activities and success stories achieved by our students, plus academic results, international students’ activities and the Old Boys’ Association.

The Collegian can be emailed to you each month or read on our website (free of charge) or you can receive a posted copy.

Please complete the enclosed feedback form to order your subscription. Back copies can be read on our website: www.wellington-college.school. nz (About Us/News/Collegian).

DATES TO NOTE

Friday 15-Saturday 16 October 2010 Class of 1970 • 40 Years On Reunion @ Wellington College • Thursday, 21 October 2010 NSW Branch Dinner The Union Club, 25 Bent Street, Sydney 2000 • Wednesday, 17 November 2010 Bay of Plenty Branch Lunch Daniel’s in the Park, Memorial Park, 11th Ave, Tauranga • Thursday, 18 November 2010 Auckland Branch Dinner @ Auckland Grammar School • Friday, 25 March 2011 Class of 1961 • 50 Years On Reunion @ Wellington College • Friday, 15 April 2011 Wellington College ANZAC Service • Thursday, 12 May 2011 The Foundation Freyberg Lecture @ Wellington College • WCOBA Dinner in conjunction with 2011 Quadrangular Tournament Tuesday, 23 August 2011 • Friday 29-Saturday 30 October 2011 Class of 1971 • 40 Years On Reunion @ Wellington College

TO BE ADVISED...

WCOBA 2011 Annual General Meeting Canterbury Branch Dinner Hawkes Bay Branch Lunch Wellington Get-Together Full details of the above events are contained within the following pages.

F

irstly, my thanks to those Old Boys who put their hand in their pocket and sent $5.00 or more to help with the costs of the 2009 Lampstand. It makes my job a little easier to justify to our Treasurer the size of the Lampstand when these donations help cover the cost of printing and postage.

The day-to-day workload for your Executive Officer hasn’t slowed down. Following each Lampstand publication, the mailbag overflows with correspondence - the majority most positive, with news, updates, subscription renewals and sadly, notification of some who have passed away. Regretfully too, we receive a number of issues returned with that NZ Post note ‘Gone, No Address’, so I urge you to remember to advise me if you change address.

It has been a pleasure to be able to attend a number of functions around the country and meet a good number of Old Boys at these events. I can hardly wait for our Branches in Brazil, Paris and Los Angeles to become activated!

Likewise, it is just as much fun to welcome Old Boys back to the College for our successful decade reunions; in particular the 40 and 50 Years On Reunions, and in May this year, those who attended the Firth House Reunion.

Planning for these events starts at least a year out.

Dates have to be coordinated with the College’s calendar to ensure we don’t clash with exams or productions. An initial letter of interest, together with a spreadsheet is then issued to those qualifying for each reunion to gauge interest. This is then followed up with reminders to register while also searching for those for whom we don’t hold current addresses for. The Electoral Rolls and White Pages play a big role in tracking down Old Boys. Google as well, has become my friend, when I get on the chase.

It all comes to fruition when the ‘doors open’ and Old Boys turn up for their reunion, and as always, we endeavour to ensure that one and all have a great weekend at their old school and sigh of relief goes up at around 2.00am on a Sunday morning, when the last straggler leaves, hopefully as those who left before him - having enjoyed a memorable weekend. Once the photos have been mailed out, the bills paid and the filing done, it’s onwards and upwards to the next reunion.

I am most fortunate to have a great team behind me. First and foremost, Headmaster Roger Moses, who is always keen to meet each cohort, supported

by Deputy Principal and Old Boy, Robert Anderson, who I gently encourage to MC at many of these events. Archivist Paddianne Neely always steps up to prepare the wonderful photographic displays and my colleague and Development Director, Graeme Steven who works behind the scenes on these occasions is such a great help to me.

Of course there is a plethora of others; our Senior Management who coordinate the school’s involvement, the Prefects who help with the tours and (a free morning tea works wonders), our Y13 photographer Justin Arthur, our Y13 ‘techies’ Shane Allison and Tom Mitchell, our Caterers (Fine Cuisine) who ensure everyone is watered and fed and lastly, those Old Boys who help find and coerce others to register and attend.

My thanks also to President Bob Slade. It has been a pleasure working with Bob over the past seven years in his tenure as President of the Association.

Nothing is ever too much trouble for Bob and he gladly attends a number of events to meet fellow Old Boys and reminisce and supports me when I come up with suggestions for events and reunions.

I wish Bob all the best in his retirement, even though he is still keeping a finger in the pie by acting as Treasurer and I look forward to working alongside your new President, Brian Smythe as we travel around the country meeting many of you.

The link between the College and the Association is an integral part of both our history and our future. News of our Old Boys is always imparted onto the College, albeit in assemblies, the monthly newsletters, display cabinets around the College and in the classroom. It is also rewarding to have Old Boys give their time back to the College and our students by way of coaching, training, performing, motivating, mentoring and employing and for these, I thank you on behalf of our College community.

I hope you enjoy reading through these pages of our 2010 publication just as I have enjoyed piecing it all together for you.

Stephanie Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer Events & Communications Manager

In this Issue WCOBA Executive News

4

Wellington College Archives

9

News from the Development Office

10

Reunions from the past 12 months

12

Forth-coming Reunions

30

Events from the past 12 months

32

In the News

39

Your Letters and Feedback

66

Obituaries

71

Wellington College News

82

Robert Anderson, Stephanie Kane THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 3

WCOBA Administration

Welcome

WCOBA Administration

WCOBA Executive 2010-2011 POSITION PRESIDENT IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT TREASURER EXECUTIVE OFFICER CENTENNIAL TRUST CHAIR

NAME Brian Smythe Bob Slade Bob Slade Stephanie Kane Matthew Beattie Robert Anderson Ross Macdonald Roger Moses (Headmaster) Matthew Reweti Guy Randall Ernie Rosenthal Scott Tingey

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

YEARS 1954-1958 1954-1958 1954-1958 1970-1972 1969-1973 1952-1956 1986-1990 1999-2003 1957-1960 1974-1978

CONTACT smythelson@xtra.co.nz bob@slade.co.nz • Tel: 04 477 0027 bob@slade.co.nz • Tel: 04 477 0027 oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz matthew.beattie@insteplimited.com r.anderson@wellington-college.school.nz Fax: 04 232 5494 r.moses@wellington-college.school.nz matthew.reweti@gmail.com randall_guy@hotmail.com e.rosenthal@wellington-college.school.nz zl2tpd@gmail.com

WCOBA Branch Contacts LOCATION AUCKLAND

NAME

YEARS

Vacant

EMAIL TELEPHONE Is anyone interested in taking up this position?

WAIKATO

Alain Harper

1956-1960 apralain@wave.co.nz

BAY OF PLENTY HAWKES BAY MANAWATU HOROWHENUA MARLBOROUGH

Barry Ward Dave Halliday Robert Bruce Des Patching John Wedde Ian McGuire Murray Lauchlan John Grocott Peter Morrison Darryl Tong Michael Rhodes Bryan Gray Peter Osvath Rob Owers Martin Conway Yuttachat Boonyarat

1948-1952 1962-1966 1954-1958 1943-1946 1961-1965 1960-1964 1967-1971 1951-1955 1970-1975 1981-1985 1962-1966 1977-1980 1966-1970 1951-1955 1971-1974 1967-1969

NELSON CANTERBURY OTAGO AUSTRALIA (NSW) AUSTRALIA (VIC) UNITED KINGDOM THAILAND

barry.ward@clear.net.nz dash-hb@slingshot.co.nz rabruce@inspire.net.nz thepatchings@xtra.co.nz johnwedde@xtra.co.nz mcguires@slingshot.co.nz Murray@valuersnelson.co.nz grocottjw@xtra.co.nz morrisonh@xtra.co.nz darryl.tong@stonebow.otago.ac.nz michael@mkarhodes.com bryan.w.gray@jpmorgan.com peter.osvath@csiro.au rowers@bigpond.net.au martinsconway@yahoo.co.uk kmbgroup@ji-net.com

(07) 848 4091 (07) 576 6774 (06) 844 7590 (06) 329 7858 (06) 368 7282 (027) 484 3729 (03) 547 4422 (03) 547 9876 (03) 385 1449 (03) 377 7905 or (027) 434 0568 (03) 479 6530 (+614) 127 20922 (M) (00612) 9440 8910 (W) (03) 9545 2594 or (+610) 439 343 483 (M) (03) 9807 0931 or (0419) 807 093 (M) +44 (0)7720 052 051 +66 8181 28787

IN ORDER TO ARRANGE MORE EVENTS IN YOUR AREA, WE REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF OLD BOYS TO BE THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE WCOBA OFFICE AND FOR FELLOW OLD BOYS IN YOUR AREA. IN PARTICULAR WAIRARAPA, QUEENSLAND/EUROPE/ASIA/USA/CANADA. WE ARE ONLY TOO HAPPY TO ARRANGE AN EVENT FOR FELLOW OLD BOYS IF YOU CAN ASSIST AS THE LOCAL CONTACT.

WCOBA Objectives • • • •

THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED TO: Further the interests of the College and its past and present members and keep former students in touch with each other and with the school.

Maintain a register of names of all who have passed through the College since 1867 and endeavour to record the addresses of all those alive.

Arrange reunions and other functions for Old Boys.

Support current students at the College where needed.

THESE AIMS ARE MET BY THE ASSOCIATION UNDERTAKING THE FOLLOWING TASKS: • Production of The Lampstand each year, covering activities of Old Boys and other relevant information.

• Maintenance of a computerised database giving details of all Old Boys of the College including teaching staff. This includes addresses where known. The Executive Officer will release addresses to bona fide Old Boys but will not allow any access for commercial purposes.

• Provision of financial support for College activities including sporting and cultural activities, sponsorship and academic prizes as well as supporting the Archives.

• Organisation or assistance with various reunions or other social functions either at the College, nationwide or internationally for Old Boys which the Association wishes to encourage and extend.

• Administration of charitable funds managed by the Association for current and past students including assistance with fundraising appeals.

The WCOBA is based at the Wellington College Development Office and is run by the Association’s Executive Officer.

Details for the 2011 AGM will be advertised in the Dominion Post and emailed to those in Wellington for whom we have email addresses.

If you would like advance notification by email or telephone, please telephone the WCOBA Office.

If you would like to receive a hard copy of the 2010 AGM Minutes and financial statements, please contact the WCOBA Office.

4 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

T

he 2010 AGM had a slightly different look from the norm, taking place on Wednesday, 30 June at 5.30pm. In past years, the AGM has preceded the Traditional fixture against either St Patrick’s Town or Silverstream in late May, but because the match was scheduled in early May (just after the Firth House Reunion), meant that time constraints to prepare for the meeting could not be completed by the date.

Even though the AGM was significantly advertised, only a few attended the meeting, but it meant that a full AGM could take place with the financial reports being heavily scrutinised and reports analysed without the rush to complete business before the kickoff of the rugby and football traditional. Those who stayed on after the AGM enjoyed a glass of wine and nibbles while informally discussing, a number of issues arising from the minutes.

As the Executive were aware, President Bob Slade had announced his retirement as President effective from the AGM and it was fortuitous that fellow Executive Member Brian Smythe accepted the nomination to take over the role, and was unanimously elected.

Following, is an abridged version of the 2010 minutes.

• • • • • • •

Apologies Changes to the Executive Thanks to Bob Slade Financial issues Trust funds held Fundraising campaigns General Business

Following the recording of apologies and confirmation of attendance, the 2009 AGM minutes were confirmed as correct.

Headmaster Roger Moses spoke first to acknowledge his personal thanks to Bob Slade for his seven years as President and made mention just how much the Association has gone from strength to strength under Bob’s leadership.

Hearty applause endorsed Roger’s comments by those present.

Bob then summarised his President’s Report (which is presented in full on page 8).

Bryan Smythe reiterated Roger’s comments to Bob and asked that it be recorded that Bob’s tenure has been exemplary. Bob replied that he has been very proud of the brotherhood of Old Boys, and the enthusiasm given to this great school and that it was an honour for him to be President, and that he wishes to remain on the Executive but just in the role of Treasurer for the interim.

Bob then presented the financial reports, confirming that the Association had five Trust accounts under its control and that each Trust would be individually reported on.

He added that for the past three-and-a-half years, the WCOBA’s Centennial Trust has been

supporting the running of the Development Office to the tune of $240,000 to assist with the fundraising and operational costs. The Trust’s balance now stands at $220,000 and further contributions from this Trust to support the Development Office have ceased as donations and contributions to the Association have not been forthcoming to keep the Trust at a respectable level. The Trust also gave a grant to the WCRFC to assist with the 1st XV operational costs.

The Clunie Bishop Trust stands at $61,464 following its annual grant of $5,000 to the College to assist with the end-of-year prizegiving awards.

The Firth Bequest (set up by Mrs Firth to assist WCOBA endeavours) stands at $21,347.

The Perpetual Trust, designated for upkeep of the College grounds stands at $30,847.

The Denton Trust, designated for improvements to the College grounds and sporting facilities stands at $28,748.

The main WCOBA account had yet to be signed off by the Auditor as he was waiting for the Text Book reimbursement from the College, donated by our Leavers of 2009. The College was still calculating the balance owed to them by those students who had ‘overlooked’ returning their text and library books before they left.

It was noted that expenses have outweighed the incoming donations and subscriptions for the year and it was stressed that a close watch must be made on all future outgoings.

Executive Officer, Stephanie Kane explained that while the reunion programmes broke even, the various informal gatherings around the country were heavily subsidised by the Association. Costs in postage and printing have also increased, due to the extensive mail outs to Old Boys regarding forthcoming events. Only around a third of Old Boys have provided their email addresses and even though encouragement is give to provide them, the response is minimal. If Old Boys would realise just how much is spent in postage, perhaps they would be more obliging in providing email addresses for communication from the Association.

Archivist Paddianne Neely questioned the withdrawal of financial assistance from the Association to support the salary of the Executive Officer. Deputy Headmaster, Robert Anderson explained that the College has picked up the shortfall and is paying Stephanie her salary in full.

Those in attendance raised various ideas of fundraising to support the Association coffers, without intruding on the efforts of the College and the Foundation to raise funds for the Building and Endowment efforts and the Annual Giving Campaign. While some ideas were of value, it was agreed that the discussion should be deferred to the next Executive Meeting.

The Election of Officers then followed with the resignation of Bob Slade as President and the unopposed election of Brian Smythe as the Association’s new President accepted and passed.

Thus Bob becomes the Immediate Past President as well as Treasurer. The 2008-09 Committee remained in full and their names are recorded on page 5. The Auditor, Peter George was confirmed in his role and Executive Officer Stephanie Kane, remains in hers.

Development Director, Graeme Steven then addressed the meeting on the fundraising campaign and his report is contained on page 10.

He reported that around $4.5 million has been pledged to date through the meal programmes hosted by the Headmaster, the substantial gift and bequest from Violet Dunn has also been taken into account and a number of Old Boys have advised that they have Wellington College mentioned in their Will by way of a bequest to the College.

The Annual Giving Campaign, now in its third year yields around $40,000 per annum and this goes to assist staff with training advancement, students with financial needs, the Archives and various specialised areas including the Library, the Music and the Technology Departments.

Under General Business, the Archives location was raised by Paddianne Neely and discussed in depth. Old Boys will be well aware that the location and actual rebuilding of the Archives has been a bone of contention for some years, and a solution must be found so that the valuable and irreplaceable archive collection, as it continues to grow, can be protected, stored, and displayed in the most effective manner. It is obvious that a well-resourced and located archive is an increasingly important element in the amenities of Wellington College. The College’s BOT is well aware that the Archives should be based at the College but in the current climate, there is no money to fund such an establishment and that in the interim, the Archives must remain off site in Broomhedge Street in Newtown.

They realise that it is a shame that current and former students are unable to view the extensive display of Archives but hope that the Fundraising Campaign will yield enough funds to re-establish the Archives within the College grounds. In the short term, a number of donated display cabinets have been set up around the College and will display a plethora of items from the Archives including old school and sports uniforms, text and work books, incidentals from Firth House, straps, inkwells, report cards to name a few that are currently being set up for visitors and current students to view.

It was recorded that at the next Executive Meeting, the future of the Archives will be raised, as too will the plans for the 150th Jubilee celebrations in 2017.

With no further business arising, the AGM closed at 7.00pm and was followed by a social occasion for those in attendance.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 5

WCOBA Administration

2010 Annual General Meeting

WCOBA Administration

WCOBA Out-Going President’s Report

I

have pleasure in presenting the Annual Report of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association for the 2009 – 2010 year.

• OUR ASSOCIATION During my seven years as President, I have attended the Wellington College Leavers’ Dinner each year and have told our newest Old Boys about our special brotherhood. Very nearly all become financial members and I have also noticed an increasing number of older Old Boys committing to a Life Subscription which is most gratifying.

• LAMPSTAND PUBLICATION At a record equal size of 100 pages, 10,000 copies of the Association’s magazine was issued in September 2009 to Old Boys in New Zealand and overseas containing a multitude of news of Old Boys around the country and throughout the world in all aspects of life. The magazine continues to be of the highest quality and excellent feedback is received from Old Boys.

As always Stephanie Kane, the Association’s Executive Officer does a tremendous job as Editor of the Lampstand.

• COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENTS The ultimate of academic success for secondary school students is high achievement in the NZ Scholarship examinations. Since 2005, Wellington College has won more scholarships than any other school in the country and once again, 2009 was another spectacular year. 107 Scholarships were gained and it would appear that we are one of the two top schools in the country for 2009.

Sporting and cultural achievements continue to be of the highest standard with a significant number of Wellington College boys representing New Zealand in their chosen sporting and cultural activities during 2009. Too much praise cannot be given to the continuing dedication given by Headmaster Roger Moses, his staff and students alike.

• DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Old Boys will recall that the purpose of the Development Office is to raise on behalf of the College Foundation funding to be applied towards the College’s Strategic building plans and a College Endowment Fund. Priority building projects will be the relocation and refurbishment of the College’s Archives and a new Assembly Hall to replace our magnificent old Memorial Hall to accommodate the entire school.

The target for the building plans is now $12 million and that for the Endowment Fund is $5 million. Income from the Endowment Fund is to provide ongoing financial support to the College for a wide range of teaching, learning, cultural and sporting needs. In addition an Annual Giving Appeal has also been operating.

The Development Office continues to be overseen by a Development Committee which reports to the College’s Board of Trustees. Matthew Beattie (1970-72), an Old Boys’ Association Executive 6 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Committee member is the Chairman of this committee.

Development Director Graeme Steven and our Executive Officer Stephanie Kane work together in the Development Office towards achieving its objectives. Stephanie is also the College’s Events and Communications Manager.

I am very proud of our Association’s fine effort in contributing significant amounts towards the Development Office’s operating costs. We did this in conjunction with the College Foundation and later on the College itself. Our financial involvement towards the operating costs has now ceased and the College together with the Foundation will continue the funding.

To date, a total of $4.5 million has been pledged either as gifts or bequests of which $2.5 million is committed to the Building Fund and $2 to the Endowment Fund. Currently, approximately $1 million has been received and invested.

• ANZAC SERVICE On 23 April 2010, a very moving ANZAC Service was held in the College Hall attended by a good number of Old Boys, some being current or former serving Old Boys. During the service, two Old Boys were honoured. Roland Ward (1905) who died at Gallipoli and Murray Roberts (193336) who served in the Air Force in World War II and remarkably survived sixty operations over enemy territory. For his courage Murray was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and this medal has been presented to Wellington College by his family.

Roland Ward served with the Otago Regiment at Gallipoli and was killed in action on 16 August, 1915. His name had been mistakenly omitted from the World War I brass plaque in the Assembly Hall but in a most moving ceremony just prior to the main service, the addition of Roland’s name on the plaque was unveiled and commemorated. His nephews, three of whom – David (1946-48), Graham (1955-59) and Barry Ward (1948-52), and his great-nephew Mike (1968-71) all attended Wellington College.

• OLD BOY’S FUNCTIONS During the past year, Headmaster Roger Moses, Deputy Principal Robert Anderson (1969-73), Graeme Steven, Stephanie Kane and I have attended various functions around New Zealand.

All have been enthusiastically well attended.

Marlborough Old Boy’s got together for the first time at function in Blenheim and the Manawatu/ Horowhenua/Kapiti Old Boys held their annual dinner in the Manakau Hotel in the Horowhenua for the first time. In conjunction with the 2009 Quadrangular Rugby Tournament, a lively gathering was held in Nelson in late July 2009.

Wellington College won the Tournament for a record seventh year in a row, defeating Nelson

College by 33-21 in the final.

My personal thanks go to Roger, Robert and Graeme for their strong support and to Stephanie for her unique skills and energy in coordinating our social activities.

• REUNIONS Both ‘40 Years On’ and ’50 Years On’ Reunions are now well established. The Class of 1969 held theirs last October and the Class of 1960 held theirs in March 2010 - both with great success. In early May, we were delighted to welcome 280 former boarders of Firth House to the College to commemorate the closure of the Hostel 30 years ago. A magnificent display of photos was put together by College Archivist, Mrs Paddianne Neely, with numerous photos depicting life in the Hostel. Activities included a traditional College Assembly, a tour of the College, Cocktail Party with partners and former teaching staff, 1st XV match against St Patrick’s (Silverstream) and a formal dinner. Deputy Principal (and Old Boy) Robert Anderson was MC at the dinner where there were unforgettable speeches and toasts, including a well received oration from 2010 Head Prefect Marcus Playle.

There have also been one-off reunions attended by various sports teams and form classes. I wish to commend Stephanie for her very high organisational skills and dedication concerning all reunions and gatherings.

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE I extend my thanks to the Executive Committee for their good support during the year. I also could not have carried out my duties as President without the strong support of our committee and Executive Officer.

• CONCLUSION During these important times in the history of Wellington College, our Association continues to give its full support in every way. We can all be very proud of our College, our Headmaster Roger Moses and his staff. Old Boys are always welcome to contact Stephanie to arrange a tour of the College and to attend Assemblies, or look at holding a reunion.

Old Boys are reminded that our Association has its own website www.wellington-college. school.nz (Our Community/Old Boys) containing current Old Boys’ information and the last eight issues of The Lampstand.

My best wishes to you all.

Bob Slade, President (1954-58)

I

am honoured to assume the Presidency of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association as from the AGM on 30 June. Over the preceding seven years, Bob Slade has set a standard of excellence, enthusiasm, and commitment that will be a huge challenge.

The President’s job is made a pleasant one, owing to the current high standing of the College’s Headmaster and staff, students, achievements and general amenities – as well as the present support and strength of the various regional Old Boys’ Associations, glued together most importantly by the expert and dedicated services of our Executive Officer, Stephanie Kane.

Undoubtedly, as the AGM minutes reveal, there are issues that the incoming Executive will be keen to address, including the raising of funds for the worthy causes and specific projects that lie ahead. I hope and trust that those past students of Wellington College able to do so will be willing, whether by donation, pledge, or bequest, to give generously - to ensure that our great institution retains and further develops its long-held reputation.

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI Brian Smythe, July 2010

• Born Wellington, December 1940 • Attended:

Cashmere Primary School [1946-49]

Khandallah Primary School [1950-53]

Wellington College [1954-58]

Head Prefect, 1958

RSM Cadets, 1958

1st XV, 2nd XI

The Deltas Dance Band, 1955-59 • Victoria University [1959-63]

VUW Athletics & Rugby teams

Easter Tournament Controller

NZUSU: Territorial Army, 1961-63 • LLB degree conferred by VUW, 1964 • Practising lawyer [GP] in Nelson [1964-2009] • Set up own law firm in 1973 • Sat on numerous school, sports and cultural

committees and boards, NZ Law Society Council • Married with three adult children and four

grandchildren, plus three adult step-children and

six step-grandchildren.

Brian can be reached at smythelson@clear.net.nz or Telephone 04 977 3478 or care of the WCOBA Office, PO Box 16073, Wellington 6242.

Greetings from our Headmaster

I

t gives me great pleasure once again to say a few words to Old Boys of Wellington College, both home and abroad in the 2010 edition of the Lampstand.

As has become the norm in recent years, we have enjoyed some wonderful reunions, including the 40 Years On Class of 1969, the 50 Years On Class of 1960 and the Firth House Reunion commemorating the closure 30 years ago in 1980.

I never cease to be amused and entertained by the stories, true or apocryphal, of former Masters such as Foxy Sutton, Froggy Balham, Inky Dighton, Lispy Griffin, Q Quartermain, Flash Gordon, Loony Mac, Fanny Flaws, Rhubarb Radford, Horse Bradley and others. While these gentlemen have passed on to that great Room Eight in the sky, their legends grow and are established with the passing of the years. Who better to recall these icons of our College but the incomparable and evergreen Frank Crist who, at the age of ninety is still able to describe their antics and foibles with the endearing warmth and humour. Frank’s presence at these reunions is a highlight for the vast numbers of Old Boys for whom he was the personification of what a great teacher should be. I look forward to the 40 Years On Reunion for the Class of 1970 which will be held in October.

The year has been another of great success for the College. Our results in the NZ Scholarship Examinations at the end of 2009 were spectacular. Two of our students, Jack Dunn and Stewart Marshall were placed in the Top 8 Premier Scholars in the country. Four students gained first place in Economics, Latin, Media Studies and Maths with Calculus. Our sports teams continue to thrive and it was fantastic that

our 1st XV won Quadrangular Tournament in Wanganui for a record eighth year in a row. We have just witnessed a magnificent production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which played to six packed houses.

Today, Wellington College is truly an institution which caters for the tastes and talents of so many different boys.

In conclusion, I would like to pay tribute to two people without whom the Old Boys’ Association would surely have floundered.

Stephanie Kane, as Executive Officer continues to exercise a remarkable role. Not only is she wholly responsible for producing the Lampstand, but also the Wellingtonian (184 pages long) and the Collegian on a monthly basis. As we all know, she is almost entirely responsible for organising the superlative reunions which we can take all too easily for granted. Steph is a stellar colleague

for whom I have a profound regard. Bob Slade is another who has given selflessly as President for the last seven years. Many will recall that Bob was a champion athlete in the 1950s. He has demonstrated the same qualities of hard slog and stamina in serving the College faithfully over an extended period during which the Old Boys’ Association has never been stronger. As he retires from this role, I look forward to working with Bob as he continues to show his support for ‘the old school’ in the future and at the same, congratulate Brian Smythe as he takes on the presidency role vacated by Bob. May I extend my best wishes to all Old Boys and encourage you to drop in if you are passing by.

Roger Moses, ONZM Headmaster r.moses@wellington-college.school.nz THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 7

WCOBA Administration

Greetings from our New WCOBA President

WCOBA Administration

WCOBA Up-Coming Events DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

CONTACT

Dave Keat, Sports Director Wellington College Foundation Sport & Cultural Dinner Thursday, 14 October Wellington Town Hall d.keat@wellington-college.school.nz Guest Speaker: All White and Old Boy Tim Brown Tel: 04 802 2547 Stephanie Kane, Friday, 15 October Class of 1970 Reunion • 40 Years On Reunion Wellington College oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz Michael Rhodes New South Wales Branch Dinner Thursday, 21 October Union Club, Sydney michael@mkarhodes.com Tel: 614 127 20922 (Mobile) Barry Ward Daniels in the Park, Wednesday, 17 November Bay of Plenty Branch Luncheon barry.ward@clear.net.nz Tauranga Tel: 07 576 6774 Stephanie Kane Thursday, 18 November Auckland Branch Dinner Auckland Grammar oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz Stephanie Kane Friday, 25 March 2011 Class of 1961 Reunion Wellington College oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz Stephanie Kane Friday, 15 April 2011 Wellington College ANZAC Service Wellington College oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz Robert Anderson Thursday 14 May, 2011 Freyberg Lecture Series Wellington College r.anderson@wellington-college.school.nz Stephanie Kane Tuesday, 23 August 2011 WCOBA Dinner in conjunction with Quadrangular Wellington College oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz

Calculating your Cohort Year

F

ill in the years you were actually at Wellington College and then the blanks to get your COHORT YEARS (ie the five years from 3rd form [Year 9] to 7th form [Year 13] or Upper Sixth), irrespective of when you may have started or left Wellington College.

The year in which you actually were, or would have been in the 7th Form (Upper 6th/Year 13) is your COHORT LEAVING YEAR. This is the Year from which your anniversary of leaving school is calculated, by adding 10, 20, 40 etc years. Your cohort leaving year may not be the actual year you left Wellington College, but captures all those fellow students who you were at school with, irrespective of how many years you were at College, or the years you actually started or left.

Those who stay on for a further year (Year 14) can attend their actual cohort reunion AND the following cohort reunion as well. There are no ‘enforced’ rules but the example table should assist in your calculations.

Example (as shown in table): I joined Wellington College in the 3rd form in 1967 and left at the end of the 6th form in 1970.

1.

Fill in 4th Form = 1968, 5th Form = 1969 and 6th Form = 1970

2.

Fill in the remaining COHORT YEARS you would have been at College ie 1971 is your COHORT YEAR.

3rd Form Year 9

4th Form Year 10

5th Form Year 11

6th Form Year 12

7th Form Upper 6th Year 13 THIS IS YOUR COHORT YEAR

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

MY COHORT LEAVING YEAR

10 YEARS ON REUNION

20 YEARS ON REUNION

30 YEARS ON REUNION

40 YEARS ON REUNION

50 YEARS ON REUNION

60 YEARS ON REUNION

70 YEARS ON REUNION

1971

1981

1991

2001

2011

2021

2031

2041

Stay in Touch

P

lease help keep our database up-to-date so you can receive the Lampstand plus news of WCOBA and College events and reunions taking place in 2010 and 2011.

If you are in contact with former College friends and relatives but find they are not receiving the Lampstand, it may be because we no longer have their address. If they would like to receive the Lampstand and news on forthcoming events, please ask them to contact us to update their details.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could send me you email address by way of email so it can be added to our database. It saves us dollars if we can communicate with you via email on forthcoming events and news. Just remember to make the Old Boys a ‘safe sender’ so our emails don’t end up in your spam box.

8 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

CAN YOU HELP?

Are you an Old Boy or former staff member of Wellington College? Do you have any relatives or know friends who are? If so, you may be able to help the Archives obtain some of the following: Memoirs Photographs Uniforms Sports Gear Medals Book Prizes Art Work Books Music Reports Papers Correspondence

Please send your stories College Life; Students, Staff, Old Boys, Trophies, Prizes Caps, Ties, Blazers, Boaters Jerseys, Caps, Boots Dux, Badges, Awards, War Medals Academic Awards Paintings, Sketches

By Old Boy Authors Recordings by Old Boys Academic, Certificates Governing Boards, Headmasters, Parents’ Association Letters to and from Staff, Students and Old Boys

Please contact Paddianne W Neely • Wellington College Archivist Tel: 04 802 2520 (W) • 04 386 2072 (H) or Email: oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz

‘a goodly heritage, proud traditions, cherished memories’

T

he 2010 Quadrangular Tournament at Wanganui finished on a high note with Wellington College winners of the competition. Congratulations to the team and coaches!

Congratulations must also go to the organisers. Wanganui Collegiate looked a picture, the grounds were in exceptional condition, Big School was aglow during the gala dinner and even the weather was good, although the occasional piercing gusts of cold proved rugby is still a winter game.

The big thrill for me was hosting three Headmasters along with numerous Wellington College Old Boys through the Wanganui Collegiate School Museum/Archives which my husband Don and I helped set up in 2003 and continue to work on each year. The Museum is a twostorey, stand-alone building with a large, growing museum on the top floor, and stunning workspace, storage and display areas below. The Old Boys and School take great pride in this asset and it generates incredible gifts along with special memories.

Wellington College has encouraged and taught many schools around New Zealand how to set up, care for and showcase their Archives, but now we languish in an offsite warehouse. Hundreds of boxes protect our treasures but Old Boys, Staff and current students are unable to view the trove of history that has been donated over the last 20 years. The material is carefully recorded and stored awaiting a time when it may once again be placed on display for all to view, enjoy and allow Staff to perform like Robin Williams in The Dead Poets’ Society - Give that marvellous incentive speech to classes and teams and encourage them to greater heights.

I dream of a time when a stand-alone Archives and Museum may be possible, donors will view their gifts with pleasure and current boys will learn about the heritage of our wonderful College.

But not all is lost. Two friends of the College have donated two large desktype display cases and two vertical display cabinets. Amazing workmanship by the College’s Property Manager, Kelwyn D’Souza and his team has the main entrance-way to the College and the area outside the Headmaster’s office transformed with material on view.

That amazing group of Old Boys, the class of 4A in 1941 had another mini reunion in Wellington this year. Elizabeth and David Salkeld flew in from England to stay a few days, visited the College and spent time with Roger Moses. Classmate Peter Macdonald and his wife Doris kindly hosted a lunch at their Paraparaumu beach house, where the Wellington contingent and their wives spent a very happy day. Sixty-nine years of friendship by these men is very special. Long may it continue.

Reunions have flourished over the last year. Each one requires a bank of photographs for display. The Firth House Reunion provided the biggest challenge and twelve large boards covered the walls at the side and back of the Brierley Theatre along with special lighting installed by the boys. The photographs featured the entire life of Firth House from its beginnings in 1924 to its demolition in 1980. The numerous personal photographs taken by the boarders of their life at boarding school brought a warmth as well as much hilarity to the exhibition.

Rick Holmes (1962-66) carted an original Firth House bed and mattress (purchased years ago at

the closing down auction) back to the College. By the end of the Reunion, original grey blankets and heavy orange Firth House ‘horse’ covers, towels and crockery were piled high.

Marvellous – thank you!

The 21st annual School Archives Conference was held this year at Kings College. I had not realised just how many photographs of the conferences I had taken over that period. These were mounted on boards (provided by Picture Framer, Paul Craig Wellington) and taken to Auckland. A huge success.

Our 150th celebrations of the College loom large on the horizon. We are planning a massive photographic and memorabilia display. Your help is needed now, so search out your garages, basements, cupboards, cartons, and the roof and send in everything you can to highlight this special event.

So please start looking now, not the day of the celebrations.

Ted Clayton is back! He began work by sorting and storing a year of newspaper clips and photocopies. He is now making the definitive list of Wellington College Staff and their years at the College. It has not been done before so is a huge task.

A special mention must be made of Marilyn MacLennan who photocopies all these news clips for me throughout the year. A time consuming job but much appreciated.

Don Neely is arranging and sorting the photographic collection into order.

After ten shifts and so many reunions an enormous amount of work is required. Thank you to these three special helpers.

Donations of photographs and other memorabilia have continued to cascade in. Each item is gratefully accepted and an enhancement to the Archives. Because of the huge number of items received I can only list those wonderful people for now and say thank you for all their gifts over the last year: Duncan Hyde, Peter Stokes, Brian Helson, Mike Flinn, Ruth Munro, Stephanie Kane, Bill Sparks, Brian Duncan, Mike Phillips, Mac Gapes, Paddianne W Neely, Martin Kerr, David Lawson, Phillip Rankin, Frank Crist on behalf of George Jones, Dulcie Bamford on behalf of Max Gray, John Sherring, Malcolm MacDonald, Peter Macdonald on behalf of class 4A 1941, Col. Howard Jones, Billie Palliser, Harold Cummins, Leo Gambitsis, Tony Darrock, Neale Ames, Don Adams, Michael Clements, John Mills, Merv Crocker, Felicity Peters, Alexander Yule, Nic Hill, George Speedy, David Cox, Dave Keat, Graham Lewis, A B Manfield, Richard Robinson, John Rhodes, Carvelle Munro, Stephen Sherring, Neil MacGregor, Allan Mayes, Harold Cummins, Martin Kerr, David Lawson on behalf David Exley Estate, Mark Pirie, Don Neely, Heather Benfield, Lloyd Evans, Laurie Ashwell daughter of Harry Carlsen, Tim Mason, A S Clark gifted by his daughters, Alan Mayes, Jeremy Cooper, Theo Salt, Wilf Vickers, Rod Page, Rick Holmes, Laird Ward, Jessica Nolan, Jan McLean, Martin Ward, P M Gray, Paul Simpson and David Salkeld.

Wellington College v St Patrick’s (Town), Athletic Park, 1947 • Half-Time Photo donated by Ben Poynter (1948-51) from the album of his late brother-in-law, W (Bill) Wilson (1945-47).

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Archives.

Best wishes to all.

CAN ANYONE NAME THE PLAYERS FOR US? THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 9

The Archives

The Archives

Paddianne W Neely Wellington College Archivist • oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz

Development Office

From the Development Office

Graeme Steven • Development Director g.steven@wellington-college.school.nz

Major Fundraising Campaign Approaches $5 million

T

hanks to the generosity of Old Boys and parents, our major fundraising campaign has received gifts, pledges and bequests totalling more than $4,720,000.

been received from College Old Boys, former staff, and friends of the school.

A generous Old Boy has pledged $500,000 to the Building Fund along with a $500,000 bequest. Miss Violet Dunn has given $1,000,000 to the Building Fund and pledged a $500,000 Endowment bequest.

Several other major gifts are under discussion.

Old Boys and parents attending lunches and dinners hosted by Headmaster, Roger Moses and myself, have pledged over $1,900,000 to date, and bequest pledges totalling $280,000 have

• BUILDING FUND $2,645,000 has been pledged or given to the Building Fund to date.

These funds will primarily be used to assist the College to build a new Memorial Hall, providing a fitting space where the whole school can meet together to celebrate success and enjoy larger-scale cultural and community events.

than $500,000 has already been received from donors and invested by the Wellington College Foundation. Educational endowment funds are a proven and powerful way of building a long term income for schools. Gifts and bequests are invested and the net income (after protecting the value of the capital sum from inflation) is used to support a wide range of teaching, learning, cultural and sporting needs.

• THANK YOU TO SPONSOR SPY VALLEY WINES A special thank you to Bryan and Jan Johnson of Spy Valley Wines for kindly sponsoring wine for our fundraising meals in Wellington, and for the ANZAC Memorial Service lunch earlier this year.

• EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND Gifts, pledges and bequests to the Endowment Fund now total over $2,075,000, and more

2009 Annual Giving Appeal raises $36,000 Old Boys and parents gave $36,000 to the 2009 Annual Giving Appeal, and more than $130,000 has now been raised for the College by the three annual Appeals, since they were launched in 2007. This year $40,000 from the 2009 Appeal and funds held over from 2008 have been allocated by the Board of Trustees and Wellington College Foundation across the five Appeal areas.

Orchestral Instruments

$10,000 will enable the Music Department to purchase a new Oboe, Bassoon and Trombone and refurbish two existing French Horns for the College Orchestra.

Sound Recording Equipment

$5,000 will enable the school to purchase a mixing desk, vocal and instrumental microphones, and an editing computer, to enable high quality sound recordings to be made at the College by Music, Media Studies and Drama students. The equipment will extend classroom and extracurricular opportunities for students, and also save $800 - $1,000 currently spent for each outside recording session.

Student Scholarships and Support

$5,000 has been given to help students in financial need, and assist high achieving students pursue excellence in the fields of learning, leadership, sport and cultural activities. Our goal is to help every boy succeed and reach his potential, irrespective of family circumstances. Annual Appeal funds will provide academic assistance e.g. for study trips; leadership support e.g.

Outward Bound; and assistance for extra-curricular Cultural and Sports activities.

Teacher Scholarships

This year twelve outstanding teachers have received $1,000 and $600 Teacher Scholarships to take up professional development and learning opportunities, and bring new skills and ideas back into the College.

Archives

$10,000 has been given to help the College care for and house our growing Archive collections.

The funds will help meet the cost of housing the Archives in rented space outside the College, and assist Archivist Paddianne Neely to process and store new collections and meet the growing requests for information.

Tristan O’Neale, Year 12 Orchestra member, holds one of the older French Horns in need of refurbishment, outside Firth Hall.

Building and Endowment Fund Donors Thank you to the following donors who have generously made gifts and pledges to the College’s Building and Endowment Funds Campaign, between 1 September 2009 and 30 August 2010.

A B

C

D

Anonymous Gifts (10) Benjamin Allnatt Ian Borrin Tim & Jan Broad Joshua & Andrew Burt James Bush James Butchers Max, Scott & Gus Butchers Julian Cheah Murray & Heather Conibear Grant & Claire Coppersmith Ross Davey Tom Dean John Drake

10 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

D E F G H

I J

Keith and Jared Dreyer Earles Family David J Exley Daniel Friar John Fyson Daniel Gendall Hawkins Construction Grant Heather & Family Donald, Murray & Barry Hogan Abraham Hollingsworth William S Hopkirk Rick & Bridget Hughes David & Jennifer Ironside Andrew Jenkins

J L M

N O P

R

Nick, Dylan & Jesse Johnson Ryan, Alexander, AC & SS Lee Family Gordon McLauchlan Ora Mead Lynn Morrison Roger Murray Dilip & Sandeep Naik O’Brien Family Connor & Tristran O’Neale Steven Petris Playle Family Powell Family Martin Prout Ian & Nicola Russon

S

T W

Joe, Sam, Tom & Max Schuyt Sharp Family Alexander Simpson J Sproat & R Ellison Eddie & Louis Stevens Sullivan Family Noel & Joanna Todd Barry E Ward Matt & Nick Welsh

Thank You!

The 2010 Annual Giving Appeal will be sent out shortly. This year’s Appeal aims to raise $40,000 to provide:

Jane Armstrong, Drama and English teacher, received a $1,000 scholarship from the 2008 Appeal. The scholarship assisted with the cost of voice and drama workshops and individual tuition in Performance Arts.

• Six new film editing suites for Media Studies • Portable rostra, lights, curtains and equipment for Performing Arts • Support for the Archives • Student support, and • Teacher scholarships.

Please give to this year’s Appeal - many modest contributions will combine to a significant total.

Plant a Small Tree... with a Bequest to the College

I

t has been said that One of the noblest actions a man can take is to plant a small tree that will one day give shade to those he may never know.

The three main types of Bequests are: 1. Unrestricted Bequests, having no specific purpose 2. Endowment Bequests, given for either a general or specific purpose, and 3. Facilities Bequests, given for buildings, grounds, facilities and equipment.

In other words; Lumen accipe et imperti.

Remembering Wellington College in your Will is a Gift that will last forever.

Not only can you plant your own ‘small tree’, but many small trees will one day grow into a great forest and give shade over the whole school!

Generous Old Boys and friends of the College have now pledged and given bequests totalling $1,280,000. These include a $500,000 Bequest from an anonymous Old Boy; Violet Dunn’s $500,000 Bequest; and $280,000 pledged or received from other donors, with individual bequests ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.

Making a Bequest to The Wellington College Foundation will help future generations of boys and teachers. Your Bequest can help provide professional development for teachers, and financial assistance for students in need; supporting teaching and leadership programmes; helping students with learning difficulties; and supporting cultural and sporting activities. Your Bequest can also help provide new facilities and teaching equipment.

Endowment Bequests (whether for a specified or general purpose) will be invested under the College Endowment Fund and the net income earned each year (after inflation-proofing and protecting the capital amount to maintain its real value over time) will be given to benefit the College.

Please give only what you can, and after providing for your family. We are grateful for every Bequest, whatever its size. Every Bequest will help the College in the future, and many modest bequests will build to a large total over time. Bequests normally specify either a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of a donor’s estate - typically 1% or 2%, or up to 5%.

To find out more about including Wellington College in your Will please email development@wellington-college.school.nz or phone 04 802-7698

David j Exley United Nations Scholarship

M

any Old Boys will remember David J Exley (1940-43). David devoted some 35 years of his life to the United Nations, many of those in post-war Japan. Sadly David passed away late last year - his Obituary appears later in this Lampstand.

David retained a quiet but strong connection with his old school and particularly with close friends from his 4A form class. Last year the Wellington College Foundation received a wonderful general Endowment Bequest from David. In his typically modest way, David did not stipulate a purpose for his gift. However, following discussions with his family, we were delighted to propose that a portion of the net income earned by his bequest

each year be awarded to students involved in United Nations related activities or events. Thus the ‘David J Exley United Nations Scholarship’ was born.

It is a fitting tribute to David that senior student Mathew Rex is to receive the first David J Exley United Nations Scholarship to assist in attending an international youth conference in The Hague in January 2011. Mathew has been selected as one of several New Zealand delegates to The Hague Model United Nations (www.thimun. org), a five day UN simulation conference for secondary students from around the world. The $500 scholarship will assist the travel costs he needs to raise for his trip.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 11

Development Office

• Help Wellington College • 2010 Annual Giving Appeal

Reunions

40 Years On  Class of 1969

Back Row:

Fourth Row:

Third Row:

Second Row:

Front Row:

Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE 1969 – 2009 • CLASS OF 1969 • 40 YEARS ON REUNION • 16 - 17 October, 2009 Peter Rae, Grant Stevenson, Graham Ridding, Tim Benton, Gordon Whiteacre, Gordon Tait, Roger B Brown, Jonathan Fletcher, Dennis Honare, Malcolm Jackman, Graham Lewis, Glenn Wilson, Mark Trafford, Paul Turner, Gary Adams, Graeme Fisher Rhod Webb, Alex Rutherford, Eric McPhee, James Snowball, Frank Myers, Tim Lamb, Julian Eriksen, Gerald Bruce-Smith, John Butters, Mark Porath, Peter Kennedy, Kenny Young, Peter Wedde, Ian Bell Peter Smith, Garry Ellison, Barry Davey, Randall Burt, Rick Hughes, Brett Krause, Graeme Craigie, Roger Smyth, Victor Yee, Roger Coleman, John Harland, Peter Struthers, Stephen Bell-Booth, Geoff Church Spiro Isakidis, Mark Gazley, Doug Senior, Martin Wood, Les Galler, Dale Kelly, John Bishop, John Seeyle, Ken Wilkinson, Tony Freeman, Roger Y Brown, Neil Cromie, Philip Yee, Rob McDougall, Derek Pope Paul Twigden, Roger Fine, Graeme Moody, Neil Worboys, Ken Simpson, Neil Livingstone, Graham Archer, Roger Moses (Headmaster), Phil Gormack, Peter Brooks, Wayne Deterte, Alex Petsoulis, Murray McLauchlan, John Petrie, Peter Scott Bernie Sloan, Roger Mintoft, David Taylor, Don Wallace, Gary Weiss, Derek Morris, David Morriss, Tracey Meech

Address to the Assembly

H

eadmaster Roger Moses, staff and students of Wellington College, Class of 1969, ladies and gentlemen. Greetings and good morning to all.

I hope I can keep you as interested, as yesterday’s visitor to assembly, who was no doubt dressed in her Xena Warrior outfit. [Lucy Lawless was at the previous days’ Assembly - Editor]. I am sure some of the chaps would have been here a day earlier if they had known Lucy Lawless would be here, anyway I digress…

It is my privilege this morning to represent the Class of 1969 in addressing this assembly.

The College has always had a strong focus on retaining links with its Old Boys and in recent years has encouraged five prior 40-year groups such as ours to gather at the College. We welcome this initiative, as we do in receiving the annual Wellington College Old Boys’ Magazine - The Lampstand – a communication which connects us all with the comings and goings of both the past and present activities associated with the College. A very big thank you to Stephanie Kane, as editor of this magazine and organiser of these reunions. She does a wonderful job.

We ourselves take our turn today to gather and reminisce of our school boy life, to once again

12 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

reunite bonds of friendship sown some 40 years ago and to marvel at how well we have all aged.

Still young enough to get in to trouble, yet old enough to know better. I am sure Wellington will know by the end of this weekend that the Class of 1969 were in town.

No doubt 40 years seems like a lifetime to each of you, but for us coming back, it seems like yesterday – time quickly passes by.

Seventeen of our peer group have passed away over the years; we will think of them and remember the friendships now parted.

I am not one of those that believes college is the best part of your life, life itself is an adventure, with hidden paths, opportunities to be seized and experienced, but I will agree, that life at Wellington College in the mid to late 1960s was an enjoyable time, one full of tradition and with masters that had spent a good deal of their working life at the College, like Inky Dighton, Foxy Sutton, Horse Bradley and Flea Halliday (the traditionalists) and to the new comers like Gary Girvan, Graeme Thomas and others who were creating their own more liberal teaching styles. Headmaster Seddon Hill ruled the roost, no doubt similar to your own Headmaster Roger Moses today.

Graham Archer Deputy Head Prefect, 1969 So, what were the ‘60s like at College for us?

• We had a roll of 950 boys, yours I believe now to be 1,550. Where do you all sit, or is it double up like they are now doing in the prison systems?

• School assemblies were each day in the Memorial Hall (demolished in 1968 unfortunately, and replaced with a six story tower – of course the Memorial Window and plaques which were so dear to all Old Boys were retained in the new buildings that replaced them). Unlike you, we had our yellow hymn books, carried always in our top pockets, and woe and betide anyone who forgot them – detention or caning the result.

• 1965 saw the last of Barracks Week, where we dressed and trained as army cadets and carried makeshift rifles. It was a serious time, as the Vietnam War was raging and there was random selection by birthday for compulsory army training on leaving college and also talk of conscription into the armed forces to go to Vietnam.

Thankfully, we missed both the war and ongoing training and have lived in a time of relative peace unlike some prior College generations who went off to war. Long may it last.

• 1967 was the College’s Centenary with nearly 2,000 Old Boys gathering in Wellington for the

40 Years On  Class of 1969 Centennial Dinner and a range of other activities.

This was a massive undertaking, but also signified a resurgence in interest by Old Boys in the College and a drive to seek donations from Old Boys and grow the foundation. The brick seating overlooking the lower grounds was a contribution from that Centennial gathering.

And I know that the same occurred amongst our own class of 1969. Perhaps Headmaster, these boys are different – but somehow, I doubt it but that is all part of growing up!

• The Tuck Shop was always our favourite, none of the politically correct told-what-you-can-eat, as you have it today, but good old pies, donuts, hot chips, hotdogs and sweets were the flavour of the day. We all seem to have survived it, but then we had another gender of Prime Minister in those days.

The Class of 1969 and generations before us, (some 28,000 students, eleven headmasters and many teachers since the start of the College) have created traditions within Wellington College

that are the envy of many other schools and continue to be carried on today creating pride in the College, collegiality and support amongst classmates, and an aspiration encouraged by the teaching fraternity for each individual to excel to one’s own best capability.

There will always be those boys who are great achievers at Wellington College whether it be in academia, arts or sport but then there were many more just average chaps that played their part and have used the foundations of what they experienced and were taught at the College to set their own path forward and excel in their own personal endeavours – our own group of 1969ers reflect that diversity of success.

We as a group, salute you, the current generation and know that you will leave this College more enlightened than when you started, and in 40 years time will take our place, and stand with the same pride, reflecting where did the years go!

Class of 1969 Overview

A

s Bryan Adams sang The best days of life, was back in the Summer of ‘69, the Class of 1969 met on the cusp of summer some forty years later back at their old school.

Now up to our sixth 40 Years On Reunion, the competition gets tougher as each year group tries to outdo the previous year in attendance and behaviour and the Class of 1969 was no exception.

The successful format of registration, attending Assembly followed by the tour of the College works well and helps break the ice as our guests meet up again after forty years in most cases.

By the time the Class photo has been taken, followed by the Cocktail Party, these’s no stopping our Old Boys as they begin to reminisce and recall memories from forty-odd years ago. Laughter and tears circulate Firth Hall as fellow classmates and Masters are recalled and the noise rises as voices vie to be heard.

‘Getting to Know You’.

Putting names and faces together at registration

Saturday, daytime gives everybody a chance to recover (especially for those who seem to find the lure of Courtenay Place’s nightlife an attraction - after all, there was no such drawcard forty years ago). Some play golf, some catch up with friends and family, some meander around the city looking at the changes and probably some just sleep.

Saturday’s formal dinner is a great occasion to remember those who are absent (through unavailability to attend or by those passed away). Toasts and anecdotes are spread throughout the evening, and there is always an opportunity for those to speak ‘off-the-cuff’.

The College’s Chorale kick-started the formalities with their repertoire of songs and hymns.

Deputy Headmaster and Old Boy Robert Anderson was MC for the evening and welcomed Sydney-sider Malcolm Jackman to make a toast to the College. Headmaster Roger Moses responded, concluding with a toast to the Class of 1969. Local boy, Peter Wedde, responded to Roger with a toast to those who were Boarders of Firth House.

(L-R): 1969 Dux Phil Gormack, 2009 Head Prefect Karl Moresi, 1969 Deputy Head Prefect Graham Archer, and current Headmaster Roger Moses

Following the main course, Gerald Bruce-Smith of Arthur’s Pass gave a toast to the Masters, and it was particularly nice to have some attend, while others sent messages. Lastly, Ken Wilkinson (also a local), gave a toast to Absent Friends.

The great turnout was largely due to the efforts of Graeme Lewis of Taupo (and his team) who for the past year has carried out an extensive search nationwide and world-wide, tracking down fellow classmates and encouraging them to attend. The attending numbers was a tribute to Graeme and for this I thank him for making my job a little easier in processing registrations and updating our database. For the record, the Class of 1969 holds the record in attendance closely followed by the Class of 1966.

So gentlemen, we hope to see you all back here in ten years time, with perhaps a few more who couldn’t make it this time.

Stephanie Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer

(L-R): Brett Krause and his son Mike catch up after Assembly THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 13

Reunions

At that same Centenary it was interesting to read of an address given by the then Headmaster Seddon Hill reading from Headmaster JP Firth’s 1899 punishment journal. Education evolves, he said, but generations of school boys do not change, as in 1899 there were punishments given for swearing, smoking, drinking and improper behaviour with girls (whatever that may have involved).

• School dances were looked forward to with some trepidation and excitement – all boys were required to compulsorily attend dancing classes for the Waltz and Foxtrot. However, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and others were the in thing and the swinging 60s had begun with a new societal liberation that we revelled in, as did the girls from across the fence at Wellington East.

40 Years On  Class of 1969

Gary Adams, Frank Myers

Peter Kennedy, Rob McDougall

Doug Senior, Garry Ellison, Bernie Sloan, James Snowball

Peter Wedde, Neil Livingstone, Paul Turner

Paul Twigden, Victor Yee, Gordon Tait

Kenny Smith, Graeme Moody, Pete Rae, John Harland

Wayne Honore, Geoff Church, Ken Wilkinson, Peter Scott

John Petrie, Les Galler, Ken Simpson

Dale Kelly, Victor Yee, John Seelye

Martin Wood, Spiro Isakidis, Alex Petsoulis

Barry Davey, Graeme Lewis, Graeme Steven

Mark Porath, Roger Coleman

Graham Archer, Glenn Wilson

Gordon Tait, Garry Ellison

Mark Trafford, Peter Wedde, Neil Rutherford, Rob McDougall, Rhodd Webb

Roger Coleman, Mark Porath, Neil Livingstone, Rob McDougall, Ken Wilkinson

Eric McPhee, John Butters, Neil Cromie, Grant Stevenson, Roger Smythe

Reunions

Neil Worboys, Graham Archer, Pete Rae

14 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

40 Years On  Class of 1969

Rick Hughes, Paul Turner, Roger Fine

Julian Eriksen, Gary Girvan

John Bishop, Philip Yee

Malcolm Jackman, Rick Hughes

Murray McLaughlin, Graeme Craigie

Pete Brookes, Paddianne Neely

Dale Kelly, Victor Yee, John Seelye

Roger Moses, Brett Krause

Pete Struthers, Kenny Young

Peter Scott, Paul Twigden

Graham Archer, Paul Turner, Wayne Deterte

Julie Bell-Booth, Tony Freeman

Graeme Lewis, Eric McPhee

Rob McDougall, Rhod Webb

Peter Smith, Graeme Lewis, Malcolm Jackman, John Butters

Wayne Deterte, Victor Yee, Gary Weiss, Spiro Isakidis

Dave Morriss, Gerald Bruce-Smith

Reunions

Neil Rutherford, Phil Gormack

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 15

Reunions

50 Years On  Class of 1960

Back Row: Third Row: Second Row:

Front Row:

Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE 1960 – 2010 • CLASS OF 1960 • 50 YEARS ON REUNION • 26 - 27 March, 2010 Peter Wood, Ed Cooke, John Robinson, Kevin Gleeson, Kahu Pattison, Brian Helson, Arthur McIntosh, Peter Graham, John Beatson Peter Adams, Ken Mackenzie, Mike Flinn, Peter O’Donnell, Grant Gower, Alain Harper, Keith Wilson, John Morrison, Brian Queree Errol Cole, Quentin Collier, Stephen Sherring, Ian Mitchell, Haddon Speakman, Warwick Wyatt, Michael Barnett, Brian Christie, Robin Philipp Bob Bezar, Kerry Stace, Tom Huppert, Brian Kelly, Peter Stokes, Roger Moses (Headmaster), Theo Salt, Ross Cuthbert, Michael Goot, Wal Louden, Peter Bird Murray McIvor, Richard Taylor, Bevan Smith

Class of 1960 Overview

W

hile Elvis was returning from Germany and the United States were sending troops to Vietnam, JFK was running for President, the All Blacks were in South Africa, Snell and Helberg were winning gold in Rome and television broadcasting was starting up in Auckland, around 200 7th formers (including Upper Sixth and Fifths) were about to leave Wellington College after completing their secondary education. And fifty years on, a good number returned to their old school for the Class of 1960, 50 Years On Reunion in March this year - our fourth 50 Years On Reunion since they began in 2007.

Welcomed back by Headmaster, Roger Moses, our cohort were addressed in Assembly along with current students by 1960 Head Prefect Peter Stokes before morning tea with our 2010 Prefects followed by an escorted tour around the College.

Friday evening’s Cocktail Party was an excellent opportunity to catch up, reminisce and chuckle over many stories and anecdotes from times past while following the health and fortunes of both those present and those absent. Michael Goot gave thanks to Roger for hosting the reunion and it was around 11.00pm that the last of them left for the night with the sounds and sights of downtown Wellington beckoning many of them.

Saturday evening’s formal dinner was a plethora of speeches and memories. In Roger’s absence, Deputy Principal and Old Boy, Robert Anderson 16 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

responded with a Toast given by Peter Stokes to the College with a well-researched and anecdotal toast to the Class of 1960.

Stephen Sherring gave a very humorous and detailed toast to the well-represented Firth House Boarders. Brian Helson toasted the Masters and Bob Bezar wrapped up the formal proceedings with a toast to Absent Friends, recording the 15 who had passed on and the 20 who had extended their apologies.

Caught by the camera as they rested between dances are (L-R): Michael Barnett, Wallace Louden and Warwick Wyatt. Fifty years on and still looking just as sharp are the same three, in the same position

It was also nice to have current staff members, Gil Roper and Ernie Rosenthal attend the reunion (even though their official reunion is not until next year). Gil is the College System’s Adviser and Ernie is the Career’s Adviser and they both enjoyed catching up with those just a year ahead of themselves. (Gil was Head Prefect of 1961).

Six of our guests travelled from overseas; Kevin Gleeson, Michael Goot, Arthur McIntosh and Peter O’Donnell from Australia, Grant Gower from the States and Robin Philipp from the United Kingdom and many appreciated them travelling the distances to be in attendance. The balance were made up from extensive parts of New Zealand and included a number of spouses.

Stephanie Kane • WCOBA Executive Officer Class of 1961 • 50 Years On Reunion Friday, 25 March 2011

(L-R): 1961 Head Prefect, Gil Roper, 2010 Head Prefect, Marcus Playle and 1960 Head Prefect, Peter Stokes outside Firth Hall

50 Years On  Class of 1960

Kahu Pattison, Kevin Gleeson

Robin Phillipp, Peter Adams, Keith Wilson

Peter O’Donnell, Michael Goot

Peter Bird, Ed Cooke

Stephen Sherring, Richard Taylor, Arthur McIntosh

Reunions

50 Years On Assembly

Kerry Stace

Peter Graham

Theo Salt, Brian Christie

Grant Gower

Brian Helson

Ken Mackenzie, John Morrison

Brian Kelly, Tom Huppert, John Robinson

Warwick Wyatt, Errol Cole, Quentin Collier

Gil Roper, Bob Bezar

Roger Moses, John Beatson

Ernie Rosenthal, Ian Mitchell

Peter Stokes, Robin Phillipp, Haddon Speakman

Brian Kelly, Peter Wood, Brian Queree, Bevan Smith

Ian Mitchell, Stephen Sherring, Wal Louden, Peter Adams, Peter O’Donnell THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 17

REUNIONS

Firth House Reunion

WELLINGTON COLLEGE FIRTH HOUSE REUNION • 1937-1948 • MAY, 2010 Back Row: Don McKinnon, Merv Crocker, John Craig, Peter McArtney, Ross Ross-Taylor Front Row: Ewen Cameron, Trevor Barber, Cliffe Adams, Don Adams, Bill Donovan, Clive Westbury Absent for Photo: Collis Blake, David Wilson

Back Row: Second Row: Front Row: Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE FIRTH HOUSE REUNION • 1946-1953 • MAY, 2010 Michael Clements, Ron Ebbett, Neil Kittow, Fred Johnson, Simon Lockhart, Tony Darroch, Murray Fergusson Des Limbrick, Don Adams, John Knight, Michael Mayman, Brian Duncan, Bill Sparks, Joe Coutts, Allan Bilbrough Peter Stewart, Milton Mexted, Vern Darke, Bill Donovan, Merv Crocker, Ross Ross-Taylor, Peter McArtney, Don McKinnon Mike Limbrick, Jim Tunnell

18 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Firth House Reunion

REUNIONS

Back Row:

Second Row: Front Row: Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE FIRTH HOUSE REUNION • 1954-1958 • MAY, 2010 Neville Bibby, Duncan Cameron, Colin Saunders, John Welsh, Simon Lockhart, David Williams, Tom Hobson, David Bowie, Allen Donald, David Wilde Graeme Ingham, Alan Bishell, Derek Stubbs, John Mills, Bill East, Keith Dreyer, Garrick Baird, Bob Miller, Don Tyson, John Norris Bryan Pearson, John Stuart, Ron Ebbett, Michael Clements, Vern Darke, Murray Fergusson, Tony Darroch, Alan Bilbrough, Don Baird Ian Jackson, Lindsay Katipa

Back Row: Third Row:

Second Row:

Front Row:

Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE FIRTH HOUSE REUNION • 1955-1961 • MAY, 2010 Hugh Ashton, Don Newcombe, Quentin Collier, Misch Neill, Kahu Pattison, Kahu Pattison, Greig Herbert, John Buck, Martin Kerr Ian August, Rennie Barrett, Laurie Mayo, Stephen Sherring, Errol Cole, Ian Smith, John Patterson, Wayne Nyberg, Tuaopepe Wendt, Theo Salt Wilf Vickers, Ian Murray, Conway Ansell, John Welsh, Warwick Greenwood, Derek Milne, Don Tyson, Tom Hobson, Allen Donald, Rod Mills, John Mills Doug Crease, John Stuart, Neville Bibby, Andy Cochrane, Tony Knight, Duncan Cameron, Don Baird, Brian Gillespie, Derek Stubbs, Kit Rollings, Robert Watt Alan Bohm, Peter Mayer, Alan Milne, John Robinson, Peter Underwood

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 19

Firth House Reunion

Reunions

Back Row: Third Row:

Second Row:

Front Row:

Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE FIRTH HOUSE REUNION • 1960 - 1966 • MAY, 2010 Graham Drury, Bert Lamb, Hugh Aston, Ian Wilde, Kahu Pattison, Tim Kerr, Bruce Morrison, Brett Windley John Skilton, John Sinclair, Ian Murray, Don Newcombe, Stephen Sherring, Ian Smith, Wayne Nyberg, Theo Salt, Nick Cooper, John Wedde Peter Drury, Rod Page, Pete Rodger, Michael Pitt, Phil Salt, Conway Ansell, Larry Coombes, Doug Lingard, Apii Rongo-Raea, David Cox, Graham Thomas (Master) Reg Birchfield, Andrew Collier, Paul Harper, Neil Ames, Jeremy Cooper, Clark Pollitt, Neil Macgregor, Neil Kenny, Derek Bound, Mike O’Connor (Master) John Atkins, John Bain, Hamish Donald, John Harding, Bryan Lawrence, Ian Lawrence, Phil Pacey, Lou Parun, Richard Ronald, Peter

Back Row: Third Row: Second Row: Front Row:

Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE FIRTH HOUSE REUNION • 1965-1973 • MAY, 2010 Andrew Speedy, Mike Ward, Duncan Milne, Brendon Smyth, Bert Lamb, Dartrey Lamb, George Speedy Bruce Tie, Robert Best, Pete Rae, Graham Craigie, Ian Bell, Michael Rhodes, Kevin Smith Perry Kerr, Tony Brooking, Gordon Osten, Jeff Faulke, Tim Kerr, Richard Laurenson, Evan Voyce, Rob Josephson Philip Eastwood, John Barber, Charles Taylor, Graham Drury, Pete Rodger, Graham Thomas, John Wedde, Bruce Morrison, Roger McKinley Brian Drake, John Drake, John Gifford, Rick Holmes, Malcolm Hope, Malcolm King, Mark Limbrick, Sam Pulley, John Saunders, Rob Sinkinson, Richard Skelley, Andy Tie, Mark Trafford, Peter Wedde

20 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Firth House Reunion

Reunions

Back Row: Third Row: Second Row: Front Row: Absent for Photo:

WELLINGTON COLLEGE FIRTH HOUSE REUNION • 1970 - 1984 • MAY, 2010 Brent Tuohy, Carey Touhy, Dominic Moore, Neil Austin, Wayne Breeze, Stuart Baddeley, James O’Hare, Craig Sullivan, AJ Jenkin Ian Miller, Adam Herlihy, Lloyd Evans, John Ahearn, Simon Boyd, Joe Atkin, Steve Mann, Paul Smith, Warren Bryant Martin Jarvis, Victor Paulson, Bruce Tie, Michael Ward, Hamish Pryde, Hugh Rhodes, Ted Thomas, Chris Hurrell Robert Best, Jeff Faulke, Perry Kerr, Tony Brooking, Philip Eastwood, Graham Thomas, Roger McKinley, Kevin Smith, George Speedy Ian Andrews, Matthew Birch, John Biss, Chris Brown, Gavin Bruce, John Bulleyment, Brent Craig, Bruce Gault, Ian Gault, Martin Goulden, Murray Grant, Rob Grant, Peter Howe, Carl Klitscher, Peter Knedler, Simon Lempriere, David Lomas, John Marfell, John McGowan, Danny McGrath, Bill Mushet, Anthony Pattison, Tim Preston, Robbie Sampson, Brian Scott, Ewen Smith, Jock Stuart, Tony Stuart

Above: Boarders from 1967 depicting perhaps a typical view of their leisure time, with accompanying refreshments in the College’s swimming pool helping to pass the time away.

Right: Boarders in 1980 hear the news that following falling rolls and falling mortar, Firth House is to close.

A CD of the all the photos from the Reunion, also includes various scenes of Firth House and its inhabitants is available from the WCOBA Office at a cost of $5.00. The CD also contains excerpts from a number of Boarders with their recollections of their time at the Hostel. A PDF version of the stories and speeches is available by email if you email oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz for a copy. The Firth House Haka, performed at the Reunion and a movie clip filmed in 1964 by Rick King is located on 'You Tube'. Search for 'Firth House' on www.youtube.com and you’ll find the two clips.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 21

Firth House Reunion Speeches Reflections of Firth House Wayne Breeze, Head House Prefect, 1980

F Reunions

irth House was our youth, and we had great times, as one would expect as most boys have great times in their youth. We have heard stories of escapades, Masters and Matrons but I would like to take this opportunity to now, even in the presence of a few scabs, to discuss the seniority system, which was always under a cloud of silence (even today it feels odd to reveal it), for our good times were a little unique as they were framed by the seniority system.

When I arrived at Firth House, the first thing I recall being told as my parents drove away was that I was now a GROT. I had no idea what a GROT was, but it didn’t sound good. After a few days of running about like headless chickens we third formers were gathered together for our HOO talk. The HOO talk took place on the pine covered slope next to the Governor General’s House, where the fourth formers, very strategically positioned up hill from us, proceeded to impart the law of the House. Brian Scott, Peter Hooper, Brett Winstanley and others detailed how things worked and what GROT’s were.

GROT’s were low life inferiors, the bottom of a year based cascading system of authority. You would open and wait at all doors for seniors, preface all speech to them with ‘excuse me’, and most importantly do whatever you were told to do by a senior. A hand was raised and a fellow GROT asked what happens if a senior and a master’s instructions conflict? and the answer given Grant Smith, Head House Prefect rules on such matters.

So I got it, we were low life. House Prefects our High Priests. This did not seem too good to a boy who had just a few days before left the apron strings of a warm home behind... but there was one more piece of information All BOARDERS, including GROTs, are SUPERIOR to all SCABS. We were lucky to be a GROT! We were told to stick together, as a year group in the House, and as the House within the school. That House Boys ruled this school, day boys are called SCABS. SCABS were part-timers that ran home to their mothers each evening. The school was our place, we were the school’s backbone and soul. It was our school.

No day boy was ever to be allowed to pick on a boarder, no other faction to rule our roost, never were we to be called SCABS by day boys, and any offending SCAB was to be reprimanded by the House boys in the traditional manner. Wellington College was our patch.

Firth House in our era was a multicultural environment, with Maori, Polynesians and a number of other backgrounds. All were together, simply as House Boys.

On reflecting about this I wondered if perhaps we were the forerunners of modern political correctness, but that may be taking it a bit far. I recall when we received our first two Chinese boys from Hong Kong, and immediately for ease of pronunciation renamed them ‘Ping’ and ‘Pong’. Thankfully this didn’t cause too much harm as ‘Pong’ went onto to be Dux. The House then, supported all winter sport, so long as it was rugby. Earlier speakers have mentioned changing times. We too had changing times with the departure of Seddon Hill and ‘GT’ Graeme Thomas at the end of 1978. With their departure, came the introduction of Soccer posts on the number 2. Well the posts went up, and were painted pink, only to be white-washed and then again painted pink. Headmaster, Harvey ReesThomas was understandably not too impressed and came to the Dining Hall and told the House as much. Then I believe it was Aperahama Te Moana, who undertook a symbolic act, with an axe. Yes - we were often irreverent, politely irreverent.

We were gutted when told of the decision to close Firth House. It was our fifth year in the House at that stage, and we believed its closure would remove the school’s backbone and soul. We had come to believe much of that which we were told at our HOO talk. Looking around today at the 22 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Back: ML Jarvis, PM O’Brien, WJ Pointer Front: WTS Breeze (Head), Absent: C Phillip sporting and cultural diversity within the College, one could make a good case that we were in some ways holding the school back with some of our singular views and traditions, but that was not how we felt, nor what we intended.

We discussed the pending closure and realised there as nothing we could do to prevent it. We talked of having a party to celebrate, an extravagant party, perhaps even a Firth House Ball, with a free open bar, adults ‘skiffs’ to clear our tables appealed, live music - were we dreaming or could we do it? So in the age-old House tradition, using all of the collective emotional IQ Doug Lingard referred to as a boarders trait in Assembly yesterday, we turned to alcohol.

No, not the usual illicit drinking, rather the above table buying and selling of wine. At this point I should take a moment to thank so many of you for buying our wine, for much of it was sold to you, as we supplied the Firth House Wine at the Firth House Old Boys’ gathering to commemorate the House closure in 1980.

We knew we needed to raise a lot of money, well into the double digit thousands, to have a Firth House Ball. We undertook a road trip to see a House Old Boy by name of the John Buck in his then messy little office at Te Mata Estate. The deal was struck and we ordered a lot of wine – I don’t recall exactly but in the region of 60 dozen. Firth House labels were prepared for the wine by Martin Jarvis, and John Buck arranged to have them affixed.

The wine all up costing us about $2.00 per bottle was then sold for $10.00 a bottle. Again thank you. Memorabilia was indeed a profitable business.

We had a great Firth House Ball, with superior food, open bar, adult skiffs and music by the Roger Fox Big Band. It was an excellent night and yes numerous day boys also attended – for as was always the case in reality there were many day boys that were good friends of the House.

On the last night of Firth House, we had planned a final celebration, but the then Head Housemaster uncovered a very large stash of beer in crates.

The first I heard of the discovery was when told it was all being taken to the Masters’ lounge kitchenette, and being tipped down the sink. The Master boys relationship under the seniority system was always a balancing act, but now it looked like it would boil over into a riot on the last night. We went and implored that the beer not be tipped out, of course no one expected it to be returned, but please Sir, surely this isn’t how it should end. The tipping out of the beer ceased. Twelve hours later we awoke and the House was over.

I ask you now to charge your glasses in a toast to good times and camaraderie.

Firth House Reunion Speeches A Toast to the Masters Evan Voyce, Head House Prefect, 1967

I

For years, I have kept my old school blazer, lovingly wrapped in tissue and laid reverently in the bottom drawer of our wardrobe, preserved for this very occasion. I got it out, shook it gently, removed the mothballs from the pockets and put it on. You know, I always thought the material was suspect and time has proven me right – because the bloody thing had shrunk. I put it away in 1967 and retrieved it in 2010 and in that short space of time, it had shrunk not one, but in several sizes.

In disgust and outraged at the quality of the garment, I tossed it in the Charity clothes bin at the end of our street, and now I have a new worry.

I’m worried that somewhere in deepest, darkest Africa, there will be a young man wearing my blazer, doggedly accepting the light and passing it on and never ever knowing why? I find that profoundly sad.

But back to the subject – Masters. Masters play a critical role in preparing you for life. To do that, they have to be interested, informed and relevant.

It was the subject of relevance that came to mind when we sang that damn song again in Assembly yesterday morning.

You know, I never knew what the song was about until I was about 37. I was sitting up in bed one night and turned to Mrs Voyce and said Darling, can I ask you something? No she said. No, you can’t. We had an agreement – Christmas and Birthdays. We’ve just had Christmas and your birthday’s not until June, now turn over and go to sleep. It’s not that I hastened to assure her. I’ve been haunted by this song all my adult life. There’s 32 men following something and I don’t know what it is that they are following and it worries me that I don’t know. You tosser she said affectionately. It’s not 32 men, it’s 30 true men and they’re following a rugby ball.

As many of you will know, it is Harrow’s school song and it was written in 1872. I didn’t actually know that. I googled it this morning and as an aside, isn’t it interesting how google, like text has become cemented in the language to the point where it is now a verb.

Could you imagine Inky Dighton going along with that? ‘You boy, stand up.

Define the verb to google etc’. Poor old Inky. He’d be spinning in his grave. It doesn’t bear thinking about and I come to my point.

My lot, or my cohort as we say, were at College in the 1960s – arguably the seminal decade of the 20th century. Just think about it – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, May Quant, Mini Skirts, the War in Vietnam, the assassinations of the Kennedys, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Soviets invading Czechoslovakia... and while all this was going on in the world around us, we were singing a song about a game of rugby football and that this song is more than 100 years old! How’s that for relevance?

Reunions

’m up here because I am doing Stephanie a favour. She rang me and said she had asked 15 of the 16 Head House Prefects attending this reunion if one of them would make a toast to the Masters of Firth House. To a man – and it would be a man wouldn’t it – the 15 refused on the grounds that it would be a very short toast because not one of them could think of anything nice to say. But one said have you asked Evan Voyce. He only got to be Head Prefect because he was his year’s biggest bottom-licker and he’s in PR – so he’ll think of something nice to say, even if it isn’t true’. So here I stand to save the day for Stephanie. Actually, I was really rapt to be asked.

I’ve been saving myself for this occasion for 43 years.

Back: JRT Gifford, RA Josephson (Deputy Head), DJ Lamb, JW Drake, DS Carter Front: ABM Tie, EW Voyce (Head), JS Fisher

It can’t have been easy for either side. Adolescent boys wanting desperately to do what boys want to do and Housemasters having to stand in their way. It was a situation that demanded tact, understanding, sensitivity and a degree of wisdom. Being boys, we had none of that. We had to leave it to them – the Masters, and of course some of those Masters weren’t much older than us. And how did they manage? I’d venture to say that mostly, they managed pretty well.

Some tried to manage that relationship relying on authority. That never works. But others managed that delicate balance just fine. They could never be our friends, they could never take the place of our parents, but they ensured we had a safe and secure environment away from home but where a blind eye would sometimes be turned to allow young men to be young men.

Even though we were all testing the boundaries in one way or another in our race towards adulthood and often resented the curbs imposed upon our behaviour, I’d say that most of us intuitively understood the tension and appreciated the way in which it was managed.

And the proof of the pudding is here. Firth House was never just about us.

It was about all of us. Boys, Masters and all the other adults – Matrons, Seamstresses, Groundsmen, folk in the kitchen. Together we all contributed to the kind of experience that has encouraged us to return and share them thirty, forty, fifty and sixty years on. And, as much as we learned from Masters, they learned from us. I’d like to read to you, part of a letter from a former Housemaster Ernie Barrington who wrote to Stephanie recently.

Ernie said As Masters, we had a lot of fun and much laughter at the foibles of fellow human beings. It also gave me experience in dealing with students who had a wide range of motivations – in other words – some were bent on disruption. It stood me in good stead when I taught in North West London in 1968. The Principal at the London school warned me that some of the classes were really tough. No, wrote Ernie, they were pussycats compared to 4SHB of 1964 and UFive 2 in 1965!

Ernie moved on to lecture at Auckland University where he found teaching 200-300 students in a lecture theatre was a pushover. He said Once you had learnt to control a stroppy Firth House Dining Room of 120 students who were disgruntled by a lousy meal that had just finished, one would find most groups docile by comparison.

But I guess passing on the light – or not passing on the light – is not what we should be remembering our Housemaster’s for (forgive me – I’ve just ended a sentence with a preposition).

Ernie ended by writing that he was sure that once again, and maybe for the last time in a while, we would get together to do the Firth House Haka. I salute you, he concluded.

First of all, Masters were in, as Inky Dighton might say, Locus Patentus. They had a duty of care. But give a thought to who they were caring for – 120 adolescent boys with a combined testosteronic output that would rival the Icelandic eruption that grounded half the world’s airlines recently.

No Ernie, we salute you just as we salute other Masters who are with us tonight and all the other Masters and staff were part of this great institution – Firth House.

Please raise your glasses to the Masters and staff of Firth House.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 23

Firth House Reunion Speeches A Toast to Absent Friends Don Adams, Head House Prefect, 1948 A FAMILY OCCASION t is a privilege to propose this toast as it is the last on the programme and so I have promised I will not speak for more than 45 minutes!

Reunions

I

It is also very special for me as a family occasion and I know also it will be so for others. I am here tonight with my elder brother Cliffe Adams (1934-36) who has had the honour of lighting the ‘Lamp of Knowledge’ as the oldest of us present and Cliffe and I remember our two other brothers who have now passed on.

Our father preceded us at Wellington College, also as a boarder, but long before the time of Firth House and so the traditions of JP Firth and Firth House were frequent topics of conversation in our family home. My son and five nephews have since followed us through the College as day boys and it is likely that my two grandsons will follow in due course.

Back: MJ Harris, BLF Jordan, KJ Hartley Front: AL Griffiths, DB Adams (Head), JG Andrews

There are other brothers here together tonight and others who will remember their brothers who have passed on, or who for various reasons are not with them. You will share my thoughts of this as a family occasion and perhaps it is so for all of us in the wider community of Wellington College.

It is known that at least 90 have passed away. Some of these from my brothers’ years have died on active military service but that number is not specially recorded. It is known that one or two died while at Firth House but from casual conversation it seems to me that several more may have died while enrolled, if not resident, at the House. I certainly thought I would perish on a couple of occasions!

I thank Doug Lingard for his well-chosen words at Assembly yesterday morning, but I think it is fair to say that the culture of Firth House and also of the school changed significantly over the years to become a more benign, tolerant and happy environment than it was as some of us recall it in earlier times.

When I ask you to remember mates and others at Firth House we also will remember our many friends who were days boys, or shall we say acceptable scabs.

Those of us at Assembly yesterday could not have helped be moved by the powhiri and haka as we entered and the demeanour of the impressive young men who later showed us round the school, played rugby today, and the members of the choral group and haka party who have entertained us this evening. For this much credit is due to Roger Moses and his team today.

I commend Marcus Playle, 2010 Head Prefect, for his polished presentation of the Toast to Wellington College today. I share with him and his mates in the 1st XV the disappointment with the result in the match against Silverstream College this afternoon. Better luck next time!

I ask you to reflect on your special friends while at Firth House. The records show that about 1800 Old Boys have been through Firth House. 671 have been contacted from known addresses. 220 have replied to the invitation to this reunion and are here tonight. 134 have sent apologies with many reasons for the absence and I will now read their names and messages to you. Oh, perhaps I won’t!

Reflections of Firth House Michael Mayman, 1950

I

spent the first three years as a boarder.

Coming from a small country area, it was something of a culture shock to find myself at a school of 900 or so students and living cheek to jowl with 120 fellow boarders.

Rather than begin at 1946 I would like to go back to 1926 when a young boy, John Mulgan from Auckland, commenced a stay of two years at Firth House, while his parents were overseas. As the scholars amongst us, and even some of the day boys, would know, Mulgan was the Author of the seminal New Zealand novel Man Alone. He was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship at age 19 and had a brilliant academic and sporting career at Auckland and Oxford Universities. He rose to 24 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

We have already toasted the Masters but in this toast I would also include these gentlemen remembered with respect, and affection in some cases, and others remembered with less respect than perhaps they merited. We remember also the ladies appointed as Matrons. These were all worthy people to whom our control or care was entrusted.

I visited the College recently and thought I would like to walk past all that remains of Firth House, the retaining wall behind the Sports Centre. As I walked down that alley, I did not see any ghosts though I thought I might.

I passed the sealed door which led into the boiler room where Jo Blair stoked the furnace which did not heat the building effectively and I passed where those awful duck boards from the changing rooms were put to air.

At the end of the alley, the wood room, useful for smoking and other illicit purposes, has been demolished. There is not much left!

I think, if Firth House is ever re-established the motto could be EX ROBUSTO COMITATU. I am sure that even Mr McAlloon would accept my translation WE’RE OK! I ask you to rise and drink this toast to Absent Friends.

the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in WWII and was decorated for gallantry for his work with Partisans in Greece harassing the German occupied forces.

He died tragically in Cairo in 1945.

In his biography, Long Journey to the Border, the author, Vincent O’Sullivan, writes as follows: Firth House had a reputation for being an uncouth place and although Mulgan was not the kind of boy to be victimised, he was shockingly gaunt and thin by the time he left.

However, as opposed to this, the author states that he excelled at rugby, boxing, cadets and debating so his physical condition was probably due to some adolescent illness rather than the rigours of Firth House. But with an author of the name of Vincent O’Sullivan, Wellington College was never going to get a good press!

I would like to be able to tell you that 20 years on, when I arrived at Firth House as a 12-year-old, I found Firth House to be a centre of culture and new age enlightenment. But, in truth, I would have to say that if John Mulgan had been with me on that day, he would have found Firth House not very much different from his days there.

While I would not call it uncouth, it certainly was on the spartan side of austere and completely lacking in creature comforts.

The meals, always a topic dear to a young boys heart, were institutional, dull and repetitive.

Often repetitive in more ways than one!

In my first year, the housemaster was the redoubtable TD Homes [nicknamed Chook because of his habit of flapping his hands when he walked] – a stern disciplinarian whose gruff manner disguised quite a shy and private person.

Firth House Reunion Speeches It would be true to say he was both feared and respected.

‘Chook’ returned in 1950 and continued until the appointment of ‘Sam’ Meads in 1951. (It is not common knowledge that this appointment was the cause of a major rift between the Board of Governors and the then Headmaster, Mr EN Hogben – leading, it would seem, to the latter’s resignation and self exile to England).

The Housemasters were a varied bunch of characters ranging from the mildly psychopathic to the iconic! The well known pair of Frank Crist and Sam Meads locked the Wellington Rep. scrum and were both renowned for wielding a mighty cane – a common punishment in those days for even trivial offences such as talking after lights out. Both men were hugely popular in the rugbymad Firth House. I also have fond memories of Ray [Mickey] Michael, a gentleman in the finest sense of the word and whose patience and good nature were shamelessly taken advantage of!

Then there was a character I will refer to as ‘Keg’.

He and I developed a mutual and obvious dislike for one another, not very bright on my part as this was hardly a level playing field! Amongst other canings for (seemingly) trivial offences, I recall getting ‘six of the best’ from him for hitting John Nelson over the head with my laundry bag. If I felt hard done by, you can imagine how the poor and quite guiltless John felt when he received the same punishment.

However, that pales into insignificance in comparison with the punishment meted out to my good friend Neil Kittow who received from a housemaster (who will be nameless), ‘six’ for talking in prep and was then called back from his way out of the Master’s study with the comment I’ll teach you to grin! and given another three.

(Hard to tell a grin from a grimace – especially when viewed from the back!). The punishment, if harsh, was ineffective; Neil still has plenty to say!

The headmaster, EN Hogben whom I remember as a cold and austere character. During the week, he and Mrs Hogben (nicknamed ‘the Pirate’), had their midday meal, in the dining hall – sitting at a

At breakfast, the word was passed from table to table that the midday meal was to be conducted in total silence as a gesture of protest. The only noise was a barely audible and stilted conversation between Mr and Mrs Hogben at one table and the Housemasters at another. I imagine Mr Hogben would have been absolutely livid but we only received a relatively mild admonition from ‘Chook’ at prep that evening.

Justice was eventually done – the boy was reinstated. It says much for the power of silence.

We tend to forget that rationing was still in force until the late 40s and we were sent home at term holiday times with a small portion of butter and presumably a sugar and meat coupon or two at the end of the year. The Matron [appropriately named Miss Firth but no relation of the great ‘JP’] was presumably tasked with caring for our diet but the food was typical institutional fare of the time – monotonous and stodgy. However, we didn’t ever go hungry! I recall her only treatment for a sore throat was to apply iodine to the affected area with a small paint brush. You soon learned not to come back unless you were at death’s door!

Our laundry arrangements can hardly be believed in this day and age! Socks and towels were changed twice a week, the remainder, underclothes, shirts and pyjamas once a week.

We were issued with two sheets at the beginning of the term. On the next Saturday another sheet was issued. This became the top sheet and the one which had been on top went to the bottom and the previous bottom one went to the laundry; and so it continued to the end of term. With a hundred and twenty pubescent boys there were many ribald jokes about having to fold sheets with an axe. Our grey shorts were changed once a term whether that was needed or not.

Our week days were pretty full and structured, what with the usual school routine and sports practice, with prep in the evenings. Saturdays were largely taken up with sport. Sundays, there was compulsory Church in the morning and in the afternoon we were let loose to go on aimless walks around the Wellington environs.

There was an alternative to this; going for training runs. These were really a subterfuge for obtaining some sexual titillation by spying on courting couples copulating in the secluded glades of Mount Victoria. This innocent pastime was put to a temporary halt when one busybody (I suspect an elderly pervert whose patch we were intruding on!) wrote to the Housemaster complaining that he had observed Firth House boys spying on young couples basking in the

sun. This was utter rubbish; we were interested in far more than ‘basking’. Good old-fashioned bonking was what we were after!

We were allowed into town each Friday after school but woe betide if you were not back for roll call at 5.30. We were also permitted for two weekends leave a term but not starting until after breakfast on Saturday. Petrol was rationed so visits home were rare and many boys didn’t see their parents from one term holiday until the next. The majority came from farming areas in the Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay and the Horowhenua.

Firth House had its own peculiar vocabulary and institutions; some I remember are: Skif: the boy sitting at the bottom right of the dining table whose job it was to clear the used dishes.

TP: the boy sitting at the bottom of the table who poured the tea.

Jerk: custard – for reasons I would sooner not dwell on!

Mo-ing: observation of amorous activities.

The BRMs: who remembers Sally and the other lasses who made up ‘the Basin Reserve Molls’?

The Acid Drop Club: A group of senior boys (including two Prefects) built a hut in the bush covered slope below the Observatory to which they would go for the occasional cigarette.

Someone must have ‘blown the whistle’ as the Club was ‘busted’, the members no doubt severely punished and the two prefects reduced to the ranks!

Marie West: a Vegemite-like spread, which appeared on the dining tables shortly after the discovery of the body of the unfortunate Marie, who had been murdered some months previously on the slopes of Mt Victoria.

Rivalry between day boys and boarders was intense but on the whole friendly – unless a day boy was rash enough to invade a ‘boarders’ only’ domain such as the area at the back of the dining block [scurrilously referred to by the day boys as ‘Scab Ally’]. The Firth House boys were always well represented in the 1st XV, athletics and boxing and to a lesser extent in the 1st XI. While scholarship was not highly regarded by many, my year produced a school dux in Ross Howie who went on to a distinguished career in paediatrics, and of my vintage there were two oral surgeons, a cardiologist, a dentist, a psychiatrist, two solicitors and several who made significant contributions in farming and National [note the capital N!] politics.

School bullying has been much in the news in recent years and it was certainly institutionalised in most boy’s boarding schools in those days; Firth House was no exception. Third formers were given a rough time by some fourth formers and again some couldn’t wait to get their own back the following year.

As with life in general, time is a great healer and I look back on my three years as a boarder quite fondly. It certainly made me appreciate the comforts of home.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 25

Reunions

While Chook was also a full-time teacher, when he retired at the end of 1946, he was replaced by a full-time house manager, one FES Long, who, from day one, was known as ‘Fesil’ or ‘the Fesil’.

Quite how he filled in his day I know not, but it because quite obvious that, because of his lack of a teaching background, he struggled to obtain the respect of the assistant Housemasters, all of whom taught at the College. Conditions, which were pretty spartan in the previous regime, certainly didn’t improve much under Fesil but it would have to be said that he did take a keen and kindly interest in the younger boys under his care. The Firth House Notes in the 1949 Wellingtonian state that Mr Long left towards the end of the year. No explanation, thanks or good wishes for the future, so the reasons for his obviously unlamented departure, are uncertain.

separate table. Mr Hogben gave the Grace at the beginning of the meal, reading off a card which was hidden under his place mat. One incident involving Mr Hogben comes to my mind – which might be called ‘The Great Silence’. A boarder had been either expelled or suspended by Mr Hogben for some not too serious offence, a punishment which the boys considered as being totally unjustified.

Firth House Reunion Snapshots

Reunions

The Firth House Assembly

The tour of the College

Bill Sparks, Don McKinnon

Michael Clements, David Williams, Simon Lockhart

Wayne Nyberg, John Buck

Ted Thomas, Joe Atkin

Brendan Symth, Pete Rae

Bill East, Bob Miller

Bill Donovan, Rob Sinkinson, Cliffe Adams

Larry Coombes, Ted Clayton

John Drake, Charles Taylor, John Barber

John Saunders, Clark Pollitt

Dartrey Lamb, Andy Tie, Bruce Tie

Murray Fergusson, Vern Darke

26 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Firth House Reunion Snapshots

Reunions THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 27

Firth House Reunion Overview

W

was stampeded by Old Boys impatient to start their reunion with 280 Old Boys and Masters returning.

The initial notification to boarders was an arduous task on its own. Official records of boarders have never been retained so it was a matter of building up our database with reference to the old registration cards. Thus some were not recorded as boarders when they were and others were and they weren’t. But once the lists got sorted and finalised, we could begin to ‘target our audience’.

First up, was the School Assembly with our current students. On stage along with Deputy Principal Dave Ashby in lieu of Headmaster, Roger Moses (who was away that day) were 16 former Head House Prefects. Doug Lingard (1960-64) spoke on behalf of the Boarders to the Assembly and firstly thanked the College for continuing to encourage the renewing of friendships of fellow Old Boys made many years ago. Doug also recounted some memories of times in the hostel and some of the imaginative larks the young men got up to.

Reunions

hat took a year in the making, culminated in May this year - the Firth House Reunion, to acknowledge the closing of the Boarding Hostel 30 years earlier.

As May drew closer, so did the registrations with a flurry of late registrations as word got out and by Friday, 7 May the registration desk

Returning to the Brierley Theatre for morning tea, the cohort photos were taken and then each group was escorted around the College by our Prefects – with a lengthy pause at the site where the former hostel was located – now where the Renouf Sports Centre sits, to remember life in Firth House.

Friday evening featured a Cocktail Party for Old Boys, partners and a number of former teaching staff and Housemasters. A terrific display of photos was put together by Archivist Paddianne Neely with numerous photos depicting life in the Hostel.

Guests returned on Saturday for lunch prior to the 1st XV match against St Patrick’s (Silverstream) and even though our team just lost - it wasn’t

dwelt on too long before the formal dinner that evening.

With Deputy Principal (and Old Boy) Robert Anderson as MC, a fantastic night of memories, music and madness took place - interspersed with unforgettable speeches and toasts, including a well-received oration from current Head Prefect Marcus Playle. The speeches are recounted overleaf. Our Chorale performed with aplomb, but were somewhat taken aback when the Boarders performed their version of the Firth House Haka - 250 upright men, jumping, slapping and waving their arms about - it was a sight to see. It was a memorable, and late evening but those who attended were pleased they did return.

Firth House saw around 1700 boys through its doors over the 54 years of operation - closing down because of falling rolls and falling masonry - however those who attended, certainly recalled many, many escapades of their time there. Our oldest Boarder at the Reunion, Cliffe Adams, who attended in 1937 was invited to light the candle to begin the formalities and there was a good representation from those who were there in its last days in 1980.

Thanks in particular to Brian Drake (1962-66) of Thorndon New World and Tim Preston (197679) of Mills Reef Winery (and both former boarders) who were our beverage suppliers for the weekend.

Stephanie Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer

Boarding Hostel Dining Room Interior, Wellington College, [c 1897] • Photograph taken by Algernon Charles Gifford 28 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Firth House Reunion Memories

Reunions THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 29

CLASS OF 1970 • 40 YEARS ON REUNION THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER!

Reunions

We are trying to locate the following Old Boys from the Class of 1970 cohort. If you know where one or many may reside, please let us know so we can let them know about their 40 Years On Reunion.

Abbott, Geoffrey Abernethy, Ross Bai, Tony Baron, Donald Bastings, Michael Bayliss, Paul Bhula, Rasik Brabant, Jonathan Brandon, Randall Broadbent, John Brown, Arthur Burton, Dennis Butcher, David Carey, Darryl Carver, Paul Childs, William Cole, David Collie, Robert Collins, Stephen Cummins, Patrick

Cunningham, Lee Currie, Gavin Davidson, Alan Devore, Brett Djakaria, Santosa Dowling, Philip Duggan, Michael Evans, David Evans, John Fergusson, Gary Ford, Grant Forrester, Jeffrey French, Murray Galbraith, Dennis Gaskin, David Grainger, Ian Guerin, David Gyson, Julian Hansen, Gordon Harrison, C

Head, Gregory Heeps, Robert Hemsley, AC Hemsley, Stephen Hildreth, Digby Holdaway, Bryan Holowczak, Michael Hunter, Richard Hutton, John Hyson, Michael Jones, Philip King, Peter King, Paul Kingston, Christopher Konstantinov, Pavel Kotsapas, Mario Laird, Ian Lambert, Stephen Lewis, Craig MacKay, David

Martin, Andrew Matheson, James McDonald, Ewan McGregor, Paul McKenzie, Michael McKeown, Alister McLean, David McPhail, Bruce Millar, Terance Molineux, Graham Mossman, Ian Murphy, Paul Murray, Christopher Oaks, Nicholas O'Regan, Patrick Owen, Gary Palliser, Christopher Pattemore, Stephen Pearman, Alan Penman, Michael

Podstolski, Maxwell Porter, Trevor Powell, Denis Ramsden, David Randal, Philip Robinson, Mark Roper, David Rose, Michael Rout, James Sage, Christopher Scott, Peter Silberman, Bernard Singh, Vikramajit Skipper, Stephen Stradling, Stephen Tasker, Ronald Taylor, Martin Taylor, Simon Thomas, Stephen Thompson, Rex

Vaughan, Raymond Wallace, Alexander Watson, Ian Williams, Robert Wong, Henry Wright, Paul Yee, Kelvin Yee, Warren Young, David

Registration Details can be found on our Website: www.wellington-college.school.nz (our community/oldboys/reunions) or email oldboys@wellington-college.school.nz or telephone: 04 802 2537 TOP MOVIE OF 1970 - LOVE STORY

TOP SONG OF 1970 - BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

15-16 October, 2010 @ Wellington College

CLASS OF 1961 • 50 YEARS ON REUNION REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE MAILED IN OCTOBER 2010.

We are trying to locate the following Old Boys from the Class of 1961 cohort. If you know where one or many may reside, please let us know so we can let them know about their 50 Years On Reunion.

Allen, J M Amies, J W Andrews, P J Beck, R P Bell, I J Benham, M A Bett, I J Binning, S C Bird, K A Bockett, B H Boshier, J A Bradley, K J Brocherie, I E Butler, A D Christiansen, N H Clarke, J M Cook, R W E Corin, J R Crawford, R F Crichton, I A Crump, J M Day, P W

Done, B Duncan, B W Duncan, W B Forbes, M L Frankpitt, G S Fussell, S J C Goodwin, T G Griffin, D H Harris, O W Hatten, D B Herd, R G Hildreth, W H Hoddinott, D G Hunter, A Irain, G M Jerome, E A Johnston, D I Judd, M D Kan, P Kerr, D R Kerse, M L Khouri, J

Lancashire, C W Laurence, E R Lewis, J Macfarlane, A J MacLachlan, R S Mair, J S Marino , N B Martin, J R Matthewson, M H McKenzie, D N McKeown, P J McKinlay, M S McLevie, M D Mechen, P A Mirams, D P Morton-Jones, G A O'Brien, S C Orsborn, B G Orsborn, R K Packer, M A Packer, N H Painter, R C

TOP MOVIE OF 1961 • WEST SIDE STORY

Pascoe, L W Paul, W G Pearson, J D Peat, D C Perkins, B T Perkins, J C Phipps, N Piper, R L Prince, M R Rankin, A T Reddell, J F Reynolds, R E Rimmer, R L Roberts, C P Robertson, G L Robinson, R I L Rolle, B B Savage, R J Saxton, R E Scott, D A Scott, M H Shorter, R J

Simpson, A C Smith, B G Smith, G C Smith, G D Smith, J D Spence, M F Stevens, M V Stevenson, R B Stewart, C A Tansley, G L Thompson, G E F Turner, S R Vickers, J E Ward, J Warner, D W White, P J Williams, D C Wilson, B C Wood, D F Wood, E K Wraight, G F Wright, J M

TOP SONG OF 1961 • STAND BY ME - BEN E KING

25 March, 2011 @ Wellington College 30 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Wylie, B J Young, A C

Class of 2000  10 Years On

Nick Buck • nicholasbuck@gmail.com Head Prefect, 2000

S

urely, the best thing about being Head Prefect is writing a piece about that time for the Lampstand. Though the baubles of this particular office don’t attract everyone, this would be the deal-breaking sweetener for most. Being ‘forced’ here to actually structure and write down memories of time at College is brilliant - a kind of formalised indulgence that gives extra meaning to these reflections. I am fortunate indeed!

there are people willing to do these crucial jobs, mainly so that I don’t need to. Arman: if I ever need a spinal tap you’ll be number 1 on my speed dial!

2000 Head Prefect Team (L-R): Brent Moresi, Hayden Prosser, Nick Buck, Michael Rendall

And now it has been a decade - and a long one at that - since the class of 2000 had their last assembly. Michael Rendall assured me in 2000 that there wouldn’t be ten years from now… like going from 3rd to 7th form twice. His sentiment still resonates: ten years seemed like an impossibly long period of time – certainly time enough to achieve everything and settle into a semi-retired state, basking in one’s own roundedout personality. My ten-year development plan, for instance, involved morphing into some sort of Stephen Hawking–Kofi Anan-Usain Bolt hybrid, excelling in all areas of life generally. Needless to say, my aspirations have since been rationalised somewhat!

There’s a lot that has been done, however, and the stream of updates on fellow students’ achievements is as interesting as it is inspiring and (at times) confounding. George Bridgewater’s world championship coxless pairs rowing gold - not to mention a fourth placing and bronze medal at the two most recent Olympic Games - should win a ‘gong’ for unlikely sporting heroics. George was no sporting rockstar at school which only makes his feats doubly impressive, especially given how physically demanding and intensely competitive his chosen sport is. I can’t wait for the autobiography, George.

Some of us have had careers - past tense intended. In fact when talking to fellow students it’s the invention and re-invention of careers that is the most commonly recurring theme. Edward Cook is a good example: topping broadcasting school, an internship at TVNZ quickly turning into permanent roles fronting for One Sport and Breakfast. He then left that, working in social development with Iwi in the Far North. Last time we spoke he was at

Teachers’ College completing a placement at Onslow College. As at school, it’s both exhausting and inspiring to hear everything Eddy is up to!

I think of Edward in light of the ‘Peter Pani-sm’ criticism of Generation Y i.e.. flakiness, and a tendency to delay rites of passage into adult life. This seems to me like a cursory analysis, The (now typically) crooked career path could equally be attributed a determination to find a meaningful working niche and, of course, the blessing of good education and free employment markets.

That’s not to dismiss at all those whose career path has been relatively straight, however. James Blackett and Arman Kahokeh – to name a couple I know – are now well on their way to becoming fully-fledged surgeons, with Arman beginning his surgery training properly when he returns shortly from volunteer work in Zambia. Like nurses, teachers and firefighters, I am so glad

Personally, I’m currently in Auckland working in a health food business called the Juicery.

I started a career in finance before realising my love of desk work left me after Latin with Kim Tattersall. Sometimes classmates stumble upon the Juicery, most recently Jonathan Doig, Hayden Prosser and Cain Verlinden. Jono, along with Bob ‘World-Famous-in-Auckland’ Voss are starting to build quite the reputation as realtors in the City of Sails. Cain also has a sharp entrepreneurial mind which makes him great for over-the-counter banter. He will be the next Graeme Hart: you heard it here first.

It’s nice up here, but ultimately I’d like to bring the business to Wellington. The capital must be one of the greatest cities around, weather notwithstanding! When in town I try to nip down to Aro Café for a catch up with former athletics coach Mr (Neville) Paul. In his inimitable way he assures me that Wellington College is ticking along just fine. As it was 14 years ago, I would never doubt his word.

OFF IT COMES. (L-R): Matthew Hurley, Michael Rendall and Edward Cook prepare to shave off Headmaster, Roger Moses’ beard after Roger agreed if the school raised $15,000 in the World Vision Runathon. [The beard has not been seen since!]

I’m equally undoubting of Mr Rendall above: Ten years is a long stretch, but perhaps not the lifetime it may have seemed back in 2000. (Incidentally, Michael is currently in Mongolia preparing to run a mountainous high-altitude marathon on the outskirts of Ulan Bator. So, no doubt he’ll soon get a first-hand insight into just how slowly time can pass!). As the years crack on I think one gains an appreciation that the rush to achieve, to be something, is not as urgent or as desperately important as it once seemed: That is the blessing of (relative) old age, Ten years on.

I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of you at the reunion. Roll on 40 years!

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 31

Reunions

The volume of anecdotes I’ve received recently from classmates on their time at school is, well, voluminous. Common themes crop up: uniform checks, canteen queues to rival Metallica concerts, our universal respect for Gary Girvan, oft-quoted student (and teacher) slips of the tongue in assembly, our bankrolling of McDonalds (“MeccaDonalds”), the friendships made, McEvedy, and a pervasive gratitude for what school offered us. I feel gratitude too: mostly for the fact that a long-standing, proudly-traditional boys’ school found plenty of space for students who didn’t fit that stereotype – myself included. As Roger Moses often pointed out, that time at school really was ours to shape.

For a variety of reasons fellow Old Boys will pop up in the media, though thankfully none have had cameos on Police 10-7 (yet). Sam Judd has, for example, begun to form something of a name for himself. Sam is Co-founder of Sustainable Coastlines – a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates massive clean-ups of New Zealand’s coastal landscape. To date over 75 tonnes of waste has been cleared across several large projects. I stumbled over this data when surfing Gareth Morgan’s website only to see Sam had been nominated as a ‘Kiwi Battler’ – a noteworthy community award run through the Morgan Foundation.

Even back in the golden days of 3JH in 1996, Sam had an undeniable mana matched only by his ability to wind up Social Studies teachers.

He, along with about 78 others from the class of 2000 are on my list of people who I’m sure I’ll be bragging that ‘I knew before they were famous’ (if in fact I haven’t begun already).

Wellington Branch Get-Together

Don Adams, Roland Sarten, Peter Conwell

Brian Smythe, Tom Goddard, Bruce Heather

Matthew Beattie, Alexander Yule

Roger Moses, Jono Anderson, Dylan Johnson

John Aburn, Paul Martin

Ken Douglas, Peter Rodger

Stephen Sherring, Alan Freeman, Graeme Steven, Ernie Rosenthal

Dale Renouf, Richard Renouf, Roger Moses

Richard Renouf, Ben Lau, Jono Anderson, Bruce Tie

Gerry Cooper, Peter Rodger, Paul Martin, Dale Renouf, Tony Hayman

Deputy Principal, Robert Anderson surrounded by his former students

Morrie Deterte, John Taylor, Ernie Rosenthal

Rick James, Murray Fergusson, Ted Percival

Glenn Wilkinson, Paul Ferguson

Events

Max Moore, Peter Macdonald

T

he Wellington Branch of the WCOBA held its annual Get-Togther in mid November last year and was reasonably attended by young and old.

Headmaster Roger Moses welcomed the group and updated them with news of the College over the past year. WCOBA President Bob Slade concluded the formalities with his report on the Association news, events and reunions.

32 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

There won’t be a Get-Together in Wellington this year. We will review the format and look at other options for 2011 as the numbers attending are only minimal percentage of the representative of the region and amount of effort and time to advertise and run the event outweighs the actual attendance.

We will be running a Dinner for Old Boys in conjunction with the Quadrangular Tournament in August in lieu of the 2010 Function.

Auckland Branch Get-Together

Peter Taylor, Blair Wingfield

Trevor Speight, Gordon Hedstrom

Rob Josephson, Bruce Waddel, Graeme Lynch

George Gair, Peter Hindle

Mike Ward, Don Abbott, Phil Savage, Lloyd East

Chris Bremner, Simon Hornabrook

Warwick Bringans, Alan Main, Brian Dodd

Events

Don Wilkinson, Gavin Cook

Ross Crotty, Phil Martell, Richard Waddel

Simon Kember, Andy Marchant, Kim Svenson, Andy Archer

Bill Miles, John Howarth, Murray Hunt

Damian Thornton, Paul Hartartner, Mark Hartartner, Brendan Jarvis

A

change of venue and format for our Auckland Old Boys Get-Together brought a good number of northerners from across the city to the Old Boys’ Pavilion at Auckland Grammar School. First and foremost, AGS loaned us their Pavilion free of charge in a reciprocal arrangement which was much appreciated. The Wellington contingent were quite envious of the salubrious surroundings of the AGS Pavilion.

A good number of local Old Boys attended the Cocktail Party and aside from catching up with fellow Aucklanders, had the opportunity to meet and catch up with Headmaster Roger Moses, Development Director, Graeme Steven and myself.

Roger recounted the year’s highlights of the College and the Association and George Gair (1940-41) gave his thanks on behalf of those in attendance.

A very brief meeting was held to vote on the proposal that the WCOBA Executive will in future run the Trust held previously by the Auckland Branch.

The main component will held continue to fund a current Wellington College student to go on the Spirit of Adventure Leadership Course. The

Haddon Speakman, Murray Eaton

Graham Ade, Robt Mann, John Campbell, Warwick Copeland

2009 recipient, Julian Chote has reported on his course further on in this issue.

On a lovely summer’s evening, the atmosphere was very convivial and a pleasure to attend.

My thanks to Mike Ward (1968-71) who brought his camera along and supplied the above pictures.

2011 Auckland Branch Dinner Thursday, 19 November 2010 @ 6.30pm Old Boys Pavilion, Auckland Grammar with Headmaster, Roger Moses.

Would you like a guest speaker?

Suggestions most welcome!

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 33

Manawatu and Horowhenua Branch Get-Together

O

n a crisp spring September evening, fifty-one Old Boys mustered at the Manakau Hotel for the Annual Dinner of the Manawatu and Horowhenua Branch. Attending on behalf of the College were Graeme Steven, Development Director and Stephanie Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer. As misty rain fell, bagpiper Barry Brook of Palmerston North piped us into the warm pub where the fires were going and the intensity of the chatter indicated we were off to another memorable evening.

The Edwardian Manakau Hotel was a superb venue for the occasion with a healthy number of Old Boys having cruised up from Kapiti. However, the Old Boy residing closest was none other than Bob Slade (1954-1958), President of the Old Boys’ Association and champion miler and marathoner who simply jogged up to the pub from just

down the road. Bob had delved into history and informed us that the immortalised Cliff Porter, Wellington College 1st XV 1915 and captain of ‘The Invincibles’ 1924-25 had also patronised the Manakau Hotel as his watering hole when living and playing rugby in Horowhenua 1921-1922.

To reinforce the spirit of Lumen accipe et imperti, an antique oil lamp was lit before the dinner

by Ken Blake (1936-1938) who was the most venerable Old Boy present. Old Boys then stood in remembrance of recently deceased members of the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wanganui districts as recorded in The Lampstand 2009.

Jeremy Cooper (1958-62) recited the Firth House grace before the dinner that was a resplendent offering of marinated hogget with all the best Horowhenua vegetables and wines. A brief AGM

followed before John Hunt (1942-46 and Head Prefect 1946), proposed the Toast to the College.

Graeme Steven responded on behalf of the College and brought us up to date with life at the College in scholarship, sport and cultural activities. The evening concluded with a hearty singing of all three verses and chorus of Forty Years On following which the light on the oil lamp was extinguished by Giles Griffith (1988-91), the youngest Old Boy present.

Lumen accipe et imperti Rob Bruce (1954-58) Convenor, Manawatu/Horowhenua Branch rabruce@inspire.net.nz As we go to print, the 2010 Dinner will be taking place on Wednesday, 15 September so we will have to report on the event next year.

Events

Bay of Plenty Branch Get-Together

A

beautiful day in the Bay greeted the 27 Old Boys and their guests from the greater Bay of Plenty for the lunch and get-together on Monday, 23 November 2009.

After missing having a lunch in 2008, there was much enthusiasm for the new venue, Daniels in the Park overlooking Memorial Park and the Tauranga Harbour fitted the spot. A considerable number of Old Boys tendered their apologies, the oldest being Ken Fraser aged 95!

The Lunch started with drinks and the opportunity to chat amongst old and new friends. We were joined by Rob Anderson, Deputy Principal and Old Boy and Graeme Steven, Development Director. To complement the occasion, the tables were beautifully dressed in Wellington College colours.

cultural and sporting areas, the number of currently available activities for the boys vastly different when most Old Boys were at College! A toast to Wellington College was warmly supported and all-in-all, the Get-Together was greatly enjoyed by those present.

Earlier in the day, Rob and Graeme called in on Joy Drayton - now 94 - who was one of four lady teachers at the College from 1942-1944. Joy went on to become Head of Tauranga Girls’ College for many years and to a busy life in the Local Body area and Arts in Tauranga. She recalled many happy memories from her stint at Wellington College.

Barry Ward, (1948 – 1952) • Bay of Plenty Branch Convenor barry.ward@clear.net.nz • Tel: 07 576 6774

Graeme spoke to the assembled group about the work of the Foundation – how it is fund-raising for the College and the different ways Old Boys can assist.

2010 BAY OF PLENTY BRANCH LUNCH @ Daniel’s in the Park, Memorial Park, 11th Ave, Tauranga

Rob brought us all up to date with life at the College covering scholarship,

Details from Barry Ward

34 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

ANZAC Service, 2010

W

ellington College in association with our Old Boys’ Association was honoured to welcome back 70 Old Boys and friends of the College to our annual ANZAC Lunch and Service on 23 April.

Following the unveiling of Roland Ward’s name on the WW I Memorial Plaques, with his descendants, (Roland’s name was omitted when the plaques were put in place 80-odd years ago), our Old Boys attended the luncheon in Firth Hall, many adorned with their medals of honour from their service, and other younger Old Boys who currently serve with the Defence Force, enjoyed the conviviality before moving to the Assembly Hall for the Service with our current senior students.

The Assembly focussed on Roland, who attended Wellington College for just one year in 1905. He served with the Otago Regiment at Gallipoli and was killed in action on 16 August, 1915.

Two of his three nephews, David, Barry and Graham Ward, and his great-nephew, Mike, all attended Wellington College. The Assembly also paid tribute to Murray Roberts (193336) who subsequently served in the Air Force in World War II. Remarkably, he survived two tours of duty which comprised sixty operations over enemy territory. For his courage, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and this medal of inestimable value was donated to Wellington College by his family, with his nephew Richard Willis making the presentation.

ANZAC SERVICE 2011 Friday, 15 April If you would like to attend the 2011 ANZAC Service at the College, followed by morning tea, please contact the WCOBA Office so that an invitation can be sent to you.

Email: oldboys@wellington-college. school.nz or Tel: 04 802 2537

We have a good number of Old Boys currently serving in the Armed Forces with many on overseas assignments including Afghanistan, East Timor, the Solomons as well as peacekeeping missions around the Pacific, Middle East and Asia.

Events

Guests are welcomed with a Powhiri

The Unveiling by David Ward, son Mike lays a poppy

Wendy Sarten, Jim Galloway, Colin Fenton

Rob McKie , Roland Sarten

John Mills, Donald Stewart, Ted Percival

Guy Randall, Rupert Randall, Derral Barnes

The Head Prefect Team (L-R), Atef Khan, Marcus Playle and Julian Chote advance to the Memorial Window to lay the wreath

Neville, David, Barry and Graeme Ward

Back: Steve Taylor, Rob McKie Front: Rupert Randall, Mike Ward

Guests of the College and the Old Boys’ Association attend the College ANZAC Service in the Assembly Hall THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 35

2010 Quadrangular Tournament

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Events

ellington College took its Quadrangular rugby tournament success run to eight in a row at the 84th Tournament held at Wanganui Collegiate, beating Nelson College 3611 in the final. (Christ’s College beat Collegiate in the losers final).

Wellington’s victory was built on the great forward surges of hooker Josh Nicho, prop Eti Sului, and skilled No 8 Tupou Sopoaga (two more tries - six for the tournament), as well as the hard engine room work of locks Joe Latta and Hoani Te Moana and flankers Josh Leutogi and Jack Wolfreys.

On the evening before the final, the Association held a Cocktail Party for our Old Boys, partners and members of the 1st XV. Members from the 1956 1st XV have become regular attendees at these events thanks to organiser Malcolm Perrett (1952-56) and it was also nice to welcome Greig Bird and Stu Waddel from Christchurch at their second Quad Function. Stu was a member of the 1987 1st XV the team that broke the 15-

year drought by winning that tournament. 2010 Coach, Chris Wells (1971-75) was in the 1975 1st XV and this year, his son Andrew is vice-captain and fullback.

The current 1st XV enjoyed the occasion and meeting our Old Boys, discussing the finer aspects of rugby and the way the rules have changed - let alone the size of the players.

Wellington College will be hosting the 85th annual Tournament next year from 22 - 24 August as the terms and holidays for state secondary schools are changing to accommodate the World Cup. Hence, the 2011 fixture will take place mid to late August. We can confirm that there will be WCOBA Dinner on the layday evening (Tuesday, 23 August) for those Old Boys visiting the College for the event.

Wellington College was well supported by a number of Old Boys who made the trip to Wanganui as well as those who lived locally. A number of senior students also drove up on the Wednesday to lend their support on the sideline.

Marcus Playle, Brian Smythe

Tupou Sopoaga, Greig Bird, Stu Waddel, Rob Anderson

Malcolm Perrett, Steve Phillips, Wilf Vickers

Jack Wolfreys, Steve Phillips, Hugh Perrett

Barry Jobson, Dave Arbuckle, Chris Wells, Bill Eason

Lynn Morrison, Brian Hastings

Bruce Murphy, John Wedde

Robbie Bruce, Josh Nico, Carne Green, Jack Wolfreys, Oliver Lane

John Grocott, Darragh Curley, Joe Latta, Andrew Wells

Alec McLeod, Bryan Shepherd, Kahu Pattison, Wilf Vickers

36 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

The Foundation Freyberg Lecture Series

a knight in space D

ouglas Mudgway (1936-40) was guest speaker at the second bi-annual Foundation Freyberg Lecture held at Wellington College on 14 October, 2009.

A former student, Douglas later graduated with a BSc in Mathematics and Physics at Victoria University. He joined the staff at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as a physicist engaged in radar development.

From 1948, Douglas spent 15 years in Australia and England working in the field of guided missile research and testing.

In 1962, he moved to the United States to work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. He was Manager for the Deep Space Tracking and Data Acquisition of the Surveyor Moon landing spacecraft (1966), the Viking Mars Landens (1976), and for the Galileo Mission to Jupiter from its inception in 1978 until his retirement in 1991.

The topic for Douglas’ Freyberg lecture was ‘Dr William H Pickering KCB’ America’s Deep Space Pioneer’. Dr Pickering was also a student at Wellington College (1923-27).

Douglas Mudgway was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for his work on Viking in 1978, a second award for the Exceptional Achievement Medal for his contribution to the Galileo Mission in 1991.

Paddianne W Neely, College Archivist

Who better to give this Lecture than Douglas Mudgway, good friend, fellow Old Boy, colleague and author of the biography of Pickering.

[Even though William Pickering was awarded with a KCB, his title of Doctor is acknowledged in the USA]

Events

To mark William Pickering’s outstanding achievements, Time Magazine honoured him with a cover picture for the Venus fly-by in March 1963, and again in 1965 for the first Mars fly-by.

William is only one of a handful of notables to be featured on the cover of Time, twice.

Headmaster, Roger Moses points out William Pickering’s name on the Honours Board in the Assembly Hall, with Douglas Mudgway alongside

William Pickering, Wellington College Prefect, 1927

Dr William Pickering, Cosmic Ray Researcher, CIT, 1937

If you would like a copy of the booklet on William Pickering, produced in conjunction with the lecture given by Douglas, please send $5.00 to the WCOBA Office. The booklet is an abridged version of the biography written by Douglas and contains many photos and text.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 37

The WELLINGTON COLLEGE FOUNDATION presents The 2011 FREYBERG LECTURE Thursday, 12 May 2011, Brierley Theatre Refreshments from 6:00 pm • Lecture begins at 6:30 pm ‘The wartime relationship between Prime Minister Peter Fraser and Sir Bernard Freyberg.’

by Gerald Hensley CNZM

Events

The third Freyberg lecture will be delivered by Gerald Hensley. Gerald trained as an historian, graduating with an MA in first class honours from Canterbury University. He gave outstanding service to New Zealand as a diplomat, head of the Prime Minister’s Department under both Rt Hon Sir Robert Muldoon and Rt Hon David Lange and as Secretary to the Department of Defence. Gerald’s acclaimed book, Beyond the Battlefield, New Zealand and its Allies 1939-45 explores New Zealand’s diplomatic relationship with our allies during WW Two. Gerald is well qualified to talk about the relationship between New Zealand’s wartime Prime Minister and his general.

Enquiries to Robert Anderson • Tel: 04 802 2528 or Email: r.anderson@wellington-college.school.nz

The WELLINGTON COLLEGE FOUNDATION presents The WELLINGTON COLLEGE FOUNDATION SPORT and CULTURAL AWARDS DINNER Thursday, 14 October, 2010 • Wellington Old Town Hall at 6.30pm • Tickets: $75.00pp The Annual Foundation Dinner showcases the ‘cream’ of Wellington College’s sporting and cultural achievements for 2010.

The Awards recognise: the Junior and Senior Cultural Student of the Year the Junior and Senior Sportsman of the Year the Cultural Group of the Year the Sports Team of the Year Guest Speakers: Tim Brown • Old Boy and All Whites Team Member and John Marshall • Old Boy and new President of the Wellington College Foundation TICKET ENQUIRIES TO: SCAwards@wellington-college.school.nz or Telephone: Katrina Cowie on 04 808 0809 38 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Murdered Balibo Journalist Finally Honoured

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n May this year, Deputy Principal Robert Anderson, three Y13 Media Studies Students and I were invited by Greig Cunningham (1964-68) to attend the commemoration ceremony with family members, held in the honour of his slain brother Gary Cunningham (1961-65).

Gary was killed by the Indonesian army during Indonesian incursions before its illegal invasion of East Timor in October 1975. He was one of the Balibo Five, a group of journalists working for Australian television networks based in the town of Balibo in East Timor.

Gary was born in Wellington in 1947 and grew up in Karori. After leaving Wellington College, he joined the National Film Unit, then the NZBC, where he won an award for filming the 1968 Wahine disaster.

He moved to Australia on his 21st birthday, immediately getting a TV job. As well as filming the conflict in East Timor, he had two stints covering the Vietnam War. His brother Greig, said camera work was his lifelong passion. The one saving grace for us is that he died doing a job that he loved.

Pat McGregor said he had lived for his job and was a fun loving man. Its important to honour him after all this time. We feel just a little bit better now.

Guest speaker, Media Freedom Committee secretary Tim Pankhurst said even though the events happened 35 years ago, it is important not to forget that journalists need support and protection in dangerous war reporting. The Australian Government finally responded to pressure by opening a war crimes investigation into the Balibo killings just last year. The New Zealand Government should show similar courage and commitment, Pankhurst said.

Representatives from Parliament and the Wellington Council attended the ceremony where Mayor Kerry Prendergast planted a pohutukawa. A traditional resistance song from Timor-Leste was sung and a bench bearing Gary Cunningham's name was unveiled.

The Australian Federal Police launched a war crimes investigation into the killings in September last year.

A spokesman from New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the government will be watching very closely to see what eventuates from that investigation before deciding its own course of action. We are interested in getting to

the bottom of what did happen and have raised the issue with the Minister’s former counterpart in Indonesia.

A movie has been made, called Balibo and tells the story of five journalists in their 20s – Greg Shackleton, Tony Stewart and Gary Cunningham from Australia’s Channel Seven; Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters from Channel Nine – and of freelance reporter Roger East, 50, who were murdered after travelling to Timor to investigate their deaths. It is based on the book Cover-Up (republished as Balibo), by Jill Jolliffe.

The ‘Balibo Five’ were killed in the town of that name in what was previously Portuguese Timor on 16 October, 1975 during an incursion

by Indonesian special forces. The official line from the military was that the men were hit by crossfire.

Following the ceremony and refreshments, Greig visited the College and met with Headmaster Roger Moses and Y13 media Studies students and talked to them about Gary’s passion for news reporting and seeking the truth. Greig donated two copies of the Balibo movie; one to the College’s Library and one to the Media Studies Class.

Greig now resides in Melbourne, running a Restaurant. Gary is survived by his son John Milkins, whom he never met. John was adopted at birth and it was only in the past couple of years that John traced his birth mother and discovered that Gary was his father. John hopes soon to visit the College and see where his father was educated.

Source: The Dominion Post

(Left): Robert Anderson and Greig Cunningham, (Right): Greig speaks to our Y13 Media Studies students THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 39

In the News

About 50 people came to honour Cunningham's life, including family members from Auckland, Christchurch and Melbourne. Gary’s Aunt, Pat McGregor spoke on behalf of the Cunningham

family, on a wet and blustery day at Charles Plimmer Park in the Wellington suburb of Mt Victoria.

Visitors to the College

Ian Cassells (1966-70) was the College’s special guest at the 2010 Academic Awards Assembly which acknowledged the College’s top Achievers in the 2009 NCEA and NZ Scholarship Examinations.

In the News

Steve Outrim (1986-89) paid a second visit to the College following his initial launch of his EcoLiving campaign in which the College is looking at ways to reduce the use of lighting and review green issues.

Noel Holyoake (1946-48) and wife Betty paid a visit to the College and enjoyed lunch with Headmaster, Roger Moses. It was Noel’s first visit back to the College since leaving in 1948 and they both enjoyed having a good look around the place.

Richard Doctors (1962-67) called into the College for a tour en route to a reunion at the former Monde Cafe in Majoribanks Street where in the 1960s, musicians sang and strummed their stuff.

Richard has been based in Melbourne for some years now and aside from teaching guitar, performs regularly around the city but more recently has just recorded his first album; Blink. As Richard says I had lots of motivation to write and record my first solo album, maybe a bit later in life than other artists...but then again so what! I got it done and feel like I’ve had a big win in getting it together.

Check out Richard’s CD www.richarddoctors.com or email him to at richarddoctors@gmail.com, and thanks Richard for the copy of your CD for our Music Department.

40 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Even though they are not Old Boys, Lucy Lawless (aka as Zena, Princess Warrior) and Minister of Education, Hon Ann Tolley both paid a visit to the College.

Lucy was invited to speak at testorone-driven Assembly to promote the Sign On campaign and whether it was her charm or her passion, many of the students supported her plea.

Mrs Tolley met with senior staff and the 2009 Head Prefect Team to discuss educational issues and plans to be set by the Government. Over lunch, it was discovered that Mrs Tolley’s father was an Old Boy.

Frank went to Head of Classes

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iving up personal time for others is a quality Frank Crist knows plenty about. The former Hastings Boys' High School Headmaster became involved in a raft of projects which fell into his lap after he retired and was recently acknowledged as a recipient of the Hastings District Council Civic Awards.

Frank has not been one of life’s passengers. I had a go at everything. If I had my time over again I wouldn’t change. It was a wonderful sense of grace, he says.

Anyone who lives to 90 has had a lot happen in their life and Frank is having a rich life.

He grew up in Dannevirke, went to Auckland Teachers’ College and was also studying for a BA at Auckland University. Frank got six ‘blues’ ‘representing the teachers’ college at sport. I played every sport under the sun when I was young - rugby, swimming, athletics, hockey, squash and softball.

Then World War II war interrupted his teaching degree. He volunteered for the RNZAF, got his wings and commission as a pilot officer then spent five years in England flying spitfires.

It worried Frank what to do about the boys who dropped out of school. We could just wash our hands of them, but it wasn’t right. We wanted them to continue in education. He established a school called Akina for dropouts.

Frank has been in Rotary for 45 years and secretary for 21. A former pupil came back to the area as prison manager and, spoke at Rotary on the plight of 70 per cent of prisoners who were unable to read. Subsequently, Frank spent six years teaching maths in prison. I taught one young fellow who had never really been to school.

After 11/2 years he got 38 per cent in School Cert. If I could have had him one more year he would have flown through.

His parents couldn’t have cared less and he’d never been near a secondary school. His result showed that he had a brain. It was a great shame.

The great shame was Corrections Department telling the 30 tutors they were no longer required. It didn’t cost them a cracker, but they wiped it.

Frank received the highest award for Rotary - the Paul Harris award for services to the community.

After the war he was posted to the RNZAF historical branch and wrote up a history of New Zealanders at war.

His special area of responsibility was the night flyers.

Frank was ready to retire in the early 1980s, then his wife died and he no longer wanted to. He carried on teaching until 1984. He later met Greta and they eventually married. We did a tremendous amount of travel. For 15 years we did a major trip every year. We still go to Australia for a month every year, but can’t go any further because of my age.

On a train trip he was sitting next to his former Headmaster at Dannevirke, who had become Headmaster at Wellington College. Frank was offered a job at the College and taught there for 18 years, leaving in 1961.

Sports weren’t forgotten and he played rugby for Wellington from 194751.

Frank became part of a move to start a polytechnic in Hawkes Bay. It took a long time to get this. We had to prove we had the population. Hawkes Bay got a Community College which has evolved into EIT. Frank was a member of the New Zealand Cadet Advisory Committee. It was a wonderful from a discipline point of view. It got kids used to doing what they were told.

He found time for many other voluntary positions. He started the Hawkes Bay Principals’ Association, was in the Hastings subunion of the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union and on the Sir James Wattie Memorial Trust and a member on the Outward Bound Trust.

Frank is not as mobile now, but is not complaining. I’m very lucky to have kept good health and I still have a few marbles rattling around.

Wellington College is always honoured when Frank and his lovely wife Greta return to Wellington College - just recently for the Firth House Reunion and last year for the 60 Years Plus Reunion and the 50 Years On Reunion as well as attending local Hawkes Bay events.

It is very touching see ‘Frank’s boys’ literally sitting at his feet at these events, recounting certain moves and games from past 1st XV matches, his tenure as a Housemaster in Firth House and his general affinity with so many boys while he taught here.

There is a huge amount of love and affection for Frank and Greta and on behalf of the Old Boys’ Association I extend my thanks to them for always

Good judgement pays off

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ongratulations to AMINZ Fellow and High Court Judge, Hon Justice (John) Hugh Williams (1953-57) who was recognised as an additional Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services as a Judge, in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Sir Hugh is current President of the Electoral Commission, having taken on the role shortly after his retirement from his position as Senior Puisne Judge at the Auckland High Court in September 2009, where he was the longest

serving judge.

He studied law at Victoria University, graduating with an LLM (Hons), and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1988. Sir Hugh was appointed as a Justice of the High Court in 1997, after having previously been a Master of the High Court for several years.

Sir Hugh, now of Auckland, was a Palmerston North City Councillor (from 1983-89) and Chancellor of Massey University (from 1990-

97). He was closely involved with the Massey University Council for 20 years. He is a former President of the NZ Law Society, and for many years, chaired the Courthouse Design Committee – the body responsible for the oversight of design of new court buildings. Sir Hugh continues to appear as a judge at the Auckland High Court.

Hugh, captain of the College’s 1st XV in 1957 and instigated the reunion of the 1957 1st XV fifty years on in 2007 at the College where all but two of the team got together - with Frank Crist - to catch up during the Tournament.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 41

In the News

The next teaching post was as deputy head at Tauranga Boys’ College, followed by a step up to Headmaster at Hastings Boys’ High School, where he taught for 20 years. His subjects included Chemistry, Mathematics, Latin and Science.

The civic award was a lovely surprise, he says. Recipients were all given a kowhai tree at the awards. Only this morning Greta came in to say, ‘your tree is growing nicely’.

What an Honour 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours QSM • The Queen’s Service Medal Mr Barry John MANSELL, of Otaki. For services to the community.

Barry Mansell (1950-53) was awarded for his services to the community. He has worked voluntarily for the Otaki community with various organisations as well as running a farm in Otaki Gorge. He has supported the Rahui Rugby Football Club, was a member of the Otaki Lions Club, and has been involved in a number of other organisations. He was also a Kapiti Coast District Councillor for 19 years.

Sir Ngatata Love (1951-54) is invested as a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in November, 2009. Sir Ngatata, professor of business development at Victoria University and a former chief executive of Te Puni Kokiri (the Ministry of Maori Development), received the honour for his services to Maori.

2010 New Year’s Honours ONZM • To be Officer of the said Order: Mr William Lindsay Matson, of Waikanae. For services to swimming.

In the News

Bill Matson (1952-57), received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Swimming.

Bill has been involved in swimming administration at a regional, national and international level for more than 40 years. He was the Chairman of the Wellington Regional Swimming Management Committee for 10 years. He has managed New Zealand swimming teams at international competitions, was the swimming representative on the executive of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, and has been the President of the Oceania Swimming Association. In 2001, Bill was awarded the International Olympic Committee Diploma and in 2004 was awarded the International Swimming Hall of Fame Presidential Honour Award for his contribution to swimming.

In 2009 the Community Trust of Wellington Lifetime Contribution Award was presented to Bill, who has been involved with swimming for 65 years.

QSM • The Queen’s Service Medal Mr Neale Scott Ames, of Otaki. For services to surf life saving.

Neale Ames (1958-61), received the Queen’s Service Medal for services to Surf Life Saving. He has been an active lifeguard for more than 35 years and was instrumental in fundraising for the rebuilding of the Otaki clubrooms after they were destroyed by fire in 1987. He was involved with Surf Life Saving Western Districts for 30 years. He was Chair of the Central Region Coaching and Training School. He was a competition official at national level for more than 15 years and a New Zealand Representative to the World Life Saving Conference in 1978. Neil was also the secretarymanager of the Otaki-Māori Racing Club for 30 years.

42 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

QSM • The Queen’s Service Medal Mr John Shepherd PERKINS, of Wellington. For services to radio.

Jack Perkins (1954-58), having been appointed originally to the public service, Jack was soon working in the New Zealand Broadcasting Service, the forerunner of the NZBC, and today’s Radio New Zealand.

During those fifty years of public service, he has shown phenomenal skill in documentarymaking, and amassed a body of work which profiles the way in which New Zealand has changed. Jack was featured in the 2009 Lampstand, being recognised for life-time services to national radio and his love of cricket.

Royal Society elects Professor Vincent Neall as a Companion The Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand has elected Professor Vincent Neall (1960-63) from Massey University as a Companion. The title of Companion is an honour recognising outstanding leadership in science, and contributions to the promotion and advancement of science and technology in New Zealand. Vince has taught earth science at Massey University since 1973 and is one of New Zealand’s leading experts on volcanoes.

The President of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Dr Garth Carnaby, said the election of Professor Neall as a Companion was formal acknowledgement of the significant role he had played in the regional science centre movement and his many contributions to community education about hazards associated with volcanoes. Vincent has achieved a high level of recognition in communicating and interpreting science to the wider population at all levels over many years. During his career he has given hundreds of public talks and advised the Department of Conservation, Civil Defence and regional councils on volcano hazard management. We are very pleased to recognise his many contributions.

The Award of the Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand was introduced in 1999 and there are now 29 Companions.

Academia Ben draws on his strengths

Outstanding Student - five times over

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ongratulations to Jack Dunn (2006-09) who was just one of three students nation-wide to receive five Outstanding NZ Scholarships in 2009.

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Victoria University scholarship has helped Ben Allnatt (2004-08) pursue his love of drawing and design, as he studies to become an architect. Ben was among ten high-achieving students from Wellington College awarded first-year Victoria Excellence Scholarships, each worth $4,500 for study in 2010. The scholarship has been really helpful - I’ve been able to begin my studies without a student loan - I’m enjoying getting stuck into architecture, he said.

For his efforts, Jack will receive $30,000 towards his studies during the next three years.

- he’s at Auckland University to study for a double degree in Science and Engineering.

Jack’s outstanding marks were in Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, History and his favourite subject, Calculus. He is the first student from our College to achieve five Outstanding Scholarship passes.

The 2009 Dux, Stewart Marshall (2005-09) achieved four Outstanding Scholarships, in the subjects of Mathematics with Calculus, Statistics and Modelling, Accounting and Economics.

I’m thoroughly enjoying Architectural Studies, particularly the drawing, which I’ve always liked.

I did Y11 Graphics but didn’t pursue it as a school subject because of extracurricular commitments.

Stewart is now studying at Victoria University in his major areas of interest – Accounting and Computer Science.

Inquiring Mind

During his time at Wellington College, Ben excelled in Music and cultural activities, singing in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Choir, as well as three of the College’s Choirs and playing piano in the Jazz and Concert bands. Old Boys may recall Ben as one of the lead singers in the College’s Chorale who regularly performed at our Old Boys’ Reunions.

Last year, Ben had the opportunity to see great architecture up close, when he as based in London as a teacher’s assistant on his GAP year at Eltham College.

Bit of a Coincidence

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fter attending Wellington College, Tim Catchpole (1990-94) went to Victoria University. He is now based in Dallas, Texas.

Coming out of College, my favourite subjects were Biology and Classical Studies and unfortunately I didn’t see much of a future in Classical Studies so Biology seemed to be the way to go.

After University, I worked in a Petone-based Biotech Company for five years which made me realise that post-grad study in the field was the way to move beyond technician positions, so I moved to Dallas to begin my PhD. The lab I am in focuses on a family of cellsignalling molecules termed the Ephs and Ephrins and I’m interested in the role they play in the adult production of neurons in the brain.

The field of adult Neurogenesis is a fairly new and intriguing one, as the ultimate purpose of adult neurogenesis is yet to be discovered.

There are strong hints that it relates to memory and learning.

My plans for the future are undecided at this point. I feel like I’d like to move into a lab that is more focussed on a specific disease than more generalised research. I have quite a lot more to accomplish in this lab before moving on though and I do hope to stay in the States. Come what may, I do feel that the education I received in New Zealand prepared me well for tackling work in the US system.

Finally, to any students interested in Science, I would tell them to get ready to make absolutely no money for a very long time. The rewards appear to be in never quite knowing where you research will take you.

Reproduced with thanks to Wellesley College’s ‘At the Bay’ Magazine.

W

hen Andrew McIndoe (2005-09) was awarded the Oscar and Victor Gallie Scholarship at the end of 2009, little did he know that he was following in the footsteps of his uncle Jonathan Schwass (1974-78) who won the same scholarship in 1978. (We are not sure how often a coincidence like this happens, so it’s something we must investigate).

Jonathan went on to Victoria University and then was a journalist for many years (notably at Radio New Zealand, where he fronted Checkpoint) but now works in foreign policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, Andrew is at Auckland University studying Law. Andrew picked up four outstanding NZ Scholarships; in Classical Studies, English, History and Latin (he was in fact first in New Zealand in Latin). He also won the Sefton Adams Essay Prize, the Wakelin Prize for Creative Writing and the John Beasley Award for contribution to Cultural activities. Winning all those awards and scholarships has paid off - by assisting Andrew with his course fees.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 43

In the News

Ben still makes time to call into the College and help out in the Music Department with Chorale practices in particular.

Remembering his Grandad

A Tribute to Lord Freyberg’s Grave

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uring a visit to England last year, I paid a visit to the grave of Lord Freyberg. Bernard Freyberg (1898-04) is indisputably our greatest Old Boy. He is buried at St Martha’s on the Hill Church, just outside of Guildford. There is no road to the Church, but a well-worn walking track. The Church is a popular place for walkers to stop, pour a cup of tea from their thermos flasks and admire the magnificent views of the Surrey countryside.

A few years ago, I read how a World War II veteran returning from a reunion at Monte Cassino paid a visit to his General’s grave. He was alarmed at the state of disrepair in which he found the grave. Obviously, the simple grave has undergone extensive refurbishment since then. It lies beside his wife Barbara’s grave and alongside the grave of their son Paul. On the grave, I left a poppy and a brief message on behalf of all current and past students and staff members of Wellington College.

Robert Anderson, 1969-73 • Deputy Principal

W

hen Gordon Garwood (1959-61) arrived in Gallipoli for this year’s ANZAC Day he revived a family tradition that ended 50 years ago with the death of his grandfather.

Gordan, of Te Horo, was one of 22 New Zealand military veterans chosen to attend ANZAC Day commemorations in Turkey. Ninety people applied for the trip organised by Veterans Affairs New Zealand.

In the News

Gordon's grandfather, Edgar Saunders, fought at Gallipoli. He died in Wellington in 1960, aged 71.

The veterans were chosen in a ballot to form part of the official New Zealand contingent.

They joined a group of MPs, Defence Force personnel and students. To be eligible for the ballot, veterans had to have a direct family link to someone who served in the Gallipoli campaign and they must have served as a member of the New Zealand Defence Force.

Gordon, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, could not believe he was picked. It will no doubt trigger memories from Vietnam – guys who didn't come home, those who were wounded. This trip will help me heal and go some way towards resolving some of those issues.

This year's Anzac Day will mark the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, the start of an eight-month campaign that cost the lives of more than 2700 New Zealanders.

They are the lost ones, lost but never forgotten.

The only sign they were ever at Gallipoli is the inscription of their names on the monuments scattered across the steep hills and plunging gullies where they fought and died, often left behind where they fell or hurriedly buried with no markings.

Of the 2779 New Zealanders killed at Gallipoli, 1900 have no known grave, worsening the grief of those left to mourn and remember them.

44 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

A Little Known Fact of Freyberg

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ellington College has had many distinguished Old Boys over the years both in the community and in the Services during both Wars. One of the most distinguished Old Boys would be Sir Bernard Ferguson, leader of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Forces during WWII. I was a student when the then General Freyberg visited us at a special Assembly in July 1943.

One likeable character at the College was Mr Brodie who was known to everyone as ‘Tib’. Tib was a staff member when Freyberg visited College.

He was invited by the Headmaster, Mr Hogben to introduce Freyberg as our guest speaker.

Tib started his opening comments by referring back to Freyberg’s school days.

It was during a morning Assembly, the then Principal Mr JP Firth announced that it had been reported to him that three boys from Wellington College had broken a Chinese fruiterers window.

Could the boys involved please report to the his

study after Assembly.

Freyberg was the only boy to report as the other two boys were absent from College that day. Firth told him that if the other two boys didn’t own up after Assembly the following day, he would cane Freyberg in front of the whole school. Still no mention from Freyberg of the other two names still absent that next day.

So it is now College history that Freyberg was caned in front of the whole school without a murmur.

During Tib’s opening comments and while he was telling this story, Freyberg had a very stern and determined look on his face. He was a great man and I will never forget that special Assembly that came as a real surprise to all of us.

As told by Merv Crocker (1942-46) in a letter he sent us recounting his memories of Wellington College.

Man for All Seasons

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n the 2008 Lampstand, we featured a book written by one of the College’s permanent relievers, David Grant – Field Punishment No 1 – the story of Archibald Baxter, Mark Briggs and New Zealand’s anti-militarist tradition.

David’s latest book, due to be published on 6 September is a lot closer to home and Wellington College as he has written the biography of Old Boy, Ken Douglas (1949-53). Ken was appointed to the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) in 1998 and is just one of 20 living New Zealanders who holds that honour and our only Old Boy. In some respects that is remarkable because for decades, Ken was an outspoken leader of the communist Socialist Unity Party. But he is best known as a leading trade unionist and was been committed to and concerned with the working conditions in New Zealand for over 30 years. He not only made a significant contribution to the trade union movement in New Zealand, but is also respected within the movement worldwide.

He began his trade union career in 1959, when he was elected as the President of the Wellington Drivers’ Union. He then went on to be the elected Secretary of the Wellington District Council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour and consequently became the Secretary of the national body. In addition, he was the Foundation President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU) and gave 12 years of service to the organisation. He was re-elected as President twice and represented the CTU on the Taskforce for Employment.

He also represented the New Zealand union movement in a number of international union bodies. He was President of the Asia-Pacific Regional Organisation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and was on the executive board of ICFTU. He was President of the International Centre for Trade Union Rights and served as a substitute Worker Representative on the International Labour Organisation governing body. He has also been an Advisor to government delegations at World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conferences in Singapore and Seattle.

In the News

Other organisations that he has been involved with include the Prime Minister’s Enterprise Council, the board of TRADENZ, the Todd Foundation, and the board of the Asia 2000 Foundation.

Ken Douglas has been a Member of the Council of The Institute of Policy Studies, the Industrial Relations Centre at Victoria University of Wellington, and the Institute of Strategic Studies. He has also sat on various committees and boards dealing with technology, training, and employment issues, and is an elected counsellor of the Porirua City Council.

In 2000, Ken was awarded an honorary doctorate by Victoria University – a long way from the four per cent he scored in his second attempt at School Certificate Mathematics in 1952. He has come a long way from his days as a student of Wellington College (1949 53); the 1B Rugby Team, the 2nd Hockey XI that won the Wellington 4th Grade Championships, the winning Intercollegiate Senior CrossCountry Teams’ race and winner of the senior mile handicap race.

He has been involved in many sporting organisations over the years.

He has been a Member of the Titahi Golf Club for 30 years and is currently President and is a Member of the Porirua Softball Club.

He has been involved with the Titahi Bay Rugby Club (now Northern United) since the 1960s as a player, coach, and as an active member of the Management Committee, helping the club to merge with Porirua Rugby Club to form Northern United Rugby Football Club.

David’s book, Man for All Seasons: The Life and Times of Ken Douglas will be launched by the Governor General, the Hon. Anand Satyanand in the Brierley Theatre at Wellington College on Monday, 6 September. The book is on sale at all good bookshops for $45.00 which represents excellent value for its 470 pages including footnotes and close to 100 illustrations.

Ken Douglas celebrates the award of the Order of New Zealand at Government House in January 1999 with his family. Back (L-R): Helen, Peter and John Douglas. Front (L-R): Jane Douglas, his partner, Marilyn Tucker, Ken Douglas and Elizabeth Knox, Jim Knox's widow who was present to hand over her late husband's ONZ to Ken. THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 45

The Horse Whisperer

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Janine Sudbury are involved in the corporate stuff and are increasingly hosting corporate leadership workshops on their property.

It includes function rooms and cottage accommodation. For the past two years they have hosted groups of managers from several big companies including NZ Post, Transpower and ASB Bank, teaching them about true leadership. Corporate managers, used to commanding respect, face much less deferent opponents in Andrew's horses apparently natural judges of leadership skills - and learn to get the best out of something much bigger and stronger than themselves.

hen it comes to teaching respect, people are harder to train than horses, trainer Andrew Froggatt (1987-91) says.

In the News

As a boy, Andrew's first experience of horses was on his grandfather's Ohariu Valley farm.

He would visit on weekends and holidays, every spare moment he had, and was drawn to the few work horses and race horses kept there. It was there in the valley, on neighbour's farms, he first saw horses broken in, and it affected him deeply. He remembers watching workers trying to dominate the animals physically, riding a horse with one of its legs tied up, or tying together all the horse's legs and leaving it struggling, terrified on the ground. It was all about breaking their spirit, and a lot of the time by pain and fear, he says. Even as a boy he knew it was wrong, and couldn't help putting it right when he got the chance. When Andrew saw the men driving off after tying the horses' heads to their own tails, leaving the creatures to desperately lead themselves round in circles for up to four or five hours at a time, he would sneak in and untie them. I just hated it. I've always hated it. I sort of always knew in my head that there must be a better way out there.

That better way was horse whispering, a radically different and gentler approach to dealing with problem horses, and the way in which the 36-year-old now makes his living. Based on a 50-acre property in Peka Peka, Andrew has run his horse whispering business, Talking Horses, for eight years. Instead of physical domination or the inflicting of pain, he establishes a trusting and respectful relationship with the animals, and projects his calm, laid-back attitude on to them.

I always had a pretty quiet, gentle way with horses. I'm naturally pretty laid back and relaxed, and very, very patient.

As such he doesn't mind spending three or four hours getting a reluctant horse into a trailer, finally achieving what a frustrated owner or trainer might never get done. But does he actually whisper? Oh yeah, people think 'horse whispering', I'm just going to whisper in their ear, and that always makes me laugh. No, it's more a marketing term now, but what they mean by that is just somebody that can read and understand horses.

After growing up in Khandallah and attending Wellington College, Andrew tried his hand at landscaping, before heading to Australia for a horse business management course where

46 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

You could get the Prime Minister out here and the horses aren't going to give a stuff who he is or what he does. You can't buy horses. They give you pretty much 100 per cent honest, immediate [feedback] on your leadership style.

he came across horse whispering. Like people, horses suffer from a range of emotional and psychological problems.

There are the emotional wrecks out there that won't stand still, the pacers - horses are big worriers - and there ares the ones that need their confidence built up. And while there is clearly more to it than he lets on, at a basic level the technique is to inspire calm and confidence in the horse, while still keeping control.

We talk about them being an emotional mirror of us, so in terms of energy levels, high energy people can create high energy in them. If we're too timid or project a bit of fear they're going to pick that up and think, 'Yeah, I've got this person'. There's also reverse psychology, and sometimes you need to get tough, he says, but fundamentally horse whispering is pretty simple.

I just try and get them to like me, he laughs.

After helping thousands of horses back to happy, manageable states for clients all over the country, Andrew is now changing direction.

He's moving more into race horses - where the money is, he says - helping horses with starting-gate problems and the like, as a cheaper and better option than the knackers yard for owners trying to get the best out of troubled but potentially good runners. He and partner

Another on a two-day leadership programme was All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen, a bloody character and a race horse owner who thought he knew a thing or two about horses. He left admitting he knew absolutely nothing about them, Andrew says.

There is also the work with disadvantaged or difficult kids, in the past with the Epuni Boys' Home, and currently a pilot programme with Child Youth and Family. The aim is to get kids respecting the horses, hopefully earning a bit of respect for themselves.

At the moment, Andrew's just getting on with working through another cold and windy winter in Peka Peka with Janine, 18-month-old son Luca, and the family's nine horses.

The ultimate goal is to get his business - and his reputation - to the stage where he can pick and choose the horses he treats, and travel the world doing it. More broadly, Andrew hopes to convince people to have a little more respect for the animals he loves, a proposition that could prove more difficult than building his business.

Horses are easy; people are hard, he says.

Sudbury Fields 101 Te Hapua Road, Te Horo info@talkinghorses.co.nz (06) 364 3064 or 021104 7686

Dig this for a job!

There will be some people out there wondering where Paul Wrigley is these days, none more so than Headmaster, Roger Moses who helped him out in his time at Wellington College and where his education took him.

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fter leaving Wellington College in 2001,Paul Wrigley (1997-01) spent a year in the Trades as a hammer hand for a building company, where he had spent time during each school holiday since he was 14 years old. The company, consisting of a well respected 60-year-oldveteran and his son worked on residential and small commercial carpentry throughout Wellington.

During this year, Paul decided whether he would pursue a qualified trade career or head to university and have a shot at something outdoor orientated. He was always a fan of Geography and did the subject at school so he had somewhere to start - only Geography is one of many 'outdoor topics' available at Victoria University.

A friend convinced him to take up Geology and that was pretty much it. He hung up his hammer and picked up a rock hammer in it's place to see how and why the earth came about.

Geography was not put on the shelf though.

Following a discussion with a fellow classmate, Paul found that he could do a Physical Geography major by adding on one more year to his degree - not a bad thing to ask; two majors in four years.

It took a few months to get his career underway since he was not set on sitting behind a desk every day in some office. While the search continued after graduation, he got in touch with some of his friends still in the construction game and lent them a hand to keep him occupied. This was not to last for long and he has the government to thank for that.

Transmission Gully is a debated topic as many Wellingtonians know. Following the geotechnical investigations getting approved (along with other works) and the tenders let for contractors to take on the big job, there was all of a sudden

Each February from 2006 to 2009, Paul would help out Victoria University with their thirdyear Structural Geology field trip and tell the students what's what and help out with running the camp. With the formal university education completed for him, it was great to see the next class(es) take the light that was passed on to them from previous years with all the traditions that make geologists so famous. In his time after Wellington College, he was able to race in the Pro Elite grade mountain-biking thanks to his brother Josh (1991-95), who now manages a bike shop and still races competitively.

Like many other kiwi's,Paul saw the opportunity to head to Australia and took it. He went from a large company that was Opus to a small geotechnical consultancy called 4DGeotechnics based in Perth. Fortunately, his new place of work has a respected relationship with well known mining and civil engineering companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Calibre Rail, SKM etc. The work is diverse and challenging, given the scale of projects our clients engage Paul’s employer.

In the six months Paul has been in Western Australia, he has worked on two 500km rail projects, drilled holes at the mining ports in Port Hedland and mapped vast areas of the Australian Outback. At present he is working on the duplication for BHP Billiton's mainline that runs

from the Pilbara mining area (Newman Hub) to Port Hedland. The size of the job is inspirational to any person’s career given the $5 billion price that the work is costing. Working amongst civil construction and doing geotechnical investigations is a great reason to get up at 4:30am each day for Paul to understand what secrets the earth can tell him and which issues will come his way from sub contractors. His role is a mix of field geology, geotechnical assessment and project management.

In reflection, Paul did not think that he would end up in Australia as an Engineering Geologist in 2010 when he was just 17, sitting in his Geography class. But he was sure that where ever he ended up after his time at Wellington College, he was going to be happy and proud that his family, peers, teachers and experience in his five years there were a contribution to his current lifestyle that goes beyond just saying thank you.

Paul says that he hopes that his fellow students from the Class of 2001 are out there chasing their goals and making every moment of their career count. One hopes the day will come when we can say to future classes of the College that if they put their mind to it they can accomplish what their heart tells them. I, amongst many others are proof that the saying is not in vain.

I noticed in the '09 Lampstand there is no contact for Western Australia to allow Old Boys to get in touch and so on. I am going nowhere anytime soon, if you want I would be more than happy to be the WA contact.

Paul Wrigley paul.wrigley@gmail.com Note: The photo is of Paul at work, taken at a drill rig for the first phase of Geotechnical Investigations on the Oakajee Port and Rail Development in the Murchison (Mid West) in Western Australia.

Do you love your job ?

Do you have an extraordinary job?

PROPERTY VALUERS and COMMERCIAL PROPERTY EXPERTS...

CAN YOU HELP A FELLOW OLD BOY?

If you feel like sharing your career-story with readers of the Lampstand, please get in touch. It’s always interesting to see and read just what our Old Boys are up to, around the country and around the world.

One of our newer Old Boys is in his third year at Lincoln University doing a BComVPM (Valuation & Property Management) and needs work experience in these industries to complete his degree.

Could you help him out by offering work experience in Wellington (preferably paid to keep his student loan in check) in November/December 2010 and/or January 2011. He has excellent references from previous employees and the Headmaster, but he just needs a helping hand to get the hands-on experience and thus his degree.

Please contact the WCOBA Office if you can help in any way. Email: oldboys@wellingtoncollege.school.nz or tel: 04 802 2537.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 47

In the News

At the end of 2006, Paul’s degree was done and dusted, graduating in May 2007 while his parents were very happy to see their son walk out of university with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Geology and Geography.

a shortage of geologists.

Even though there is no Geology Department at Opus International Consultants, he figured there was no harm in applying for the position of Engineering Geologist.

He was employed by them in August 2007 and spent the next two years working on Transmission Gully alongside drill rigs and excavators along with various projects all the while getting on-the-job training about civil engineering. The highlight in his time with Opus came in late 2008 to early 2009 when he was a lead drilling geologist on a geothermal project in Taupo. In his two years with Opus International, he saw plenty of New Zealand and was reminded how fortunate we are to have so much at our doorstep.

The Cutting Edge

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In the News

eteran hairdresser George Janis (194951) was interviewed by the Wellingtonian Newspaper, Editor Joseph Romanos about his favourite restaurant, his days at Wellington College and what Courtenay Place was once like.

Wellingtonian: Is hairdressing a family calling?

Janis: My father was a hairdresser. He was from Greece and when he moved to New York he learnt hairdressing. Then he owned a salon in Sydney. In Wellington he had a salon in Vivian Street, before moving it to the corner of Cuba and Vivian streets.

Wellingtonian: How strong are your Greek connections?

Janis: Well, I'm a New Zealander, though I speak Greek fluently. I have relatives in Greece, on Lesvos Island, and I am proud of my Greek heritage. I always feel an extra warmth towards Greeks and like it when they do well, perhaps at sport. I have been back only once, though I intend to go again.

Wellingtonian: Is Janis a Greek name?

Janis: My father's name was Anthony Tzasnnis.

He changed it in the 1930s because people could not pronounce or spell it.

Wellingtonian: When did you start hairdressing?

Janis: I learnt from my father. I started cutting hair in 1953.

Wellingtonian: When did you go out on your own?

Janis: In 1965. I opened a beauty and hair salon within my father's men's salon.

Wellingtonian: Your main shop is here in the Grand Arcade in Willis St. When did you move here?

Janis: In 1983. Wellington has changed. There used to be a lot of residential housing and factories around Cuba St, but the area is different now. In a business like this you need to be where it's all happening, and this is the end of town that's busier.

Wellingtonian: You have more than one salon, don't you.

Janis: We have had up to four, but currently we have this one and one on The Terrace, which is franchised.

Wellingtonian: You're up on the first floor here.

Do people know you're here?

Janis: We have our regular clientele. Some of them have been with me for half a century, and

are very good friends. We have signs in Willis St advertising our business. You can never be too well-known!

Wellingtonian: Which part of Wellington are you from?

Janis: Our family home was on Edge Hill, at the bottom of Mt Victoria. I went to St Mark's and then Wellington College.

Wellingtonian: How did you find Wellington College back then. I hear it was a pretty tough boys school.

Janis: I enjoyed my time there. I wasn't into the cricket and rugby, and there was no soccer at the school then. I don't know if it was tough. It's just what we knew at the time, and I thought the school was great.

Wellingtonian: Courtenay Place, where you grew up, has changed.

Janis: It's totally different. Before the buses trams were there. There were a lot of stores, such as McKenzies, and Pilalis, in Cambridge Tce, which made sweets. There was the big Wellington East Post office. Now the area is a real restaurant and cafe area, with not that many other shops.

Wellingtonian: What's your favourite restaurant.

Janis: The Green Parrot has always been special for me. It has been owned by Greeks since the 1930s. I first went there when I was in my 20s, and I still like eating there.

Wellingtonian: You're keen on sailing, aren't you?

Janis: I've always loved sailing. I enjoy the water, and being out there with friends. I've been a member of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club for decades.

Wellingtonian: Getting back to hairdressing, how has the profession changed since you began?

Janis: The consultation is very important now. We consult with every client before doing anything else. You have to make sure you're on the same page. People just don't come in and say, "Cut my hair". They are more aware of what they want.

Wellingtonian: Do you still cut hair, or are you busy enough running the business?

Janis: I still try to do a bit. Maybe a day a week. I love hairdressing.

Wellingtonian: Are more of your clients men or women?

Janis: Women are the main part of our business.

We cater strongly for women's styles. At present we have two stylists from England and one from France as part of our team. Colouring is very important these days and we specialise in that area. When my father was in his salon, it was really only cutting.

Wellingtonian: The term hairdressing is a bit of a misnomer.

Janis: Well, we cut hair, but we also do facials, massages ... there's a lot more to a hairdressing salon than just cutting hair these days. The sale of take-home hair products is a big part of our business now.

Wellingtonian: Are men fussier than they used to be?

Janis: Everyone – men and women – are fussier.

Men definitely pay more attention to their looks.

They want it right.

George Janis has four salons in Wellington’s CBD. The Grand Arcade Salon, opened in 1983, is where George is based. The other salons can be found in The BNZ Centre, Queens Wharf complex and on The Terrace.

George has one simple philosophy that he applies both to his professional and personal life: treat others the way you would like to be treated.

With the growth of the GJ Brand, George has been able to channel his energy into motivating his staff and keeping them happy. He says I don’t have staff that work for me, but with me. The staff at George Janis Hairdressing are our greatest asset. After all these years in the industry George is still passionate about hairdressing and the people involved in it.

Arise and Awaken

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eading Maori academic, educator and Waitangi Treaty negotiator, Sir Ngatata Love (1951-54) was officially knighted by Prince Charles in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace late in 2009. Earlier this year, he was interviewed by the Wellingtonian Newspaper, Editor Joseph Romanos.

Wellingtonian: Where did you grow up?

Love: In Wanganui and Wellington. We lived in a state house in Wanganui until I was about 11.

That was during the war years. We used to get milk and meat from the Ratana Pa. Wellingtonian: Weren't you at Wellington

48 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

College with Ron Brierley and Ken Douglas?

Love: Yes, we were in the same bookkeeping class. We were in 3 Special, which was not for especially bright kids! We were kids who couldn't do science or languages. I think we were seen as misfits, but we were very entrepreneurial and creative and thought outside the box. Ken Douglas tells me he finished first in bookkeeping, and that I was second and Ron third. There were only seven in the class, but we've all gone on to be high achievers. Our teacher was Mr Halliday Flea Halliday we called him.

Wellingtonian: What was Wellington College like in those days?

Love: You had to fit in with the model. I played rugby - I was a hooker - swam and boxed. Boxing was compulsory. I enjoyed the fraternity of the College, but not some other aspects.

Wellingtonian: What were your ambitions?

Love: I wanted to be an All Black because I thought you got a petrol station. [Leading rugby administrator] Jack Sullivan worked for Caltex and there were a few All Blacks who had petrol stations.

Wellingtonian: What was your family car?

Love: We had a Ford Prefect. There was my sister and me and our parents. We had no car in Wanganui, but got one in Wellington. It used

Arise and Awaken to be an army car and was khaki, but it was painted blue when we got it. I have a feeling it disappeared out of the army!

Wellingtonian: Your father was active in pursuing Maori claims, wasn't he?

Love: My parents were great political thinkers. In the back of the car, I'd hear countless discussions about unfair things that had been done to Maori.

We never mentioned the treaty much then.

It had been abandoned. My father had some very animated discussions with [Prime Minister] Peter Fraser. There was a commission in 1916 on the Taranaki grievances and it was resolved that there needed to be compensation. That didn't come until the 1940s, when the Labour Government granted £5000 as final and full settlement. I remember my father saying that was insufficient.

Wellingtonian: So in a way you have picked up the torch your father carried.

Love: Yes, very much so. It is an inter-generational thing. My family is directly descended from Parihaka in Taranaki. Our style is not to stamp and shout. We have a temperate nature. You have to be patient and it can take years, decades even. It can take a great personal toll on health and relationships.

Wellingtonian: Would your father be proud of what you have done?

Love: He would be totally proud. We have carried the baton.

Wellingtonian: When did you become involved?

Wellingtonian: What do you think of the standards of Maori health, education and housing?

Love: The situation gets worse. Half of all Maori boys leave school without qualifications, which leads to unemployment. We have children having children. Half our kids are being brought up in one-parent families, usually by a young mother. These issues need to be addressed properly by various agencies.

Wellingtonian: You were knighted this year.

How do you view that honour?

Love: I am in favour of New Zealand being a republic and would have declined the knighthood, except I felt it was recognition for a lot of people I represent and I thought it could give us a lift, add a bit of prestige. I haven’t noticed I’ve been up the front of the plane much!

Wellingtonian: One of your many hats is chairing the Port Nicholson Block Settlement, which has bought the land at Shelly Bay. What plans are for that area?

Love: We are very conscious of the local community. We have a good record as landlords - look at what we have done at Athletic Park and the old Dominion Museum. We are aware of how precious not just Shelly Bay but the whole Miramar Peninsula is. We have to pay our way, so there will be some accommodation, but also restaurants, cafes, parks, cycle tracks and walking tracks. It will be a balance.

Sir John Ilott: 2010 Business Hall of Fame

ir John Ilott (1899-01) was one of six recently inducted into the Fairfax Media Business Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established by the Young Enterprise Trust in 1994 to recognise the contribution of business people to the economic and social development of New Zealand. The posthumous award in Sir John’s instance, recognised him as a founding member of the Wellington Rotary Club where he helped form what is now CCS Disability Action. His legacy lives on in the form of the John Ilott Charitable Trust which still assists literacy, parenting and educational research programmes.

Flicking through the history of Ilott Advertising is like watching black and white footage of New Zealand's unfolding nationhood. With a client list naming Edmonds, Creamoata, Bovril, Dulux, Todd Motors and Watties among many others, it is clear Ilott Advertising took part in forming a myriad of cultural icons. The agency was established by John Ilott senior in 1892 and passed down to his son and grandson. The last Ilott involved in the company, Jack, finally retired in 1982 and the agency was then bought by Ted Bates International.

Jack Ilott passed away in 1999, but not before compiling a history of the agency, and of the Ilott family. Large parts of both books are devoted to his father Sir John Ilott who was a mainstay for 70 of the company's 90 years.

Sir John was born John Moody Albert Ilott in the

It wasn't long before he accompanied John senior on journeys to his lower North Island outposts - by horse and trap, along metalled and unmetalled roads - for weeks at a time.

His love of music led to the love of his life. When the Musgrove German Opera Company brought their Wagner repertoire to New Zealand in 1909, the 27-year-old was struck by Australian singer Hazel Hall. They eventually married in Melbourne in 1912 and returned to New Zealand, where Jack was born a year later.

small Hauraki town of Te Aroha in 1884. John Ilott senior's name is littered through early clippings of the Te Aroha News, both as an advertising coordinator and as Justice of the Peace and arbiter of local disputes. But in 1891 he moved his family south to Wellington where he worked at the New Zealand Times. A year later he became the managing agent in Wellington for the Auckland Star group, and several daily and weekly papers in the South Island, including the Otago Daily Times.

His ad-placing agency soon became a business in its own right, following an industry trend which was spawning advertising agencies worldwide.

The boy who was to become Sir John attended the Terrace School and then Wellington College before going to work with his father in 1902.

The couple's second child, Mary Elizabeth, had spina bifida and died after three months. Suzanne Ilott, who was born in 1926, eventually married Ian McKellar and moved to England in 1953.

Having taken over as chief executive in 1917, and with his father's death in 1919, Sir John was eager to extend the Ilott network and persuade British corporates to trust him with their New Zealand bookings. In 1922 he spent six months on a reconnaissance visit to the United States, Canada, Britain and Europe. But it was another five years before he opened a London contact office, which helped maintain working relationships in an age when letters took a month to travel the high seas.

Advertising suffered through the depression and war years: paper shortages meant newspapers were whittled down to six pages. Income in 1934 Continued on page 53 THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 49

In the News

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Love: I was doing research on business and entrepreneurship at the University of Hawaii in 1975 when I got a call from home that maybe I could come back and look after this side of the fence.

Wellingtonian: There's been increasing acceptance over recent years that Maori grievances need to be settled fairly. When do you think the tide began to turn?

Love: Jim Bolger was vital. His wife had taught kids from Parihaka, and he understood the situation. Doug Graham [Minister in Charge of Treaty Negotiations] got the publicity for his work, but he would have struggled without Bolger.

(continued)

Getting a Head Start

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s senior secondary students enter the final half of their last school year, for some it means the end of their reign as head of school. As the Dominion Post discovered, head prefects often do, as teachers preach, go on to greatness.

For one year, head prefects are the stars of their school. Elected by students and adored by teachers, they take on a role that mixes management and politics with a dash of celebrity.

But what happens when their year ends? Being able to write ‘head prefect’ on a resume is always going to look good but does the experience help set you up for success later?

In the News

Two of our former head prefects were interviewed for the article: Tanemahuta Gray (198892), Wellington dancer and choreographer was not only Wellington College’s first Maori head prefect, he was also the first to be a dancer. When it came to staging his ambitious show Maui: One Man Against the Gods in 2005, being head prefect helped open the doors which saw three other former head prefects from the College involved in the production. Tane said he thought it may have even helped getting fellow Old Boy, Sir Ron Brierley on board, who helped fund the show.

Being head prefect was also a chance to hone public speaking skills. You had to be a bit charismatic and you had to be able to deliver a good speech, says Tane. Students are one of the hardest audiences. If you said anything that was a bit off the line, the whole audience would just go ‘wah, wah’. It could be really harsh.

The role can be character-building.

The late Richard Heron, head prefect in 1954, was the son of HA Heron who was Headmaster of Wellington College at the time. It was a live-in position so Richard would have to walk down the driveway every morning, dressed as Head Prefect of Rongotai College, to face his school’s arch rivals coming the other way. He later became a sometimes controversial High Court Judge. His son, Michael Heron (198084), became head prefect of Wellington College in 1984 and is a now an Auckland lawyer. He muses that there might be some link between the disciplinary side of the role and his work later as penal counsel for the Crown, the Serious Fraud Office and the SPCA. But he has cautionary words about being a head boy. It was a really good experience but it did slightly distort your own view of your own importance. You were given a lot of responsibility and power and probably weren’t quite cognisant of the impact that you might have had on others. It fosters self-belief and confidence but there is a flip side to it, he says.

It only lasts for a year. You can get brought down to earth with a thump at your fist year of university.

This year’s Head Prefect, Marcus Playle has had a dazzling impact on both students and teachers at the College. Marcus is one of those multi-tasking, multi-talented young men, seldom seen but in this case, Marcus’ presence on the stage, in

the debating chamber, on the rugby field and most importantly in the classroom portrays a young man keen to be involved in all aspects of life and has proven to be one of the more recent popular choices of head prefect by staff and students.

Marcus’ speaking prowess has seen him recently selected as part of the Wellington Regional Debating Team (he’s been in the College’s Senior A debating team for two years), and is also a strong public speaker; having been both the Senior and Intermediate Speech Champion at College as well as speaking on a number of public and civic occasions including presenting at the SPARC and Hurricanes Regional Sports Directors Conferences, a number of Rotary events (including the annual Goal Setter Awards Evening) and giving a reading at the National ANZAC Service (broadcast live on TV).

Next year, Marcus plans to go to Sydney or Auckland University to study Law and Commerce and has hopes of pursuing a career in either Law or Administration Marcus says, my experience of being head prefect this year has been both a privilege and an honour. Wellington College has been a big part of my life for the last five years and to have had the opportunity to be Head Prefect is something that I’m incredibly thankful for. It’s undoubtedly been a pretty full-on 12 months and not always smoothsailing but I can honestly say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all that’s come with the role. It’s a great school and a pleasure to be a part of, especially in such a meaningful capacity.

A 360° Approach to Sport Management

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ike most Term two students at Australia’s International College of Management, Sydney, Wellington College graduate and Darryl Courtney-O’Connor (1962-67) scholarship winner, David dela Cruz (2005-08), was ready to apply his coursework to the real world during nine months of paid Industry Training. But, unlike past industry training candidates, he was ready to take the experience to a new level and, along with two classmates has started up his own sports management company.

guidance in the areas of trademark, market research, finances and servicing international clientele.

David adds, It is a great feeling to get up in the morning and be in charge of your own success.

It puts in a level of pressure, but it can also be great motivator when deciding how to maximize the day.

David is now three months into his industry training experience and the launch of 360˚ Sports, which offers clients tailor-made competition asset and event management, is well underway.

of the College staff has been really encouraging.

The whole team is behind us. It really helps me stay motivated and keep taking steps in the right direction that will establish and grow the business.

David, who already had successfully run his own event company in New Zealand, has taken on the role of Sales Director, focusing on the fiscal side of the business. David adds, I’ve run my own business before, but it was through school and many of the steps were laid out for me. Every day now we are learning by doing. The support

Recently, David and his partners met with ICMS Managing Director Frank Prestipino to discuss their progress. Mr Prestipino emphasised the importance of creating your own value in the marketplace. As a part of their research the group also solicited the services of the Business Enterprise Centre where they were given

50 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Each year ICMS offers one Wellington College student a scholarship to study a programme in Event Management, Hospitality Management, International Tourism, Property Management, Retail Management or Sport Management, through the Darryl Courtney-O’Connor Scholarship. David is the fourth recipient from Wellington College to benefit from Darryl’s generosity.

Find out more about 360 degree sports by visiting their website http://www.360sports.com.au/.

More information about ICMS is available from the website www.icms.edu.au

God made only water, but man made wine

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im Preston, (1974-79), a Firth House boarder left Wellington after finishing his schooling to follow his family who had moved to Tauranga a year earlier.

seeking greater complexity, and the ultrapremium ‘Mills Reef Elspeth’ for wines of uncompromising quality and elegance.

Testament to this pursuit of excellence, as Tim points out, are ‘the six Elspeth 2007 vintage wines currently on release which all boast Gold Medals or 5 Stars’ and the Mills Reef Elspeth Syrah rated ‘Classic NZ Wine’ which he says of the grape variety is producing a truly unique style and we’re anticipating will be the next big thing on the international wine platform for New Zealand.

He embarked on a horticultural cadetship in the kiwifruit industry, and the following year joined his father Paddy to pursue a venture in winemaking, along with brother Warren who looked after marketing and sales.

Together, they forged a very successful family business producing the award-winning Preston's Kiwifruit Wine, with the Japanese quickly becoming a major market for the wine throughout the 1980s.

By the late 80s, the challenge for Paddy and Tim to make grape wine was evident and in 1989 the family established Mills Reef Winery. In the 21 years since, the father and son winemaking team have established Mills Reef as one of New Zealand’s premium labels, achieving significant critical acclaim including twice ‘Champion New Zealand Winemaker’, sixteen wine trophies and numerous medals in competition.

While Mills Reef Winery is found in Tauranga, the vineyards are located in Hawkes Bay. Tim says they have a specialist focus on red grapes grown in the renowned Gimblett Gravels, an inland district forging an enviable international reputation for top quality Bordeaux-varietal reds and Syrah. And equally as important, produce a selection of fine white wines from cooler coastal vineyards ideally suited to these varieties.

Mills Reef produces wines under three ranges: the premium ‘Mills Reef’ made in a fruit forward style for early enjoyment, the super-premium ‘Mills Reef Reserve’ for serious wine appreciators

Outside of work, Tim says his two eldest children currently live and work in Melbourne, while his youngest son Ryan is at school and very active in sport. Hence time is devoted to supporting Ryan around the country with rugby, surf lifesaving and Waterpolo. Otherwise Tim is also a keen outdoorsman and makes the most of Tauranga’s many lifestyle choices, enjoying boating, fishing and golfing opportunities.

What to know more about Mills Reef Winery, contact Tim at tim@millsreef.co.nz or visit their website: www.millsreef.co.nz

Former educator honoured by University

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his mark with students. A few years ago, some Grade 3s I taught in 1964 contacted me and said that the school was going to be 150 years old and that I had to come back, says Richard. He attended that reunion with his wife, and saw 19 former students who all remembered, although I don't know how affectionately, their time with me, he says self-effacingly.

ichard Graydon's (1954-57) long educational career was almost over before it even began.

Born and raised in Wellington, Richard was attending a public boys’ college when he declared he was finished with education for a while. But after a chance meeting at a vocational office, he saw the potential of a career as an educator and the University of Winnipeg is glad that he never looked back.

Richard, who moved here (Winnipeg) in 1972, was recently honoured with the Fellowship in the University of Winnipeg. The award recognises individuals who have provided exceptional service to the post-secondary institution. I was quite thrilled as it was recognition that I really didn't expect for years of service on the board of regents, and chairing it through some very difficult times, Richard says. It was steering the board through those dire times, as well as helping to establish the U of W Foundation, for which Richard was honoured.

Richard moved to Winnipeg after meeting his locally raised wife, Betty Ann who is also an educator, in England. They live in West Kildonan

and have one daughter, Jenny, who has her PhD, and another daughter, Heather, currently studying for her own.

After two years at Faraday School, Richard was promoted to vice-principal, which I found extraordinary after only two years in the country, he says. That led to a career as an administrator at various west Winnipeg schools like Gordon Bell, Isaac Brock and John M. King School.

While Richard considers himself a better administrator than a teacher, he clearly made

Richard received a pedagogy degree from the University of Manitoba and eventually BA from the U of W, where he says he greatly enjoyed his time.

I owe a great deal to the U of W, and when the opportunity came to sit on the board it was one way of paying back the debt I owed them for the wonderful treatment they have given me, he says.

Richard, who retired in 1997 and keeps busy with volunteer work, says the key to being a good administrator was his view of how things should be run. I always believed, and I used to tell my teachers, that I am a teacher under contract, who happens for the time being to be in an administrative position, he says. That created a feeling, for me at least, of being the first among equals.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 51

In the News

Tim, during his early years in Tauranga, also played rugby at both club and Bay Of Plenty representative level. He met his wife Linda in the Bay. She is also active in the family business, and together raised three children now aged 23, 21 and 17.

In recent years, Tim has taken over the reins of Chief Winemaker, allowing Paddy to enjoy a more leisurely pace of life, while teaming up with fellow winemaker Paul Dawick as they continue the family tradition of creating fine wines. However Tim comments that Paddy is still regularly in the winery, which is great because he is so passionate about wine.

Mills Reef’s beautifully designed art-deco style winery in Bethlehem, Tauranga, boasts full winemaking facilities, a restaurant and tasting room, all set on 20 acres of spacious grounds. Tim says it’s been a great marketing arm for the brand to showcase our wines. Open seven days for lunch and wine tasting, the winery restaurant is also extremely popular for weddings, conferences and functions.

Our Flying Ace

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arlier this year, the Wellington City Council forwarded on to us, a letter (reproduced at the right) the Mayor received asking for recognition to be given to a former citizen and war hero - Arthur Coningham (1909-11). We have yet to hear whether the Council will carry out the ‘suggestion’ by the writer but we thought we would share the letter with you and the abridged biography of Sir Arthur.

Air Marshal Sir Arthur ‘Mary’ Coningham KCB, KBE, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC, RAF (19 January 1895 – presumably 29 or 30 January 1948) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. During the First World War, he was at Gallipoli with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, where he became a flying ace. Coningham was later a senior Royal Air Force commander during the Second World War, as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief 2nd Tactical Air Force and subsequently the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Flying Training Command.

In the News

Coningham is chiefly remembered as the person mainly responsible for the development of tactical air power, which he developed as commander of the Western Desert Air Force between 1941 and 1943, and as commander of the tactical air forces in the Normandy campaign in 1944. On 30 January 1948, he disappeared along with all the other passengers and crew of the airliner G-AHNP Star Tiger when it vanished without a trace somewhere off the Eastern coast of the United States.

Arthur Coningham attended Wellington College in the early 20th Century (1907-10). He did not have a particularly fruitful time there, with a tempestuous family life failing to provide any sort of stable environment for a young man to prosper. His only success at the College was as a marksman with the shooting team. He left without qualifications and little prospects for career enhancement. He travelled both islands eking out an existence as a farmhand.

the RAF. It proved to be a fruitful decision. He would distinguish himself in WW II as General Montgomery’s air force commander in the North African desert campaigns and later in the war played a leading role in air tactical support

during the D-day operations of 1944. Receiving a knighthood for his services soon after the war, Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham was killed in a passenger airline crash in the Bermuda triangle in 1948.

When war came in 1914 he joined up and went to Samoa with the thousand strong expeditionary force. On his return to New Zealand from Samoa, he sailed for Europe but only got as far as Egypt when a serious bout of illness sent him back home to New Zealand.

Having worked hard to recover his health while back in New Zealand, Coningham paid his own fare to England where, armed with a letter from his school Headmaster JP Firth, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. He soon found he had a knack for both flying and leadership. In 1917, he became a fighter ace with 17 kills and was more than once decorated for bravery. In 1918 he was given command of his own fighter squadron. (92 Squadron out of St Omer). He ended the war as a Major.

The war made Coningham. A return to his pre war life on the farms of New Zealand was never a likely option for a man who had found for himself in war a sense of purpose and meaning.

His future lay in England where he rejoined 52 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Air Vice-Marshal Arthur Coningham (left) and Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Montgomery

All Black cap finally awarded

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hen the Springboks played the All Blacks in July this year, the NZRFU held a capping ceremony for All Blacks of the 1940s and 1950s the evening before. One such All Black to be recognised was Old Boy David [Tim] Mason (1938-41). Sadly David passed away in 1981, but his son Tim travelled from South Africa on behalf of his family to accept the cap. Tim and his son David, visited the College so they could see where Tim Snr spent his school days.

Tim was one of those rare All Blacks whose own fame was far exceeded by that of a non sporting relative. His elder brother was the celebrated playwright and literary-drama critic Bruce Mason (1938). A five eighth or wing from the Wellington College Old Boys club, Tim had a brief career in New Zealand first class rugby.

After serving in the Air Force in the latter stages of WWII, Tim entered first class rugby with four appearances for Wellington in 1946, playing in another two games for the union in 1947.

with a try in a match won by the All Blacks 27-14.

He made his sixth and final appearance for the All Blacks on the return home, in which there was a 14-3 loss to Auckland.

An insurance company executive, Tim, having played only 14 first class matches, then departed for South Africa where he spent the rest of his life. He reappeared briefly at top level by playing twice for Western Province in 1950.

Tim Jnr, (pictured below right) goes on to tell us what happened when Tim Snr arrived in South Africa.

Tim was transferred to Cape Town in 1948 with NZI. He played club rugby for Union Rugby Club and met my mother at one of their socials. They married in 1949 in Cape Town. He went on to represent Western Province (The Stormers, today) in 1950, becoming the first All Black to play for WP (Chris Jack became the second recently).

He was then transferred to Port Elizabeth and

Though not a big man at 1.75m and around 74kgs, Tim impressed with his pace and incisive attacking ability to gain a place in two of the All Black trials held before the tour of Australia in 1947.

In 1958 we all returned briefly to live in Wellington but the South African life was firmly in my father’s blood and we returned permanently within the year to live in Port Elizabeth. My dad was still employed with NZI and formed his own insurance brokerage in the early 1960s called DF Mason and Partners which grew into a very successful business over the years. He was extremely popular and was an astute business man who served on many committees (school, charities and sports clubs) and boards of companies. He continued to excel at just about any sport he took up (except water skiing - shocking!) and represented Eastern Province at both squash and angling. He was also an excellent golfer and one of the founder members of the Eastern Cape Nomads Golf Club (which recently started up in Auckland).

Tim loved the farm life as well and eventually purchased two beautiful citrus farms in the Addo area (famous for it’s elephants) and settled on one of them until his death in July 1981. Tim had a heart attack in 1977 while playing squash and subsequently underwent a quadruple bypass operation in Johannesburg in 1981 but due to complications, he passed away at the Mill Park Hospital on 3 July, 1981 at the age of 57.

My Mom still lives with my eldest brother, Geoff, in Johannesburg while Barry and myself live in Port Elizabeth. Tim has seven grand children and six great grand children, all still living in South Africa.

When I read about the capping ceremony, I knew I had to go over to New Zealand to personally collect it. It was fantastic to be accompanied by my eldest son, David, (named after his granddad).

It remains and always will, one of the proudest moments in my life when I accepted his All Black cap on his behalf.

Tim, as he had done in his All Black debut, celebrated what was to be his only and one test

Sir John Ilott was only half of what it was in 1929, but by 1936 some smart investments had the company back into the black.

Sir John also experienced close calls with death there were at least four occasions where his life could have been cut tragically short. Sir John was ‘desperately ill’ during the influenza epidemic before a doctor's whisky bottle breathed life into him. Then in 1933, he developed botulism and paralysis from eating infected food while in the USA. The other three who had eaten from the same can died but John Ilott was a tougher bird, writes Jack. During the early 1950s Sir John picked up a life-threatening infection after a minor operation but pulled through. But in 1952, the company's 60th anniversary was a time of celebration rather more than it had been ten

(continued from page 49)

years earlier. It was also the year Sir John decided finally to hand over the chief executive post after 35 years. He stayed on as chairman, but had more time for his directorships of outside companies and involvement with charitable and philanthropic organisations.

Gallery and the Dominion Museum. He donated his collection of etchings and engravings to the National Art Gallery, now part of Te Papa.

Sir John was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Wellington in 1921, and as district governor of Rotary New Zealand helped form the New Zealand Crippled Children Society [now CCS Disability Action]. He also served as a director of Rotary International and later as second vicepresident of the international movement.

In 1960, he established The John Ilott Charitable Trust which still provides assistance to organisations for the purposes of improving literacy, parenting, sexual education, women reentering the workforce and advanced training for highly skilled people in the arts and for women's and young children's educational and research projects.

He also chaired the Nuffield Trust until 1971 and the McKenzie Charitable Trust, and he was a trustee of the National Library, the National Art

Sir John was knighted in 1954 by the Queen in Wellington for his services to the community.

Sir John Ilott passed away in 1973 aged 89.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 53

In the News

Tim made the tour as a wing and scored a try on his All Black debut in the match against NSW, though the match was lost 12-9. He later played against Queensland, in the return against NSW (won this time 36-3) and against Combined Northern at Newcastle, in which he scored another try. He was a reserve for the second test at Sydney and came on as a replacement late in the first spell when Wally Argus was injured. By mutual agreement between the two countries the International Board’s regulations on not allowing replacements were at the time waived.

having retired from representative rugby due to a serious knee injury he very successfully coached the Crusaders 1st XV, which won the Grand Challenge. His first son, Geoffrey, was born in Cape Town and Barry and myself, followed.

His music will outlive him

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owards the end of a rich and uplifting life, organist extraordinaire Maxwell Fernie (192427) had but one wish that my work might outlive me.

As well as being a talented organist, Maxwell was a born teacher - conducting choirs and teaching organ, piano and singing. To continue his legacy, the Maxwell Fernie Trust Scholarship was established for young organists with $10,000 to be awarded annually – the inaugural scholarship was awarded in April, 2010 – the first centenary of Maxwell’s birth.

In the News

Thomas Gaynor (2008-09), the inaugural scholarship winner, says that as well as hearing wonderful things about Maxwell, he also has a personal connection. The teacher who introduced me to the organ, Shona Murray, was one of Max’s students. She’s given me her organ music and on some scores you can actually see Maxwell’s markings from when he was teaching her. It’s fascinating, he says.

(L): Maxwell Fernie the teacher (with what looks like, Wellington College Students) (R): Thomas Gaynor plays the organ at the Maxwell Fernie Tribute Concert choir master and organist at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Wellington.

At the outbreak of World War II, Maxwell served with the 2NZEF in Egypt and Europe. At the end of the war he stayed on in England to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, gaining several prizes.

Thomas studies at the NZ School of Music, a centre of musical excellence supported by Victoria and Massey Universities. Playing the organ is an incredible experience. I like the range, volume and colour you can bring out of the organ.

Maxwell returned to Wellington in the early 1950s as the director of music for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese, a position he held until 1953 when he was called back to London as Organist and choir instructor at Westminster Cathedral.

Thomas will travel to Europe as part of the scholarship to learn from other organists, enhance his historical awareness of the instrument and perform on some of the Continent’s great instruments.

After five acclaimed years of intensive organ playing, music making and teaching, he decided to return home, taking up the position of Director of Music at the iconic St Mary of the Angels with its organ constructed to his design.

Maxwell was born in 1910 and was schooled at Marist Brothers in Newtown and then Wellington College. He became a leader in church music while still a young man, taking up the position of

In the following years, Maxwell schooled choirs, taught piano, organ and singing, and trained celebrated musicians. As well as being a wellknown broadcaster and lecturer, he founded

CAN YOU HELP?

The College’s Careers and Transition Department is keen to be in contact with Old Boys who might be willing to provide any of the following: Work Experience for Y12 students in late August each year.

Part-Time Jobs for Senior Students; Give a lunchtime presentation to interested students about your career or business; Come and speak to relevant classes about your business or speciality; Employ (no wages paid) a Senior Gateway Student for one day a week (Wednesdays’) Any further suggestions or inquiries, please contact: Ernie Rosenthal, Careers Adviser at Wellington College (and Old Boy).

HOD Transition, Careers & Tourism; STAR Coordinator and Gateway Manager Tel: 04 802 2536 • Cell: 021 1249 439 • Fax: 04 802 2542 • PO Box 16-073, Wellington or email: e.rosenthal@wellington-college. school.nz 54 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

and conducted the Schola Polyphonica Choir (specialising in 16th Century Polyphony) in 1967.

He was Wellington city organist for 27 years and played the Town Hall's massive pipe organ on numerous occasions for civic receptions and visiting dignitaries, and supervised its restoration in the 1980s. From 1963 till 1988 he taught a new generation of young organists at Victoria University of Wellington, helping to bring about an organ renaissance in New Zealand.

In recognition of his enormous services to music, Maxwell was awarded the OBE in 1974 and received with great pride the papal award pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1989.

He continued as Director of Music at St Mary's until his death on May 22, 1999.

Maxwell Fernie is remembered as an organist extraordinaire, teacher, conductor, and authority on Gregorian chant, sixteenth century Polyphony, organ construction and tonal design. www.maxwellfernietrust.com Source: Victoria University’s Victorious

Karl Urban in ‘Judge Dredd’ remake

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arl Urban (1986-90) is set to be offered the lead role in a new Judge Dredd film, according to reports, and the Kiwi actor says the rumours are ‘looking’ good’.

Film gossip website Bleeding Cool reported Karl, who has starred in The Bourne Supremacy and Star Trek, was set to accept an offer to play the popular comic book character.

The former Shortland Street actor told MTV News he would love the chance to play the iconic character.

He is a phenomenal iconic comic book character, so it’s a world I know and it would be a privilege and a pleasure to be able to bring that to life, he said.

Judge Dredd is based on a graphic novel about a law enforcement officer in a futuristic city,

and was last adapted into a film in 1995. He was played

by Sylvester Stallone. The new film, said to be in 3D, will be filmed in Johannesburg.

Karl played Bones McCoy in JJ Abrams recent Star Trek revamp. He is scheduled to play the character again in a 2012 sequel. He has two films due to come out this year: And Soon the Darkness and Red which also stars Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren.

Karl is best known for playing Éomer in the second and third instalments of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy in the 2009 film Star Trek. He played Vaako in The Chronicles of Riddick and the Russian assassin Kirill in The Bourne Supremacy, and won acclaim for his performances in New Zealand films The Price of Milk and Out of the Blue.

Bad Cop - Good Actor

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uckland might be home to New Zealand's longest-running soap but it's a contingent of Wellington-trained actors including Old Boy Richard Knowles (1991-94), who’s just had a stint on Shortland Street. Richard, also last seen in Wellington theatre in 2008 - in Downstage's The Little Dog Laughed - played badboy cop Doug Morrison.

Richard trained at Toi Whakaari after leaving Wellington College. He is one of five siblings, a twin and a former national Waterpolo rep. His first major role was as a constable in Robert Sarkies' Out of the Blue.

Richard also played a wolf in Rise of the Lycans [the third film in the Underworld series which starred Martin Sheen and Bill Nighy]. Physically, it was the most demanding (wearing 5cm thick full prosthetic suits while walking on titanium leg extensions in the middle of summer with no air conditioning) acting job he’s done, and one of the most fun.

Richard didn’t share too much in common with Shortland Street’s Doug personality-wise, although he completely understood his desire to do the right thing and protect the community.

Unfortunately, it was a huge desire to achieve this that led him down a path of trouble. Richard himself did entertain the idea of joining the cops for a while when he left school.

Richard was lucky enough to travel and experience many different cultures with Waterpolo when playing. A favourite was going to Cuba for two weeks as a guest of Fidel Castro (although he never got to meet him) for a Junior World Champs tournament. He only plays socially now but still swims a bit, which provides a nice counter-balance to the world of acting.

Old Boy becomes World Travel Agents Chairman

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he World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA) held it’s second board meeting for the year 2010 and its Annual General Assembly where the new board and Office Bearers were duly elected. Peter Barlow (1976-77), President of the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand (TAANZ) was unanimously elected as the new Chairman.

His career began in 1978 at the Government Tourist Bureau, and in 1987 he founded his own corporate travel

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Peter is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Travel, and serves as the President of TAANZ (Travel Agents Association of New Zealand).

Aside from his business interests, Peter is a keen sports enthusiast, particularly golf and rugby. His achievements include playing representative rugby for the Wellington NPC team from 1983 to 1986 inclusive, and he was an All Black trialist in 1985.

Generous Gesture Benefits College Workshops

arlier this year Arnold Hansson (1941-44) [pictured right], featured in a television snippet about the Sevenoaks Midlands Gardens Retirement Village in Paraparaumu, where he resides.

Bob Balchin (1943-45) from Queensland saw the snippet and alerted us. Arnold was shown painting the Haast Eagle featured on this page. Archeologists have unearthed some of the extinct bird’s bones near the Wairau Bar. A full size eagle was strong enough to feed on the moa, and had a wing span of 6-8 metres.

Prior to moving to Sevenoaks, Arnold contacted us to see if the College would be interested in his extensive collection of workshop tools and equipment, amassed over many years. Our Head of Technology, Karl White and Development Director Graeme Steven visited Arnold’s house and both were in awe of the extensive collection

of original, handcrafted in many instances and almost pristine condition of the tools that Arnold was unfortunately having to dispose of.

Karl was quite excited about what he could add to the Technology workshops back at the College and many are now being used by our current students, or as examples in teaching lessons.

The remaining tools, not suitable or robust enough for everyday use by the College’s students, were auctioned. Arnold then donated over $5,000 from the proceeds of the sale to the College’s Technology Department. The Department has now purchased a commercial-grade band saw with some of the funds and the remainder will help purchase additional tools and equipment as required. Both the College and Technology Department extends its sincere thanks to Arnold for his generous contributions.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 55

In the News

Peter became company director of Williment Travel Group in late 2004, bringing to the company 30 years of travel industry experience.

management company, Barlow Associates, which later became BTI Barlow NZ, partner of the global BTI group. He sold the company in 2001.

Awesome Adventure thanks to Auckland Old Boys Y13 Deputy Head Prefect, Julian Chote was the 2009 recipient of the Auckland Old Boys’ Branch sponsorship of the Spirit of Adventure Trip.

Julian has filed a report for our readers.

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t is a strange and very special thing to be able to take 40 teens who have never met each other before, put them onto a boat for 10 days, and somehow have them leave all being close friends.

I would say one of the main reasons a voyage such as this was able to be successful is due to the great culture of support, respect, and diligence established by the staff of the ship. One thing I particularly enjoyed from the programme was how each morning we would have a thought for the day, which lifted the morale and helped put us in the right frame of mind. This featured quotes such as It is not your aptitude, but your attitude that determines your altitude. And Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it. At the end of the day we had group reflections which further cemented our learning and added depth to the experience.

Beyond the careful structure and supportive nature of the crew was the underlying necessity for efficient team work, learning and leadership at all times. Phrases such as all hands on deck, learning the ropes, and we are all in the same

boat gained a new level of meaning. I constantly found myself in situations where I had to instruct others on what they needed to do, when I didn’t know what to do myself. Being in a precarious situation like that taught me things about myself that no other position could. As the voyage progressed I did learn most of the ropes, and gained an understanding of the workings of a ship. A few days ago, my shoe laces snapped, and I knew just the knot to tie them together till I got new ones. Moments like these cause me to smile and reminisce, which gains me puzzled looks from those around me. At the end of the voyage I was awarded the Aurora Award for special service towards the success of the voyage. This was awarded with a note of how I was supportive and encouraging towards everyone on the ship.

Memorable experiences on the boat are endless; some of particular note include swimming with dolphins, and walking across Great Barrier Island. Thank you to the Auckland Branch of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association, and to Mr Moses for their very generous support funding my berth on the Spirit of Adventure - I feel it will be of great assistance in the coming year and I will remember and cherish this experience for the rest of my life.

Yours gratefully, Julian Chote

In the News

A Chance Meeting

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t is just amazing how many Old Boys have achieved great things. I had the real pleasure of meeting such an Old Boy recently in Sydney - Professor Gavin Andrews (1944-49), pictured on the left.

Gavin is a charming man, and like so many high achievers, quite modest. He is the Head of Psychiatry at the University of New South Wales, and heads the Clinical Research Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital.

According to the Honours Board in Firth House, Gavin was a House Prefect in 1948 and Head Prefect of Firth House in 1949. He was associated with the College for six years in all. He was forced to have a year off after the third form as he suffered a severe break to his knee. During his year off, Gavin was supplied with books to read by an aunt, who would call in at regular intervals to deliver new books and discuss the old ones. Gavin found this a wonderful way to learn.

The broken knee meant that Gavin could no longer play Rugby so he took up Hockey. He also enjoyed Tennis and thought one of the great things about boarding was the easy access to the tennis courts.

Gavin remembers the Headmaster of the day being Mr Hogben. He has pleasant memories of his Chemistry teacher who encouraged his interest in sciences. A strong memory he has

56 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

of the College is the majestic Assembly Hall with its wonderful stained glass window. In those days the school faced the windows and the staff on stage had their backs to it.

According to Gavin, life in Firth House was good.

It was well run and everyone got along. There was food rationing during the war but the meals were still wholesome and tasty.

While Gavin was in Shell A forms all the way through school, he doesn’t think of himself as an academic. He went along with what his peer group were doing, and all of them have ended up being professors!

On leaving school, Gavin did his medical intermediate at Victoria University, then studied

medicine at Otago University. After that he worked at Wellington Hospital for a time as a House Surgeon. In 1959, Gavin left Wellington for Melbourne to study Psychiatry. In those days Psychiatry was not available for study in New Zealand.

Another major event of 1959 was getting married. Gavin’s wife is also a Wellingtonian.

They have now been married for fifty- one years and have two children and two grandchildren.

Next, Gavin and his wife went to England. He completed a doctorate at Newcastle-on-Tyne and in 1964 was appointed to a position back in Australia at the University of New South Wales, where he has been ever since. While Gavin has been mostly involved in research, he still does a day a week of clinical practice.

In 2006 Gavin was awarded the Order of Australia for his contribution to Psychiatry.

He is also identified in The World of Science (The ICI Most Highly Cited). He says he is pleased other researchers find his work useful.

Gavin’s life has been dedicated to the easing of suffering for the mentally ill and he has achieved an astonishing amount. And it all started here at Wellington College!

Dr Stuart Slater (1960) Guidance Counsellor, Wellington College

The Green Zone

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am Judd (1996-2000) had no idea that a surfing trip to the Galápagos Islands would pave the way for him and a group of friends to establish a charity aimed at protecting seabirds.

Island when a shark bit his thigh. He managed to punch the shark away but was left bleeding and in shock. He clambered 400m along the rocks. His two mates got him to hospital, where a further surprise awaited: one had to run 2km to get money for medical supplies before clinical staff would start treating Sam. He was then flown to Ecuador for further treatment.

After a stint in Chile as an exchange student, Sam decided to visit San Cristobal Island because of its reputation for waves. By the end of the trip, he had seen enough birds, lying dead on beaches, their guts full of plastic bags, to do something about it.

After being named as a finalist in ‘Protecting our Coasts and Oceans’ category in the recent Green Ribbon Awards, Sustainable Coastlines were announced as winners.

On his return home, less than a year ago he had friends help set up Sustainable Coastlines. Since then, they have enlisted the help of more than 6000 volunteers to help with beach cleanups around the country.

The group has worked with the Waitemata Harbour Cleanup Trust, Spirit of Adventure Trust and Keep New Zealand Beautiful Society, and realises the value of working with other organisations to attract big numbers of volunteers.

Last year with 700 people on Great Barrier Island, they removed 2.8 tonnes of rubbish in a day. They found that those beaches facing Auckland city contained a huge amount of rubbish, flowing from waterways and drains.

The exercise was repeated again this year with 1000 people removing 3.1 tonnes of rubbish, and Sam says Wellington is next on the list. The group is hoping to co-ordinate a large-scale cleanup of Wellington Harbour in December and at present is talking to senior management at the College to get our students on board to assist in the clean up.

Sam is probably best known here as the victim of a shark attack in the Galápagos Islands back in 2007. He was surfing on outlying San Cristobal

The awards, held at the Beehive in June, are a Ministry for the Environment initiative that for the past 20 years have honoured individuals, organisations and communities for their outstanding contributions to protecting New Zealand’s environment. This year, 143 nominations were received across 12 categories: reflecting the broad range of environmental challenges that New Zealand faces and the extraordinary range of actions taken to address them.

If you want to find out more about Sustainable Coastlines and more so if you can help in any way, please contact: Sustainable Coastlines Incorporated 17 Momona Road, RD1, Tirau 3484, Phone: 021 058 9349 (Sam Judd) Email: info@sustainablecoastlines.org

Play on Darwin is the write stuff Arthur has just begun appearing on our television screens with his programme Feedback on TV2 – a comedy show about television news. Arthur, who plays a version of himself, hosts a news programme desperate for ratings, has to introduce this absurd piece and then play along as it gets explained.

He’s not the first to find humour in this territory.

Around the world, news reporting has spawned all sorts of hilarious spoofs: the website The Onion, television’s The Daily Show and local show Eating Media Lunch.

Arthur is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: The NZ Drama School and Otago University. Since his first play Mando The Goat Herd was read at the 2003 Playmarket NZ Playwright’s Conference, he has written a steady stream of work for stage, screen and radio. His 2008 show On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover took the country by storm, playing to packed houses, garnering best production of the year nominations and picking up awards throughout the country.

Arthur's musical comedy band The Lonesome Buckwhips were Billy T Nominees and Arthur was chief writer on Live at the Gold Guitars, their recently recorded four-part series for Radio NZ. Other work includes the Young and Hungry commissioned work Yolk (2008), the short film Being John Campbell (2002), which won awards around the country, as did Laughtrack: The

Benjamin Docker Story (2003). Return of the Lonesome Buckwhips (2007) was awarded Best Comedy at the NZ International Fringe Festival, while his play The Cottage (2006) saw him lauded as the Best Newcomer the previous year. His 2006 short film Rangimoana’s Magical Murder Mystery played on the Rialto channel. In 2008 he was commissioned to write Collapsing Creation.

TV has been quite a shift for Arthur, who, as well as staging Helen Clark, won acclaim last year for Collapsing Creation, his ambitious play about Charles Darwin. For a start, the new medium means dealing with ten times as many people, he says. On stage, the writer’s kind of king. You deliver your script - they do your script. Whereas [with television], writing’s sandwiched in this huge collaborative beast which goes all the way from the crew right up to the commissioners. He calls Feedback ‘skit-com’, where the characters are bumped to a late-night slot after a scandal and told they have to ‘rate or die’. And the only way that they feel they can rate is to make the most shockingly exciting stories possible, Arthur says. And the only way they feel they can do that is to pretty much make them up and hope they don’t get caught.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 57

In the News

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he winners of the 18th annual Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards were named, with Aucklandbased Wellingtonian Arthur Meek (1995-99) scooping the major prizes for his production Collapsing Creation. Collapsing Creation raised the bar of fantastic theatre in 2009 winning the Production of the Year award. The show also earned him the Outstanding New Playwright of the Year award and the Outstanding New NZ Play of the Year.

Poetic Tributes to JP Firth

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ld Boy and Wellington poet/publisher Mark Pirie (1987-91) came across some ‘forgotten silver’ recently in the library of the newly formed Poetry Archive of NZ Aotearoa (PANZA).

Mark discovered two poetry books published by colonial poet Robert J. Pope, a ‘Kaiwarra’ (now known as Kaiwharawhara) School Principal and well-known Wellington cricketer (old Star Club and Wellington Club). Robert grew up in Dunedin and was the son of Henry Pope who founded the native school system.

Digging deeper, Mark discovered that Robert’s son RE Pope was an Old Boy of Wellington College and captained the 1st XI Cricket Team in 1898. HA Heron notes this in his published history of the College, saying that R.E. Pope was described in the Wellingtonian as ‘a really difficult fast bowler’ to face.

Robert Pope wrote two poem tributes to the late Wellington College Headmaster and Wellington cricketer JP Firth as well as music and lyrics for a school song. Firth himself was well known for his morning verse recitations taken from the Spectator, and must’ve appreciated the poems and song. In Archives New Zealand, Mark found, among the Robert Pope manuscript books, a hand-written note from JP Firth to Robert:

In the News

My Dearest Bob, It was most kind to send me a copy of your verses, which I like very much. The dedication to me makes me feel very proud… Your generous words will always be treasured and will give me never failing pleasure…

Yours sincerely, J.P. Firth We are delighted to reprint Robert’s poems for JP Firth here: MOURN FOR THE BRAVE 1914-1918 To J. P. FIRTH, E.S.Q., C.M.G. (Late Headmaster, Wellington College) (Published in the NZ School Journal) Mourn for the brave, That loyal steadfast band Who sleep their last lone sleep Far from their Native land, Roused by their country’s call, Unmindful of the cost, These risked in Freedom’s cause Their all – and nobly lost With wreaths of laurel green Sweet rosemary entwine, Fit tribute to the dead, Whose mem’ry we enshrine.

Mourn for the brave: Now low in death they lie; So long as Time remains, Their glory shall not die.

They shrank not from the blow That made the wide world quake; They leapt into the breach, And died for England’s sake, No more with kindling eye 58 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Ambition’s height they climb; They reached Life’s utmost peak – The sacrifice sublime.

Mourn for the brave; Though tears must vainly flow; Our grief can ne’er repay The boundless debt we owe.

What monument can we To their great name upraise Whose honours far transcend The clarion voice of praise?

O let our off’ring be A brotherhood so wide That all the world shall know ‘Twas not in vain they died.

“THE BOSS” (An affectionate tribute to Mr J.P. Firth on his retirement, after nearly 30 years as Headmaster of Wellington College.)

Who taught us how to play the game, How might and right are not the same, That honest work is more than fame?

“The Boss.”

Who led us all to strive with vim, To scorn all methods that were “slim”, To prize a word of praise from him?

“The Boss.”

Who, happ’ning on us unaware, When mischief dire was in the air, Politely asked, “How will you square?”

“The Boss.”

Who from his modest six-feet-five, Would hope in four-feet-two revive, Thenceforth the proudest boy alive?

“The Boss.”

Who in our school-days sowed the seed That blossomed in the Empire’s need, And gave us Honour for our creed?

“The Boss.”

Who shared our joys of bat and ball, Who roused us at our country’s call, And won the hearts of one and all?

“The Boss.”

Mark notes that JP Firth was known after he retired as ‘The Boss’.

A WELLINGTON COLLEGE SONG Wellington College has long lacked a school song. There have been school songs written before, but none has possessed that particular quality that makes for permanent recognition as the School song. The latest one is from the hand of Mr Robert J. Pope, who composed both words and music. The song was first sung at the Breaking Up ceremony in December, 1930. The words are as follows :

And mem’ries of schooldays crowd back from the past, The echoes of chorus or cheers to remind us Of days when the old School was victor at last.

CHORUS (after each verse) “Wellington! Wellington!”

Hear the shouts ringing!

“Wellington! Wellington!” Hark to the call!

“Wellington! Wellington!”

Proudly they’re flinging, “Wellington! Wellington!” Best of them all!

Once again we’ll be back in the days of our boyhood, Again stoutly facing our rivals in play, With delight we’ll remember that pass from the scrummage, And the glorious field-goal that gained us the day.

(CHORUS) And that great game of cricket!

Who does not remember?

The foe wanted four, and the last man was nine; A lofty drive ended our hopes till the long-field Enraptured the School with a catch on the line!

(CHORUS) Then we’ll think of the days when the Empire was calling Her sons to defend her at duty’s behest; With pride we’ll recall how the old School responded And gave to our country her bravest and best.

(CHORUS) For the light that she’s brought us, the wisdom she’s taught us Let each son be zealous her worth to extol; And follow the pathway of earnest endeavour, With Duty his watchword and Honour his goal.

(CHORUS) Mark notes further that Robert J. Pope (18631949) was a regular contributor to the Evening Post and the NZ School Journal and had a reputation as a violinist and composer. His two books of verse published late in his life (Some New Zealand Lyrics (1928) and A New Zealander’s Fancies in Verse (1945)) appear to be the only poetry he published in book form.

He also wrote many prose works. His song New Zealand, My Homeland was published in the School Journal and became used in schools from North Cape to the Bluff. In the 1960s, there was newspaper correspondence over the song being made the National Anthem. There is a copy of the sheet music in the National Library of New Zealand. However, Mark has not been able to locate sheet music for the Wellington College song as yet. Mark is currently preparing a fresh selection of his poems for publication and will donate the book to the College’s archive’s once it is published.

“WELLINGTON!” There will come in the future when youth lies behind us,

Thank you Mark for sending us this information and if anyone can help Mark with his research, his email address is: mpirie@xtra.co.nz

Football Frenzy for former 1st XI Fellas

Leo Bertos

Tim Brown

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Simon Elliott

A WISE Move

ake some passionate Wellington College Old Boys, the famous All Whites versus Bahrain Football game in the capital and the terrible Wellington weather and the upshot is WISE. The Wellington College Institute of Sporting Excellence is the brainchild of Old Boy Tim Brown who has tied in his peers Leo Bertos and Andrew Scott-Howman to drive the push for an all-weather turf and the development of the Old Boys’ Centre.

The wonderful night in November in which Tim, Leo and Simon Elliott along with the rest of the All Whites team captured the imagination of the country was the catalyst for the idea. The NZ Professional Footballers Association chaired by Andrew Scott-Howman committed the $50,000 they received from the gate takings towards the development of Football and where better to do so than their old school.

Ideally situated in the city and easily accessible to the community. The current grounds are not capable of coping with the demands of the 1500 plus students and the Wellington climate.

Leo Bertos (1995-99) and Simon Elliott (198791) played in the tournament. Unfortunately Tim Brown (1994-98) was on the sidelines, due to an injury suffered before the competition but was still part of the team that beat Bahrain late last year in order to qualify.

The College was so enthused, that each match morning in the Atrium, large TVs were set up and breakfast was served from the Canteen to encourage students to come to school before the matches rather than after them to ensure students got to school. As an aside, the College has 28 Football teams compared to rugby’s 14 teams and Coach, Ricki Herbert’s son Kale is the current 1st XI captain.

Just recently, Tim and Leo returned to the College and addressed a special Assembly to talk about their campaign to South Africa and the experience of playing in a World Cup. The boys were certainly enthralled to meet and hear their heros up close.

Tim and Leo were photographed with their former 1st XI coach, Ross Durant - their coach in 1998. Ross, a former All White himself, also coached Simon a few years earlier.

Tim, who came through the American College system has seen the benefits of providing quality resources and facilities to young sportsmen and would like to see the same at Wellington College.

His dream is not only to provide an all-weather surface but develop the facilities in and around the Old Boys’ Centre to accommodate state-of-the-art facilities for an academy programme supporting all sports codes.

Tim and Leo have followed different paths to make it to the top. Tim through the collegiate system, Leo through the English club scene and both would like to see the pathway to professional sport made easier for young Kiwis.

Tim says I see WISE as the place where the classroom and the playing field meet, a place where you can be the best student and athlete you can be. Such a facility would be brilliant for the College and the wider College sporting community and Leo and I are really keen to help make that happen.

Leo adds that it will be a facility which can offer opportunities for the development of all the Sports at Coll, we want to see everyone achieve their potential and those that have the chance to make it to the top be given as much help as possible.

Head of Physical Education, Chris Wells (1971-75)and his staff are unanimous in their desire to have an all-weather pitch which will allow them to go outside during fine winter days. Currently, this is not possible as the volume of mud brought back inside the gym and changing areas makes it an untenable situation.

This year, the College has introduced its Elite Sports Academy classes to their curriculum at Y12 and Y13. Chris says These are going extremely well but suffer due to a lack of high quality training facilities. The development of the turf and facilities around the Old Boys’ Centre area would allow these programmes to really take off.

A steering committee has been put together to drive the project which although supported by the Board of Trustees will be required to be funded independently. If you are interested in this project and are able to help in any way please contact Director of Sport, Dave Keat on 04 802 2547 or d.keat@wellington-college.school.nz THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 59

In the News

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t was a Football Frenzy at the College when the Football World Cup played in July in South Africa. The fact that three of our Old Boys were in the All White’s side made it all that little bit closer to home.

What is needed by the College and its community is an all-weather turf and certainly the past winter season has backed that up with nine out of the 20 Saturdays affected by cancellations or postponements affecting all winter codes.

In the News

Our very own 1st XV plays in the NPC Competition

Neemia Tialata All Blacks, Hurricanes, Wellington Lions

Dane Coles Hurricanes Wellington Lions

Michael Hobbs Highlanders Wellington Lions

Jono Phillips Assistant Coach of Hurricanes

Brendan Watt North Harbour

Paula Kinikinilau Otago

Joe Hill Otago

Chris Middleton Waikato

Kane Thompson Southland

Ross Kennedy Hawkes Bay

Seminar Manu Southland

Buxton Popoal’i Wellington Lions

Hayden Cripps Wellington Lions

Lima Sopoaga Wellington Lions

Reg Goodes Wellington Lions

TJ Ioane Wellington Lions

Jared Kahu Wellington Lions

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n this year’s National Provincial Rugby Championship Competition, Wellington College could almost field its own team, plus coach - Jono Phillips is assistant coach of the Hurricanes.

With 16 former 1st XV members playing across six provinces, we must be one of the most-represented schools in the 2010 competition. Some of the players are regular starters, others are just entering the big time by being on the bench, but have contributed to their own team’s performance in all manners. It must be an interesting experience to come up against fellow 1st XV team members who they once played alongside of when at College. If we could get a flanker into the NPC competition, we could have all positions covered.

The next step is to get some of these provincial players into the All Blacks. All Black rivalry is as intense as ever among New Zealand schools and Neemia Tialata has been our only All Black since Filo Tiatia in 2000.

Christchurch Boys’ High School claims to have produced 41 All Blacks but the official All Blacks website says 38 - nine fewer than Auckland Grammar, which boasts the most.

Wellington College follows in third place with 31, New Plymouth Boys’ High School with 24, Christ’s College and Otago Boys High School have 19 and Nelson College have 18.

60 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

In a League of his own

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harlie Gubb (2003-08) has had a happy time growing up in Wellington, playing rugby at Wellington College and league for the University Hunters. Now he’s spreading his wings.

The NZ Warriors wanted him to play for them, but so did two Australian National Rugby League teams, Manly’s Warringah Sea Eagles and West Tigers. The choice was an easy one for the former Wellington College rugby player I have wanted to play NRL for New Zealand since the fifth form, says Charlie who’d played rugby for the College’s 1st XV before switching to league in 2008.

1st XV rugby clashed with University Hunters, so Charlie played league on and off in 2008 – it was the following year that he really sunk his teeth into league. And not long after sending videos of his games to various NRL teams in late 2009, his dad received emails from three teams which hoped to snag the young Gubb. Charlie’s older brother Peter still plays with the University Hunters, who won almost every game last year, coming third in the Bartercard Premiership.

Charlie’s manager, Frank Endacott, adds: The NRL is always looking for promising props.

Charlie is a talented young player with a great attitude and attributes that every young player should have.

Old Boy brings up his half-century at the Basin Reserve

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arlier this year, the Basin Reserve hosted its 50th test. That milestone is quite a feat and it is amazing to think one Wellington based nonagenarian would have seen every test that played at the iconic cricket ground.

The Pakistan test was number 50.

His family have always been part of the cricketing adventure. He would take his wife and three children to the Basin for a family day out at the cricket. Saying that, sometimes cricket has come first. In 2005 he came home early from a family wedding so he could attend a test match. It was a great inconvenience!

Wyvern chuckled. I was keen to get back otherwise I wouldn’t maintain my record of attending at least one day of every test match at the Basin Reserve.

92-year-old Wyvern Hunt (1933-35) loves cricket. When he was younger he would read the Wisden Almanac cover to cover and knew all the best players. It was his father who took him along to the first test at the Basin in 1930, when Wyvern was just 11 years old.

I remember the cricket to some extent. We sat down on the wooden seats in front of the stand. The RA Vance stand wasn’t there back then, he reminisced. The match was a draw, memorable for a record opening partnership of 276 between New Zealand’s Stewie Dempster and Jack Mills.

He was there in 1978 when the Kiwis beat England for the first time in a test, seeing Sir Richard Hadlee clean up with the ball (10 for 100 in the match). They had a full English team who were very good, that would probably be Wyvern Hunt with the signed bat presented to him by the Black Caps Captain Daniel Vettori on the one of the highlights so far, he said. The other highlight was beating Australia [in 1990] when eve of the 50th test at the Basin Reserve. Wyvern also handed the New Zealand players their test John Wright got 120. Those were my best caps, a thrill for a man with a lifelong love affair memories. with the gentleman’s game.

He’s seen some of the world’s greatest cricketers play at the Basin Reserve, but his heart has always been behind the New Zealanders.

Through the years he thoroughly enjoyed

watching Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe. I saw him get 299. I was a bit disappointed that he didn’t make 300!

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The 2010 squad includes veteran Black Cap James Franklin (1994-98), Dewayne Bowden (1995-99, Josh Brodie (2001-05), Ili Tugaga (2003-07) and Harry Boam (2004-08). Michael Pollard (2003-07) has also been training with the squad.

As an aside, CEO of Cricket Wellington, Gavin Larsen’s son Corey is a member of the Wellington College 1st XI cricket team, and in winter, plays in the College’s 1st XI Football team.

Now living in a Kilbirnie retirement home, Wyvern said he always enjoyed a cold lunchtime beer in the Long Room members’ lounge and was looking forward to another today.

At the Crease

ormer Wellington College 1st XI players continue to boost the Wellington Firebirds Cricket XI team, with the latest signing of contract for Joe Austin-Smellie (2003-07) which brings the tally up to six for the 2010 season.

It was very much a Wellington College affair when Cricket Wellington hosted a fundraiser meal earlier this year to assist the Wellington U16s trip to India.

The dinner, held in the Brierley Theatre was MC’d

by Bryan Waddle and guest speaker was Daniel Vetorri. Gathering for a photo, with an Old Boy from some other school are from left: Malcolm Perrett (1952-56), Ian Taylor (1952-55), Brad de Villiers (1999-03), Daniel Vetorri, Steve Murray (1971-72), Bryan Waddle (1962-65), Andy Marshall (1962-66) and Rhys Morgan (1992-96). Wellington College had six players in the Wellington team.

Wyvern is also a foundation member of the Wanderers Cricket Club and he said he is looking forward to spending some time with his son Tony and enjoying a cold one in the Long Room at the lunch during the test.

The ICC gave Mark the nod and he now coaches Vanuatu fulltime with their initial goal being the World Cricket League division eight finals in Kuwait in November. Some of the players have never left Vanuatu in their life so a 21-hour flight to Kuwait will be interesting, Mark said.

Cricket is becoming popular, partly from, what I hear, because soccer is not that well organised.

Robbie Kerr (1979-84) has been appointed with Wellington Cricket as their High Performance Manager.

Former 1st XI Coach and Old Boy, Mark Coles (1982-85) was recently appointed as national coach of the small Pacific nation Vanuatu. It was a position advertised on the International Cricket Council website and drew 54 applicants, one of which was Mark, who had on his coaching CV stints with Wellington Collegians, Wellington College and, more recently, the Sunshine Coast Scorchers in Queensland.

Robbie is no stranger to high performance in sport. He is a double international, representing New Zealand at both indoor cricket and table tennis. He has also been heavily involved with Cricket Wellington over the years. He played 52 one-day matches for the Firebirds during the 1990s. The right- hand batsman also successfully captained both the New Zealand indoor cricket team and the Wellington University senior cricket team.

When he was a senior player in Wellington a decade or two back, he bowled with a headful of steam and always made his presence felt.

Little wonder then that a desire to be a fulltime coach has taken him to one of the most remote cricket places in the world.

He’s been a coach as well, including the NZ indoor side, the Wellington Blaze, the New Zealand A Women’s cricket team and most recently the Wellington College 1st XI where four of his players were picked for the Under 19s.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 61

In the News

The Night Watchmen

Wyvern has seen many faces of the Basin, and most notable were the change from a rectangular ground to an oval in 1980 and the construction of the RA Vance Stand in 1981. I don’t go up in the RA Vance Stand in a southerly. The Basin is a tremendous place to play and watch cricket, and always has such a great atmosphere. It’s a unique setting – in the middle of probably the world’s biggest traffic roundabout. But for traditional test cricket you couldn’t have a better environment.

A Good Kean Man

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At the Junior Pan Pacific Games in Hawaii a week later, Gareth turned in record performances that now present him as a genuine medal contender for the Games in New Delhi.

ast November at the Dominion Post College Sport Wellington (CSW) Awards , the College was thrilled when ten of its students were named as individual winners in sports as diverse as Cricket, Yachting, Softball, Touch Rugby, Athletics, Underwater Hockey, Rugby and Waterpolo.

His two gold medals (100m and 200m Backstroke) were both Junior Pan Pacific meet records. His winning time in the 200m Backstroke (1:57.78s) took 7/10ths of a second off the NZ Men’s open record and places him inside the top 15 times in the world for 2010 (third equal in the Commonwealth).

Last year’s overall winner of the CSW Young Sportsman of the Year award, and College swimming champion (2008-2009) Gareth Kean (2005-09), is currently making a big splash in the pool. Leading up to his award, Gareth had excelled at the Junior Pan Pacific Games in Guam (January, 2009) with an outstanding win in his specialist 200m Backstroke event against the best Under 19 swimmers in the world. His gold medal winning time of 1:59.52s broke the NZ Men’s open record (at just 17 years of age) as well as the Junior Pan Pacific record for that event.

Gareth earned selection for Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on the back of excellent performances at the national swimming championships in April of this year. His exciting prospects have been on show as his prowess has continued to rise in recent competition leading up to the Games.

At the Senior Pan Pacific Games in California (his first elite international meet), Gareth

The Capital Club swimmer is in good hands.

His coach is Gary Hurring won gold at the Commonwealth Games and silver at the world championships over the same event more than three decades ago. Gary describes Gareth as having …a good head on his shoulders…great technique…(and) in big meets under pressure he rises to the occasion.

turned heads with his fifth and seventh placing in the finals of the 200m and 100m Backstroke (respectively) against many of the world’s elite backstroke specialists.

It’s been a good number of years since we have had an Old Boy at the Commonwealth Games so we will be eagerly watching Gareth’s progress. At 18-years-old to be ranked in the top 15 in the world really is an outstanding effort.

Martin Vaughan Head of Swimming @ Wellington College

In the News

Rowing Rewards

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hampion rower, Peter Taylor (1997-01) has had a great build-up towards to World Rowing Champs which take place in October on home water at Lake Karapiro.

Peter, together with Storm Eru won a silver medal in their Lightweight Double Sculls race in Munich before ending their European campaign on a golden note with a win in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Peter and Storm are now going through a solid and gruelling training programme in preparation for their races in October.

Gold medallists in Switzerland (L-R) Storm and Peter

We wish Peter and Storm every success.

Wellington Sporting Legends

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ongratulations to Ted Morgan (1921-22), Ross Collinge, Alan McIntyre and Trevor Manning all Olympic gold medallists - for being inducted as Legends of Wellington sport. They were honoured during the recent successful Wellington Sports Awards and join an expanding and worthy group of aptly-named legends.

Those voted in earlier have been Onny Parun (1961-65) (tennis), Eric Tindill (cricket and rugby), Ron Jarden (rugby), John Reid (cricket), Rebecca Perrott (swimming), Barrie Devenport (swimming), Jack Tynan (hockey), Andy Leslie (rugby), Billy Wallace

62 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

(rugby), Marilyn Marshall (soccer and softball), Harry Kent (rugby), Dick Joyce (rowing) and Bill Massey (softball).

Ted Morgan, a Wellington College Old Boy, was the lightweight boxer who went to Amsterdam for the 1928 Olympics, but broke a knuckle in his right hand in training. Regardless, he still outclassed everyone at the games, winning four fights in succession.

It's one thing to be a New Zealand sports great. It's quite another to be a legend of Wellington sport. Collinge, McIntyre, Manning and Morgan certainly fit the legends category.

Shooting Notes

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he past season has been characterised by an all-round improvement in shooting throughout the School, and particularly by the keen enthusiasm shown by a number of boys in the Saturday morning practices.

Near the end of the first term, every cadet not on the ‘defaulters list’ was given the privilege of a day off class, firing at Trentham. This innovation was a great success, particularly from the point of view of the participants, who had a very useful and enjoyable day’s outing.

The Wellingtonian, April 1910 [Can you imagine if shooting practice was carried out in schools today - doesn’t bear thinking about].

Look Out Las Vegas

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osh Stevens (1999-03) [far right] admits his first foray into competitive dodgeball was ‘pretty awful’. But the 25-year-old exercise science student is one of two Wellington men heading to Las Vegas to represent New Zealand in the seventh Annual Dodgeball World Championships. Wellington’s other team member, builder Scott Wilkin (2000-05), [below] was headhunted after playing dodgeball at this year’s NZI Sevens tournament in Wellington. The game played was similar to that in the comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller, he said. There’s a huge amount of fun in it because it’s such a fast game. You always have to be on your toes.

The Summit Black Keas team will compete in Sin City, having been picked in a series of dodgeball competitions around the country. Dodgeball, far from a mainstream sport in New Zealand, enjoys widespread popularity in the United States. Two teams, on either side of a court, throw eight balls at each other, with players kicked off the court if they are hit by the ball, but allowed back on if a member of their team catches a ball.

Josh rated their chances of winning in Las Vegas as pretty good. I’m pretty pumped about it,’he said. Both Josh and Scott were locks with the College’s 1st XV during their time at the College.

Team Chilly’s Cool Concept In the News

Andrew Eastwood (2001-05) and Liam Townsend (2001-06) reigned at the 2009 Wellington Sevens dressed as showers, but this year, they hoped to have frozen out their competition dressed as chilly bins. The boys received huge publicity on television and in the newspapers and pundits were already picking them to win. In 2009, their Showers concept claimed the title for most original fashion ensemble, winning a trip to Samoa and $500.00.

The chilly bins were teamed with nude tights and some straps to hold them up. The main attraction of the outfits was the built-in beer holders, however they weren’t so keen to include ice.

Alas, the boys were denied entry at the gates on the first day of the sevens as officialdom deemed that the Chilly Bins were going to take up too much space per seat and thus did not meet the costume regulations set in place.

Such a disappointing ending for such a novel and popular concept. Good luck guys for 2011.

(L-R): Old Boys, Liam Townsend, Nic Lawton, Andrew Eastwood, with Joe Fiu, and Danny Morgan - they thought up these chillybin outfits while sitting on the beach

Hard days work pays off ell mate, it's hard work. These were some of the first words spoken by television personality and Old Boy Marc Ellis (1985-90) after hauling himself ashore in Petone, after a 4½ hour swim across Wellington Harbour. Seconds later, the former rugby union and rugby league star accepted a bet from his 61-year-old co-swimmer and former Wellington College teacher Brien McCrea to do the swim again in ten years. The bet is on, Marc said.

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The Hutt Road is a long road when you are swimming it, Marc said, admitting that the last two kms of the swim were arduous work. But he said the suffering of children with cancer made his hard work pale by comparison. It's just such a wonderful cause.

In February 1989, Brien masterminded the Wellington College Harbour Relay to raise money for Child Cancer.

The relay was the result of his inspiration and took a year of planning.

The 10km swim was to launch the Child Cancer Foundation's National Appeal Week, with collectors on the streets on in the organisation's biggest annual fundraising drive. The swimmers, along with a support boat, left Oriental Bay at 6.30am, arriving in Petone shortly after 11.00am.

In space of 24 hours, students, staff and old boys had circumnavigated Wellington Harbour six times, completing laps from Seatoun Beach to Pencarrow with swimmers crossing the harbour entrance to meet with runners to continue around the circuit. The College raised $250,000 for the WCCF. THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 63

The First Ever Anthology of New Zealand Cricket Poetry

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ellington poet, publisher and Old Boy Mark Pirie (1987-91) has just brought out the first ever anthology of New Zealand cricket poetry, A Tingling Catch - A Century of New Zealand Cricket Poetry 1864-2009.

The book to be released in September by Mark’s company HeadworX took Mark five years of research and extensive reading at both the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington and the Poetry Archive of NZ Aotearoa (http://poetryarchivenz.wordpress. com). He started work on the book in 2004 while he was compiling the first ever book of New Zealand science fiction poetry, Voyagers.

Voyagers, published by IP in Brisbane and coedited with Wellington writer and editor Tim Jones, was short listed for Best Collected Work at the Sir Julius Vogel Awards this year and was considered one of the ‘Best 100 Books of 2009’ in the New Zealand Listener.

In the News

Mark’s new cricket anthology contains much valuable and rare cricket material dating as far back as 1864. Poems by colonial poets feature amongst other elusive cricket gems from more recent times. Some of the finds of the book were poems by Robert J Pope (of the old Wellington and Star Cricket Clubs and a friend of Wellington College Headmaster JP Firth), William Pember Reeves, Thomas Bracken, Samuel Butler, Jim Tocker (of the former Old Collegians’ Cricket Club in Christchurch) and G P Williams. Don Neely, G Dewar and A E Sandford’s poems were found in the periodical NZ Cricketer published in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Don Neely, New Zealand cricket historian and former Wellington captain, national selector and President of New Zealand Cricket, whose poem was an intro to a guest column for NZ Cricketer has also contributed the Foreword to the book in the form of another poem that was first published in The Summer Game: An Illustrated History of New Zealand Cricket. The poem What is cricket? was read earlier at the launch of Men in White in 1986.

Among the more well known poets in the literary world included are Allen Curnow, Kendrick Smithyman, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Harry Ricketts, Brian Turner (brother of Glenn Turner), Alan Roddick (Landfall editor Charles Brasch’s literary executor), British politician and author Sir A P Herbert, Michael O’Leary, Elizabeth Smither, musician Bill Direen, and Campbell Live TV3 reporter Richard Langston.

Several Wellington College Old Boys feature such as Mark himself, Radio NZ National’s Jack Perkins and iconic ’60s poet David Mitchell. (David’s collection Steal Away Boy: The Selected Poems of David Mitchell was published this year by Auckland University Press.)

Mark has been a cricket enthusiast since he was a boy playing Junior cricket for Onslow Cricket Club, schoolboy cricket for Wellington College, and then senior social grade cricket for Hutt District Cricket Club (where he played a few matches for the senior reserves) and Wellington Collegians Cricket Club’s Axemen, a One-Day side.

In 2008 Mark published his own small book of cricket poems Slips, a collection of some of his best cricket pieces (the photo of Mark by Gemma Claire included here features on its cover).

The book is distributed by Addenda Limited in Auckland and will be available from good bookstores nationwide. The best ways to obtain a copy are placing a special order with your local bookseller or visiting Unity Books in Wellington. RRP: $35.00.

64 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

THE UMPIRE Cricket often has its eccentrics. ln Form 7 at Wellington College our form master Colin Froude was taken as such. For one thing, he had been in a motorcycle accident that had left him with an ungainly limp.

As boys, we gave him hell for it.

But his redeeming quality was cricket.

We soon learned he was an umpire in the local men’s grade. At the time I had visions of him struggling to raise his leg whenever a leg-bye was scored. Luckily, the other signals involved arms. Perhaps though there was nothing that eccentric about him. Anyone who’s a bit different to the ‘norm’ can be taken this way.

Mr Froude (and his limp) will always be part of my memories of the game.

Maybe he’s still out there on a summer field signalling till the final run’s scored, then handing back the bowler’s jersey, he pockets the bails, pulls the stumps, and starts his long limp back in to the pavilion, a pat on the back, cheers from the players.

Nodding contented, a good day’s cricket.

Mark Pirie

Sonnet for Simon Elliott Watching Simon Elliott play Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay, now the veteran at 36, makes me remember old school days. Once after school I trained with the First XI, with Simon holding the ball up. I ran in to try and tackle him but couldn’t get near the ball. A sign of unusual skill even then. I followed his career closely, saw him upset Australia twice as he helped take the All Whites to the Confederations Cup. After American MLS medals he moved on to London club Fulham. He was at the forefront of most midfields he partnered, whether for club or country. In his career he’s done it all. Seeing him and his team-mates make history was magical.

Mark Pirie

G.O.L.F. - Getting Old, Feeling Fine HAWKES BAY BRANCH GOLF DAY

I

an Kerr (1951-52) organised the first Golf Day for a group of Old Boys from the Hawkes Bay branch back in 2004. They have met together on two or three occasions each year since then, for a round of golf at various Hawkes Bay Golf courses, including Bridge Pa, Waipukurau, Takapau, Onga Onga and Waipawa. In recent years, Old Boys from our kindred colleges; Christ’s College, Wanganui Collegiate and Nelson College have also been invited to play.

The Golf Days have proved to be very popular and enjoyable, providing as they do the opportunity both for a social get together and the testing of golfing skills. The numbers playing vary from each outing with usually about twenty taking part.

Initially, Bill Boshier, who owned a restaurant in Waipawa, provided a very sustaining and welcome buffet luncheon following the morning’s golf. Since he retired, a couple of years ago, Richard McKenzie’s partner Jane volunteered to take over providing the refreshments. Her home baked scones have proved a very popular aperitif.

The last Golf Day was held at the Waipawa course on 6 November 2009. It was a lovely sunny day typical Hawkes Bay which made for a very pleasant outing. Ian had invited Ken Douglas and his son Peter to come and join the fun, which proved to be a very popular choice.

the most golf doesn’t go home empty handed either as they usually get a couple of golf balls for their efforts!

It is certainly planned to continue the Golf Days on a regular basis, so if you want an enjoyable day’s outing in great company, then get in touch with Ian at jandikerr@paradise.net.nz On 31 May 2010, the Old Boys Golf Day returned to the Hastings Golf Club at Bridge Pa, for the second time, where it all began six years ago.

There were 32 players this time, a record number, with thirteen from Christ’s, five from Wanganui, one from Nelson, one from Hutt Valley High and twelve from Wellington College.

The morning dawned fine and a very successful

and enjoyable time was had by all!

A kindred College team Stableford competition was an innovation this time, with the top scores of six players from each College counting. A very close result with Wellington College just being pipped into second place by Christ’s College, 202 to 198.

The best score of the day was by Michael Parsons (Nelson) with David Good the best score for Wellington College All the players are looking forward with enthusiasm to the next Golf Day. Thanks again Ian Kerr for all your efforts.

Ted Percival (1946-50)

The Friendly Cup changes Codes

W

ellington College Old Boys and St Patrick’s College Old Boys initially played each other for the Friendly Cup in Cricket. However since there hasn’t been a match organised for some years [it was St Pat’s turn to arrange], it was decided that a golf tournament between the two schools would attract more enthusiasm from players.

Thus the inaugural match took place on a moderately windy day in early May at the Miramar Golf Club.

Wellington College had a ten-man team this year playing against 30 or so ‘Blue Boys’.

We had a good mix of Old Boys. From the young guns, to a few a bit longer in the tooth. There were certainly some age gaps, which we would like to have represented in the future.

Luckily Peter Spearman-Burn (2003-06)had indicated some interest before his trip to India with the New Zealand Amateur team and was happy to get some mates to play too. Thanks to his involvement, we had one of the strongest amateur golf teams available in Wellington.

Peter, his brother Thomas, Tom Brockelsby and James Donnelly combined in a four who all had positive handicaps. These guys showed everyone else how to play.

For the first time in 15 years, the Wellington College players played for the ‘Heron’ Trophy’. This was competed for on a best Stableford basis. Peter Spearman-Burn shot a 63 off the white tees - great score in the wind even if you are used to playing off the blues - thus he walked away with the trophy having amassed 40 Stableford points.

A great day was had by all, and all keen for a rematch in 2011.

Please contact me if you wish to be added to the golf contacts list and advised about the 2011 game next year.

We would certainly like to field many more Wellington College Old Boys than St Patrick’s College managed this year.

Matthew Roche (1976-80) Tel: 04 385 4126 or Mobile:021 463432 Email: matthew@zooter.co.nz THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 65

In the News

For the record the best score of the day was achieved by Jeremy Ballantyne (Christ’s College O.B), with Bob Morrison playing the best round by a WCOB. Several prizes are up for grabs at each Golf Day, including a bottle or two of John Buck’s very good wines. The person who plays

WCOBA Golf Day • Waipawa, November 2009 (L-R): Leith Peddie, Alan Spooner, David Good, Ken McEwen, John Orsborn (Visitor), Merv Ewing, Dal Janes, Peter Williams (Christs), Jeremy Ballantyne (Christs), Ian Kerr, John Buck, Richard Watson, Bob Morrison, Peter Douglas, Ted Percival, Ken Douglas, Richard McKenzie, Neil Kittow

Your Letters One of our more senior correspondents, Bob Wood (1928-30) has been in touch with some of his memories of his time at the College. Bob, who lives just out of Sydney, said in his letter that he was off shortly to a wedding in Hamilton, and had attended one in Whakatane last year.

Owing to my age, he said, I am running out of funerals and have to settle for weddings – more fun too!

Early Memories

Initiation Rites: In 1928 these were fairly rugged and involved running the gauntlet between large boys and being beaten with such objects as bunches of keys. The same large boys urged us to make sure we had our names recorded in the ’Day Book’. To do so we should go to the Masters' Room and ask for Mr Jones (‘Toothbrush’ Jones, the Bookkeeping Master). Those who did so found it to be not a good idea. One of my playmates armed himself with a stink bomb capsule which was let off in the prefects' room, which was a huge success. A drawn game!

The ‘Bay Reps’: Boys who were regarded as too small for football practice with the others were herded into the ‘bay’ on the section of the main ground near the street boundary. We were known as the ‘bay reps’. One of our number was Joey Sadler, later an outstanding All Black halfback.

Your Letters

Some masters come to mind: Garry Lomas: Garry was a much loved maths and science man who, when tackling a problem on the blackboard would scratch the nob on the top of his vast bald head. Some thought it might be the top of his spine. He spent many hours after school converting the difficult parts of the subject into a form we could follow and duplicating it for our use, a most laborious process involving handwriting on waxed sheets. I can thank him that I scraped through maths in matric.

‘Fishy’ Heron: Fishy was well aware that my mother was the French mistress at the Girls' College. On marking my prep he would make comments such as ‘your mother made a few mistakes last night ‘. Somehow I scored third in NZ in the matric exam. I met Fishy in town after I had left. He stopped me and said ‘Well done, Wood, and your mother wasn't with you!’

‘Sissy’ Turner : Sissy was our highly-strung English master. In 1929, Gene Tunney fought a Gisborne man, Tom Heaney for the world heavy weight title. I had equipped myself with a crystal radio with wires down my sleeve so I could listen to the broadcast with my elbow on my desk.

Sadly Sissy asked me a question, then asked me to stand up. The wiring was disclosed and Sissy few into a rage, dragged me to the landing where he attempted to give me six of the best then disappeared for the rest of the lesson. He resigned shortly afterwards.

‘Tibby’ Brodie: Tibby was a most active man, often seen rushing about with a clipboard organising some event, with a reputation for doing so very well. Some of the boys seemed to 66 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Wellington Colle ge Old

Boys’ Association ‘PO Box 16073, think that he was somewhat who did not climb aboard on that Wellington 6242 light academically and the day received worse attention story circulated he was at school. It was the older style one of a number whose tram with three compartments university papers were and each compartment was lost on a ship sunk during the war and were commandeered by your year. granted BA degrees with no testing. Who knows? The larger and open middle compartment was for third and fourth formers, the rear enclosed War Bore: I was not the only Old Boy who section for fifth formers and the front for sixth escaped from a POW Camp in Modena, Italy. and upper sixth. The middle compartment was Lt/Col Cliff George, CO of the 25th Battalion did packed tight and those with power had their likewise and we celebrated the event at dinner at special place which they had to defend as smaller his Karori home in 1944. He was the principal of a boys grew and became a threat. The fifth form clothing emporium that bore his name. area tended to be a rabble and occasionally they set forth into the middle compartment on ‘raids’.

A response to Bob’s Letter These ‘raids’ were reciprocated at year end when Peter George (1953-57) all except two or three of the fifth formers were I was interested in the letter from Bob Wood. I sitting School Certificate and these ‘left behinds’ don’t recall him coming to dinner at our home in had to now repel attacks from fourth formers Karori, but, of course, I was only four then! The who had grown somewhat during the year. The escape from prison camp in Italy was the subject front section was past all nonsense and spent of a book, Unwilling Guests, by JD Gerard. My the journey reading or pontificating on serious father, along with the author Doug Gerard, matters of the day. another New Zealander Bob Campbell and a Scotsman, McKenzie, took six weeks to travel By the time we reached the Karori tunnel, the through enemy territory from Bologna in the only real stop was at the Cenotaph for an odd north to reach the allied lines in the south of Italy. drop off otherwise it was along Lambton Quay, left into Hunter Street, right into Jervois Quay The family business was George & George Ltd. and up Wakefield Street (which was then a twowhich were department stores – head office in way street) round into Courtenay Place and Cuba Street and branches in Newtown, Kilbirnie along Kent Terrace to the Basin Reserve. and Petone. My father and his brother Len (Head Prefects in 1925 and 1922 respectively) The journey was noisy with a continual hubbub took over the business in about 1931 from their on the tram and extra catcalling at anything father, who had founded it in 1898 with his unusual along the way. In 1946 and a few brother, Lance. (When I was at College, the Dux’s years beyond, the country was still under some prize was the Lance George Memorial – I do not severe restrictions. Every Thursday, Whitcombe know if it still is). Among other things, George & & Tombs, now Whitcoulls bookshop, rationed George were the official stockists of Wellington camera film and this created a queue. This in College (and other school’s) uniforms. turn drew a loud cheer from the tram ‘film cue, film cue’ - how easily we were entertained?

The family moved from Karori to Lower Hutt in 1947, which is why I was a boarder at Firth The greatest event a couple of times a year was House – we were out the college zone. George ‘apples’. Wakefield Street at the Courtenay Place & George carried on in business, finally closing in end housed the fruit and vegetable and other about 1967. Following the closure, Dad retained food markets. At about 8.20am on sale days a man the company’s import licences and imported we called ‘Charley’ rang a bell to call the buyers dress fabrics from Japan and Europe. He to the sale and we gave him a big cheer Good continued this until he was well in his eighties. morning Charley as we passed by. He responded He was still very active, especially in the garden by producing a couple of crates of apples twice (even climbing trees to trim them) until very a year and he would warn us in advance apples shortly before his death. He died in 1995 at the tomorrow. This set in train a campaign for each age of 89. (Len had died about 10 years earlier.) compartment to ensure they got the lion’s share on the next day. Plots were devised such as the The Karori Special bigger boys shutting out the exits from other Graeme MacFarlane (1946-51) • Wellington compartments etc. but in the end it mattered not Every school day at 8.00am, the Karori Special as there were plenty to go round and the real fun tram left Karori Park – the destination - the was squabbling over a share. Unfortunately the school gates at Dufferin Street. Theoretically it light-hearted free apples for all was not a good was a tram for all students living on the route sight and this was not helped by a photographer from Karori through the tunnel, under the from the now defunct Southern Cross morning Viaduct and past the Botanical Gardens. In fact paper capturing a shot of boys wrestling with apart from a privileged few from other schools each other scooping up apples from the road and and then possibly only Sixth formers or extra of course holding up legitimate traffic. Obviously big boys, the tram was taken over by Wellington the tram stopped for us to create carnage and College students. the rules of the road would not allow a vehicle to pass a stationary tram. The College was not Old style initiation ceremonies (called bullying amused that the ‘apples day’ had reached the today) took place on the first day of the school press and the school assembly was again advised year and sporadically thereafter, any Karori boy by the first assistant (Jimmy Cuddie (JC)) that all

Karori boys are to remain after Assembly. The Karori Special was regularly kept after Assembly as ‘apples’ was not the only problem we caused.

A lot of high spirited boys coming out of a war period with severe restrictions may be a good excuse for some of the irrational and over-thetop behaviour but overall, the Karori Special was ‘special’ and gave us an early insight into the comradeship that is created by sticking together when it is necessary to repel trouble. Let us claim it assisted us to meet such situations in later life and there was no doubt that at the time we felt we were part of something SPECIAL. Editor: The Karori Specials still run, and its passengers cause just as much ‘merriment’ as those who have travelled from the past...

Hello from Papua New Guinea

the King Country, a business I have been in one way or another ever since. I even got used to his killing possums with a hammer. I understand he has been running jet boats up and down the Whanganui, maybe still. Graeme and Frank I took home for some weekends since I lived just through the tunnel and up a bit in Hataitai. Walter was a special person with a lovely, gentle nature.

He was picked on because of being a German by certain idiots who should have known better.

They are probably still idiots. By the way my email address has changed since I moved back to the University and is now aquartermain@gmail. com. Another name that caught my eye was that of Garth Young who was a Prefect while I was at Firth House and a competent musician. I tried very hard at music but was never very good. I had wondered what had happened to Garth’s music career and I note you have him in Rarotonga.

Alan Quartermain (1949-53)

I hunt through every issue of the Lampstand to find names I know from my era. I don’t find many but that’s not surprising. Occasional references to my Dad, LBQ, all complimentary, are a pleasure to find. The story by John Rhodes in the 2008 (No 18) issue was a joy to read. John and I were not at school together but became good friends much later in life through tramping and he is always a good read. The 2009 issue (No 19) had a good story on Firth House by Michael Mayman. I was an inmate 1949-50 due to the zoning system and my Dad’s scheming to get around it and have me at his school; otherwise Rongotai.

I received some time last year a list of all former Firth House inmates. Looking at the names of my cohorts conjured up many images. There are four people there I would really like to find and catch up with – Barry Crocker, Graeme Lingard, Frank Waiapu and Walter Schneider. Barry introduced me to real farming in the heart of

Much of what is to be found in the Lampstand has to do with sporting prowess. I was never much of a sportsman, more a librarian, but I did try and enjoyed what I did. I found myself a hooker in various rugby teams over the five years. I think I became a hooker because no-one else wanted to do it and I could bury myself in the rucks and scrums, pushing and shoving and generally pretending to be useful. Fortunately in those days, hookers did not throw into lineouts but stood at the front and hoped to be ready for the occasional surprise short throw in. One year I was in my Dad’s 3A team. My love of rugby remains although, being in PNG, it tends to be centred on League. I also battled to please that other great teacher Ray Michael with the foil but was too clumsy or slow, really. In my first year at Firth House we had to box. I had to try but lost my one and only official fight to someone who could actually box rather than charge in hoping for the best.

I did do well in Royal Lifesaving, managing all the medals up to the Silver Medallion in the old, salt water, very cold, now Freyberg Pool. Later, mostly after Wellington College, I did quite well in crosscountry running or harriers where what happened was largely dependent on my level of fitness.

So now at 73 years old, I am Dean of the School of Natural Resources in the University, looking after Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. And I am about to become a father for the third time, this time with a young Papua New Guinea wife called Jane, and we are in the process of producing a second Leslie Quartermain. Let it be hoped that he will be as illustrious as the first Leslie Quartermain of Wellington College.

Dr Robin Adams, (1944-47) • England robin.adams1@btopenworld.com I was delighted to receive the 2009 Lampstand and to see that so many of my contemporaries are still in such fine shape. I am sorry that distance, caused by my defection to Britain thirty years ago, prevented my attendance at the 60 Years Plus Reunion.

I was also interested in the letter from my cousin, Ian Mackersey, with the picture of the two lady teachers. Unless I am mistaken, they are ‘Miss Bell’ on the left and ‘Miss Maisemore’.

Both taught me English in 4A in 1944, and were very popular, being excellent at both controlling unruly teenagers and imparting knowledge. I seem to remember both left before too long to get married.

I still have a faded team photo of the successful 2A rugby team of 1947, showing a few of those who attended the reunion, as well as our coach, the redoubtable A. N. B. McAloon. If you would like it for your archives, I will gladly send it to you.

Women Teachers [2]

Syd Holm, Wellington I was looking through the 2009 Lampstand at the weekend, as my son is an Old Boy (He is currently overseas).

On p.80 I spotted a photo of my Mother and another woman teacher in 1943 – and Ian Mackersey who sent it in was asking if anyone had a record of their names. At the time she was Marion Bell, before she married my father John Holm, who himself was an Old Boy. They are both dead now. Mum actually taught my wife’s uncle Bob Vance during her time at Wellington College – and his wife, Molly Vance, at Nelson Girls’ College.

Ian Mackersey did not provide any address, so not sure how interested he is, but please forward this info to him, if you want to.

Family Tree Help Required

Andrea Ferguson • janda@mac.com I live in England and have been trying to trace our family tree and have discovered that my husband's Aunt, Rosetta Anne Paterson (née Ferguson), left the UK in 1952 to join the NZWRAC. There has been no contact (that we have record of) since about 1953.

I have received her military records from the NZ Defence Force and it seems she gave up her commission to marry in 1954. Sadly, there is also a death certificate for her from 1959 giving the name of her widower as Mr Brock and their address as Firth House, Wellington College. I wonder if there are any records of them as we would love to contact any relatives who might still be living in Wellington.

The ‘joys’ of Homework

Stephen Sharpe (1937-39) I have come across two exercise books, each containing my work when in Form 3a, Room 13, 1937, and 4a, 1938. Each one is for Geography Projects, the subject Countries being NZ; The British Isles; Australia; North America; Japan; another one on NZ; another on the British Isles; THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 67

Your Letters

In the 2007 issue (No 17) there was a story about me and the building named after me at the Papua New Guinea National Agricultural Research Institute. My old friend Luther Wenge, much maligned (probably quite rightly) Governor of the Morobe Province engineered that naming.

I have now had my name put on another building, this time a new dormitory, a women’s dormitory no less, built as one of eight by the Chinese on our campus of what is now called the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment. The dormitories are named for the seven former Principals of the Vudal Agricultural College as it was and the first Vice-Chancellor. I was the last Principal. So we now have an Alan Quartermain Haus (see picture above) as well as an Alan Quartermain Multi Purpose Hall. I think this is mainly due to longevity.

I was in my Dad’s 4A form in 1950. I think I can be allowed to say that he really was a brilliant teacher, mainly of English which has given me endless hours of joy and enabled me to achieve so much I might not otherwise have accomplished. Such is the power of language. Once I did something foolish in class and Dad was rash enough to draw attention to it and labelled me silly. I without any thought said like father, like son. There was deadly silence and then Dad showed his true quality as a teacher by bursting into laughter in which we all joined. We then went on with the class and nothing more was ever said. He never, ever, used the cane or any physical punishment, on principle. He didn’t have to.

Women Teachers [1]

in original College Exercise Books. The minute detail must have been so time-consuming, and these were ‘Homework‘. Even now I am delighted to see them again. My wife says What on earth did you do these for? I say, You were probably learning how to make pikelets. When one looks at them in retrospect, it does show that what we were learning required a lot of research; I can still remember some of the pages!

My children (and grandchildren) look at them and say ‘Oh, what a lot of work’ etc, but are not interested in starting up any storage. (At the touch of a few buttons it's all available on the internet now, no hours of research – just save it on disc). Do I sound cynical? So, the question is - Would you like me to send them to you? Have you space for this sort of memorabilia? Even though they may be seldom looked at, they will be preserved. If you look at them and say dump them, I will not be objecting.

Yes Please - the Archives accepts all donations of text and work books.

40 Years On to 70 Years On

Peter Cooper (1938-42) • Calgary, Canada I thought you might be interested in this parody on Forty Years On which has been running through my mind as I approach my 86th birthday in July this year.

I often think of the old school that gave me and my older brother Alan and my younger brother Graham their start in life. Those were the days of order and discipline now sadly gone from the Earth.

As a matter of interest, of all the students who attended Wellington College in the 1930s and 1940s, we three boys lived closer to the school than any other students, apart from the borders, in an old colonial house now long gone that sat next to the then Caledonian Hotel.

Your Letters

All the best to the school and students who sail in it.

SEVENTY YEARS ON Forty Years On how well I remember, Singing that song in the great marble hall Forty years on? To us just a number We had our lives ahead of us all.

Editor: The Caledonian Hotel is still standing however it did fall on hard times some years ago and has been vacant for some time. I see that there is scaffolding and refurbishments taking place to become the Duckworth Lewis Apartments. I have heard of stories of the dairy that used to be to the left of the Hotel, close to the College - I wonder where the houses were that Peter mentions. Around the corner into Adelaide Road, are old buildings with retail outlets, followed by the After Hours Medical Centre.

Forty Years On is still sung regularly at the College in Assembly and always at our Reunions.

We just had a good number of former boarders return to the College for their Firth House Reunion - the oldest attendee was 92.

On the Ball, Jimmy Hall

Finally, we have received the words to the oft’ referred song ‘Jimmy Hall’. Thanks to Richard (Dick) Gray (1939-42). I’m sure if you sort of remember the words, you’ll be able to carry the tune as you sing along.

Oh! Some talk of Tibbie and some of La Frog, Some long for Bill Armour's loud call.

But where could be found, such a mistable h_ _ d, As the hold 6Bs -, Jimmy Hall.

Anyhow, what other minor prizes can we learn about? There were some exotic names on speech prizes.

This school's but a place that we cannot get through Without many a card and a blow, And then at the end, though we dodge and we fend, That mountain-moose Jim takes us low.

John Roberts (1953-56) • England Old Boys living overseas should read The Lampstand on line on the College website to help save the Association money.

On a cold windy day when most boys are away, Let masters at home there remain, But not so our Jimmy, he tucks in his shimmy, And paddles about in the rain.

But although we're brought down there remains still a chance To pass, if we play Jimmy’s game, And the poor weary bo, may at last pull that mo, Which is every true 6th Former's aim.

School Prizes

Now forty years on plus thirty makes seventy Seventy long years since I first sung that song Unable to walk but still alert mentally Oh how I wish I was healthy and strong.

I've advocated writing up some account of lessfamous masters such as Limpy Smith; loosely analogous would be histories of minor prizes. I should declare my interest - minor was the only sort I won at Coll. (In '58 only the Dux, Mick Hattaway, won a UNZ entrance scholarship.)

68 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

My prize at the end of my first year in the discipline which I was eventually to study fulltime for a dozen years was collected stories of K Mansfield, doubtless intended to broaden a narrow scientist. I make bold to dissent from the fashion of admiring Mansfield's short stories; indeed the few I read put me off, so that I have yet to read most of them. I had higher marks in 'School Cert' (an exam I had taken far too seriously) for languages, especially English, than my 86% in Science; but I couldn't see a life's work in these Arts disciplines, whereas I was sure I would not see near the end of Chemistry in a whole career; but I try to maintain discernment in my beloved English language, and I can't find Mansfield very impressive.

Good idea. I shall duly compile a list of the current school prizes and their source for future publication.

Robt Mann (1954-58) • Auckland It occurs to me that a series for The Lampstand could possibly be compiled on the origins of various prizes at the College.

Once I could run a mile without stopping Now I can't stand without using a cane, But it does no good to sit around moping For nothing will ever be the same again.

The Hutchen bequest endowed ‘prize or prizes’ for ‘the boy or boys most proficient in science’.

Evidently £200 had, a quarter-century later, enabled more than one annual book prize.

Jimmy Hall, Jimmy Hall, Jimmy Hall, He's the most bloomin's- of them all.

Grinning with pleasure, He lays on the leather, And signs all his cards - Jeemy Hall.

Days in the classroom sitting there dreaming When I should have been studying Latin or math.

What will I do when the time comes for leaving?

Where will I go, and follow which path?

Seventy years on, all weak and bent over Deaf in both ears and unable to see, When I look back on my life as a rover Who would have thought this would happen to me?

could have been uttered by a law firm whose half-dozen partners included Guy Richardson Powles is surprising. That the money was duly paid though the specified institution did not exist is evidence that the law is not always an ass.

My 1957 award (signed by HA Heron) is the Stanley Hutchen prize for Sixth Form Chemistry.

Belatedly I set out to discover who Hutchen was. Our Archivist, Paddianne Neely has found letters from lawyers acting in 1930 for the estate of James Hutchen to convey his £200 bequest in memory of his son Stanley to - wait for it - Wellington Boys’ College. That such a furphy

Overseas Subscriptions

The Lampstand was delivered by the post and I have read it; how well the school is doing.

And that success is because of the continuing high standards, followed and the hard work of the Headmaster, the teaching staff and the administration (and that includes YOU!).

However, in order to help the WCOBA save a little money please delete my name from The Lampstand mailing list. I can read it online on the College website and it seems to me wasteful for the WCOBA to have to pay expensive airmail postage to Europe so that Old Boys living overseas may read what has happened at the school in the year just past.

I am sure that Old Boys who live abroad would agree with me, especially at a time when the WCOBA is trying so hard to save money for so many well worthwhile projects.

Old Boys reading The Lampstand online would mean a shorter print run, too - a further saving perhaps?

Thank you John for your offer and suggestion.

While funds are tight, we are still happy to send the Lampstand overseas to our Old Boys - not every reader is able to access the internet or have broadband and we like to think we can cater for all. Because of the size, we believe

many readers like to pick up and put down the magazine at their leisure as well as circulate it to family and fellow Old Boys.

Remembering Eric Hall

Bob Balchin, (1943-45) • Queensland rebalc@onthenet.com.au I have only just finished reading the latest edition of The Lampstand and with great pleasure at that, but with sadness at the recorded deaths.

One in particular was that of EO Hall.

When I was at the College in 1943-45, I lived at 99 Austin Street on Mt Victoria slopes. Eric and his widowed mother lived directly opposite. I think Eric's father was a belated gassing casualty from WWI. Eric was dux in 1943 and went on to VUC where he graduated MSc. I believe that after this he went to the University of Cambridge in England where he obtained his PhD. I have no recollection of seeing Eric in the flesh since 1947.

In 1984 I had some dealings with an Accounting lecturer ex University of Newcastle, NSW and learnt from him that Eric was the Professor of Metallurgy at that University. Also I have it in the back of my mind that his wife found the English winters a bit hard to take and this was the reason for his being in the warmer climate of the central coast of NSW. Hence, I was very surprised to read that he was in Hobart, Tasmania, when he died.

Eric was a fairly quiet and unassuming type and merits more than the bare obit. The same, I would say applies to Bob Coleman. I suspect that the early 1940s saw the emergence of some notable academics who were old boys. Graeme Joplin was another. I wonder if you have in these, the seeds of a future article in The Lampstand.

None of them were Nobel laureates but each I am sure made a commendable contribution to the advancement of knowledge in his field of endeavour. Another who comes to mind is Peter Whittle, Dux in 1944. Ivan Cher was Dux in 1945.

What about ‘our’ Reunion?

Warwick Bringans (1951-55) • Auckland Somewhere along the line, the 50 year Reunion programme has overlooked the early to mid 1950s, I think mainly due to it being introduced only two or three years ago. You have held a reunion for 60 Years Plus this past year but that covered 1949 and before, although I did note that some OB from the 50s did attend. Is there any plan to address this oversight?

By the way, another outstanding Lampstand for which you are to be congratulated. Well done.

Hawkes Bay Notables

Duncan Hyde (1937-40) has written to us and included an unusual record he has compiled about Old Boys who lived in the Hawkes Bay from his era, and the prominent positions they held in the Hawkes Bay local councils.

RE (Bob) Shortt’s (1933-37) parents owned the Morere Hot Springs Hotel. Bob was in the College’s 1st XV in 1937 and was also a Firth House Prefect. He was elected as Mayor of Wairoa from 1953 to 1962 and was awarded an OBE for services to Wairoa. Bob died in 1971.

Our records show that Bob’s brother, WE Short attended the College from 1931-33 and that Bob’s son William was a student from 1957-58.

There are three other Shortts on our database, attending between 1913-22.

PL (Peter) Tait (Sir) (1928-30) Originally from Island Bay (his parents were Scottish immigrants from the Shetland Islands).

Tuberculosis as a youngster meant he could not enlist in New Zealand’s war effort. Peter moved to Waipukurau and set up a number of shoe shops throughout Hawkes Bay. He became a member of Parliament from 1951-54 and was elected Mayor of Napier from 1956-74. He was knighted in 1975. Peter died in 1996. The Tait Fountain in downtown-Napier is named after him.

PT (Peter) Gifford (1935-39) was a Firth House Prefect in 1939. He went on to Victoria University and attained his LLB. Peter was a Solicitor and Chair of the Hastings Building Society. He was elected to the Hastings City Council from 196271 and was the longest-serving member of the Napier Harbour Board (26 years). Peter served as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm from 1941-45, rising to the rank of Sub Lieutenant and was awarded and OBE for his services to Hastings.

His community involvement included being a founding member of Birthright, the City’s Brass Band, the Library, Jaycees, the National Party, the Addiction Centre, the Law Society and the Anglican Church. Son John, attended the College 1963-67, and brother David attended 1940-45.

Peter died in 2003.

DC (Duncan) Hyde (1937-40) was a Firth House Prefect in 1940. He served with the RNZAF and RAF from 1942-46 as a Wireless Air Gunner.

Duncan was a Menswear Retailer and was elected to the Waipukurau Borough Council from 1956-74. He was appointed as Deputy Mayor of Waipukurau from 1965-74. Duncan has been a Justice of the Peace since 1965 and is a member

of the Order of St John.

MJQ (Marcus) Poole (1938-41) was a day boy at the College and attained his LLB at Victoria University. In the 1950s, Marcus served as Dannevirke Mayor and as a member of the Maori Land Tribunal. He displayed a wry sense of good humour, unfailing good manners and was generally regarded as one of the country’s foremost legal minds dealing with Maori land laws. He passed away last year. Marcus’ obituary was included in the 2009 Lampstand.

At Wellington College he liked to sit at the front of the class, a habit that cost him dearly when he was hit in the face by flying glass during an accidental explosion in a Chemistry class. His eye had to be removed and for the rest of his life he had a glass eye and then an eye patch.

LJ (Lloyd) Appleton (1936-39) was also a day boy, from Roseneath but moved to Dannevirke becoming owner of a printing business and subsequently the Dannevirke newspaper. He became Mayor of Dannevirke from 1965-77.

Lloyd was a fighter pilot in the war, suffering dreadful burns as a result of a crash. He was awarded a MBE for services to Dannevirke.

His father, Sir William Appleton was Mayor of Wellington from 1944-50. Lloyd had three brothers who also attended the College between 1928-32.

All-in-all, not a bad record of Old Boys serving their community and the contribution they made to the Hawkes Bay region.

Who was William Wallace?

We received a request from CYF (Child, Youth and Family) to find out some information on one of their benefactors – the late William Wallace (1937-41). William attended Thorndon School prior to Wellington College and was their [Thorndon’s] Dux in 1936. His sister Noelene was Dux two years later. Their father was Wyn Wallace and they lived in Kinross Street, Thorndon.

William died in Australia on 17 July 1989 leaving the residue of his estate to The neglected children’s department or like institution of the Dominion of New Zealand. After settlement of the estate in Australia, the balance of the estate was paid to the Attorney General of New Zealand for the purposes of the care and protection of neglected and abused children and young persons. The Deed of Settlement provides that the Attorney General may delegate the functions and powers to the Director General for Social Welfare [now Ministry of Social Development], who could delegate power to dispense the funds in accordance with his or her decision.

It was from this bequest that CYFs have developed the William Wallace fund. Unfortunately the Solicitor that drew up the will is also no longer alive and further information can’t be found from that source in Australia. Staff at the time tried to find out as much as they could but weren’t able to. Thus, the request from CYFs is to find out more about William and why he might of left such a bequest in his will. If anyone can help CYFs, please contact in the first instance, the WCOBA Office.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 69

Your Letters

Peter, I think, married a Finnish woman, the daughter of a Professor at one of the oldest universities in Europe, in Uppsala in Sweden. I had a casual meet with Peter in Martin Place, Sydney, in the 1960s when he had a fellowship at the Australian National University. As you could well imagine his wife was suffering terribly from the summer heat of Canberra at the time.

I believe he ended up as a Professor of Statistics at Cambridge; Bob Coleman, I believe, was also a Professor at Cambridge.

We do plan to hold a Reunion for those at the College from 1950 to 1956, but not quite sure when. The 50 Years on Reunions began in 2007, starting with the 1957 cohort but those prior to 1957 but after 1949 have not yet had the ‘good fortune’ to attend something similar. What interest is out there from Old Boys of that era?

As you can imagine, the number of Old Boys from 1950 to 1956 tallies up somewhat, so to organise a reunion for that representation is a big job on it’s own - and as there is just me to run it, I have to not only work in with the College’s calendar but also my own workload.

Please be patient, but for sure, I do intend to get on to it and hopefully look at 2012 as ‘the year’.

Photos from Yesteryear WELLINGTON COLLEGE, 1942 - Jack Browne (1939-43) Jack found this photo (left) in the bottom of a desk. The whole College was assembled on the bank above the main playing ground and were told to stay stock-still. The reason was that the camera scanned all of the teachers and students from left to right taking about 10 seconds in the process.

Jack has very carefully ironed the photo from the back and managed to eliminate most of the crease marks. With such a large print, he had to scan it in three pieces but there is plenty of overlap and the clarity is very good. The teachers are quite recognisable and you will note that there are five lady teachers amongst them.

(above) WELLINGTON COLLEGE PIPE BAND (c 1946-47) Presumedly off to the Basin Reserve for the McEvedy Shield.

Your Photos

(below) WELLINGTON COLLEGE SUPPORTERS at Athletic Park (c 1947) Can anyone provide us with some further information on this photo? Sent in by Ben Poynter from the late Bill Wilson’s collection.

Do you have any photos stored away that you can donate or lend to the College Archives to assist with the display for the College’s 150th? We are particularly looking for groups of students in informal settings or with the College as background.

Please remember to provide as much information as you can names especially and also the year.

Please contact the WCOBA Office if you can help out.

70 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

Obituaries

W

ellington College and the Old Boys’ Association extends its sincere condolences to the families and friends of those listed below for whom the Association has received notification of death since the 2009 Lampstand.  An obituary (sourced from the Dominion or from family) is included on the following pages. If you can assist us by adding to an obituary or providing one that we do not have, we would be most appreciative.

ALLMAND, Richard Ivor B: 08/09/63 D: 29/03/10, Pahiatua WC: 1976 - 1979

COLLETT, John Brian B: 1933 D: 11/10/09, Palmerston North WC: 1957 - 1962, Former Master

GAMBLE, Robin John B: 01/04/45 D: 03/02/10, Wellington WC: 1958 - 1962

ANDERSON, Ian Stewart B: 07/03/34 D: 29/06/10, Tauranga WC: 1948 - 1952

COLLINS, Ray William B: 08/05/36 D: 20/07/10, Paraparaumu WC: 1949 - 1952

GAVEY, Peter B: 03/12/26 D: 06/11/09, Wellington WC: 1939 - 1941

ASTON, John Robertson B: 29/10/36 D: 09/11/09, Auckland WC: 1949 - 1954

COOPER, John David Saunderson B: 22/02/33 D: 00/06/10, Auckland WC: 1947 - 1947

GEDYE, John Henry B: 01/09/40 D: 20/04/10, Masterton WC: 1954 - 1956

BARKLE, Desmond Taylor B: 03/12/26 D: 01/10/09, Te Aroha WC: 1941 - 1941 NZDF, Vietnam

COOPER, Timothy B: 31/03/32 D: 01/11/09, Otaki WC: 1946 - 1950

GERAGHTY, Patrick Joseph B: 10/01/63 D: 12/10/09, Wellington WC: 1976 - 1980, RNZE

CORRY, Anthony (Tony) George B: 30/05/38 D: 05/08/10, Wellington WC: 1952 - 1955

 GILBERT, Lionel de Vallienger (Val) B: 19/11/17 D: 02/01/10, Dunedin WC: 1931 - 1934, Major WWII

COURTNEY, Anthony Emmet B: 25/07/33 D: 12/03/10, Denmark WC: 1947 - 1949, Firth House

GOLDIE, Charles B: 31/10/19 D: 25/03/10, Nelson WC: 1932 - 1935 Lt Commander Fleet Air Arm WWII

 BARNARD, Gerald (Gerry) Jennings B: 11/11/27 D: 08/02/10, Wellington WC: 1941 - 1945 Lt Col (Retired) Army: 1954-77 1990 Commemorative Medal BARNETT, Arthur George B: 02/02/18 D: 06/01/10, Waikanae WC: 1932 - 1934, Firth House WWII Exp Force Sgt 5th Field Reg. BELL, John Alexander (Sandy) B: 15/06/34 D: 21/02/10, Wellington WC: 1947 - 1951 RNZN, Director, Naval Construction Former National Sea Scout Commissioner BLAKE, Kenneth Francis B: 02/02/23 D: 20/07/10, Levin WC: 1936 - 1938 6th Light Armoured Regiment  BRADLEY, Robert B: 5/12/2022 D: 26/11/09, Wellington WC: 1946 - 1996, Former Master BRASCH, Donald James, Dr B: 22/05/31 D: 0/09/01, Dunedin WC: 1944 - 1948  BRINGANS, Trevor Robert B: 09/01/38 D: 28/11/09, Auckland WC: 1951 - 1955  BROWN, John Arthur B: 24/01/34 D: 27/08/09, BC, Canada WC: 1948 - 1952  BURRELL, Craig Donald, Dr B: 05/07/26 D: 20/11/09, Wales WC: 1940 - 1944 CALVER, Darryl Maxwell B: 12/10/63 D: 31/12/09, Sydney WC: 1977 - 1978 CAMPION, John Russell B: 06/10/20 D: 06/08/10, Waikanae WC: 1934 - 1937  CAPP, Noel Walter Eisdeel B: 11/11/22 D: 01/03/10, Brisbane WC: 1940 - 1940

CHEVIS, John Leigh B: 07/07/42 D: 18/04/10, Wellington WC: 1956 - 1957

CULL, Charles Ernest (Ernie) B: 03/10/24 D: 16/08/10, Kati Kati WC: 1938 - 1941 CULY, Gordon Frank B: 26/04/22 D: 12/12/09, Lower Hutt WC: 1936 - 1936 NZRN

GORDON, Ian Russel B: 10/12/47 D: 18/01/10, Wellington WC: 1961 - 1965 GRAHAM, James Russell B: 03/08/27 D: 09/11/09, Wellington WC: 1941 - 1944 GRAY, Brian John B: 20/09/26 D: 00/07/09, Havelock North WC: 1940 - 1941, Firth House

CURRIE, James (Jim) Duncan B: 07/01/34 D: 01/05/10, Whangarei WC: 1947 - 1950

GULLY, John Sidney B: 05/05/24 D: 15/07/10, Nelson WC: 1937 - 1940

DAUBE, John Anthony B: 18/02/38 D: 7/07/10, Waikanae WC: 1952 - 1953

 GWILLIAM, Owen Llewllyn B: 28/02/23 D: 08/01/10, Lower Hutt WC: 1936 - 1938

DAUBE, Roger Edward B: 05/09/70 D: 08/08/10, Wellington WC: 1984 - 1988

HACCHE, Maurice Dale B: 31/03/34 D: 11/09/09, Gisborne WC: 1952 - 1952, Firth House

DONALD, John James B: 08/09/31 D: 11/11/09, Tauranga WC: 1945 - 1948, Firth House

HARRIS, John Lewis Nicholson B: 25/08/28 D: 19/07/09, Tauranga WC: 1942 - 1946, Firth House

EASTWOOD, Leonard (Len) James B: 12/10/30 D: 5/07/2010, Tauranga WC: 1944 - 1946

HART, Trevor Mansfield B: 11/06/28 D: 07/06/10, Waikanae WC: 1942 - 1946

EDWARDS, Alton Spencer B: 18/11/16 D: 00/11/09, Wellington WC: 1931 - 1932

HEWITT, Donald James B: 25/09/39 D: 05/11/09, Levin WC: 1953 - 1955

ELLIS, Alfred Francis B: 01/04/32 D: 20/08/10, Palmerston North WC: 1946 - 1948 Wing Comr. WWII, Supply Officer RNZAF

HOLLAND, Desmond William B: 07/09/22 D: 22/12/09, Hamilton WC: 1936 - 1938 LCPL WWII

 EXLEY, David John B: 27/04/27 D: 06/10/09, Auckland WC: 1940 - 1943

HOLLINGS, Clegg James (Jim) B: 03/01/27 D: 30/04/09, Auckland WC: 1950 - 1953

FARKAS, Thomas Dezso B: 01/11/57 D: 22/02/10, Wellington WC: 1971 - 1972

HOLLIS, David Ian B: 12/12/45 D: 17/10/09, Wellington WC: 1959 - 1963

GAIR, Bruce William B: 09/02/56 D: 27/08/09, France WC: 1969 - 1972

HOOKER, Roy Archer B: 24/06/22 D: 13/06/10, Otaki WC: 1936 - 1937 Fl/Lt Fleet Air Arm WWII/Korea

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 71

Obituaries

CARLSON, Allan Bernard B: 29/04/27 D: 21/09/09, Tauranga WC: 1942 - 1944, Firth House

CRAY, Gerald Haughton B: 19/06/27 D: 14/02/10, Auckland WC: 1941 - 1944, Firth House

HOWARD, Kenneth Athol B: 04/10/34 D: 01/10/09, Waikanae WC: 1949 - 1951

MCLENNAN, Donald Victor B: 19/04/41 D: 06/12/09, Wellington WC: 1954 - 1956

 STEPHENS, Thomas Martin (Tom) B: 10/12/11 D: 25/06/10, Wellington WC: 1926 - 1928

HUME, William Thomas (Bill) B: 05/12/26 D: 08/03/10, Auckland WC: 1940 - 1943

MIRAMS, Peter Stanley B: 23/03/46 D: Unknown Wellington WC: 1960 - 1963 MORTON, Kenneth Howard B: 07/04/27 D: 00/02/10, Auckland WC: 1940 - 1944

STEWART, Keith Raymond B: 19/05/45 D: 10/12/09, Rotorua WC: 1959 - 1963

INNES, Neil Scoullar B: 28/10/46 D: 19/03/10, Waikanae WC: 1960 - 1963 JACKSON, Ian James B: 29/10/36 D: 28/08/10, Auckland WC: 1951 - 1952 Firth House JAMES, Leonard (Len) James B: 12/10/1930 D: 5/07/10, Whakatane WC: 1944 - 1946 JAMIESON, Kevin Mardie B: 20/08/45 D: 16/12/09, Wellington WC: 1959 - 1963 JONES, Jospeh (Joe) Percy Hugh B: 11/08/26 D: 14/07/2008, Auckland WC: 1940 - 1943  JONES, Barrie Russell B: 04/01/21 D: 19/08/09, England WC: 1934 - 1939 KEATS, Stewart Clement B: 01/01/37 D: 10/01/10, Porirua WC: 1951 - 1952 KINDELL, John Anthony B: 02/07/38 D: 17/11/09, Levin WC: 1953 - 1955 LAMBERT, Stanley David B: 29/08/41 D: 01/12/09, Auckland WC: 1955 - 1958 LESLIE, Bruce Russell B: 11/08/39 D: 21/02/10, Queensland WC: 1953 - 1957 MacDOWALL, Kenneth B: 23/11/13 D: 16/07/10, Wellington WC: 1927 - 1928 MacMILLAN, Lindsay Alexander B: 02/01/21 D: 02/01/10, Auckland WC: 1934 - 1937 MAIN, Alan Morrison B: 28/08/34 D: 00/06/10, Auckland WC: 1948 - 1952 MANSFIELD, Stanley Graham B: 26/12/23 D: 00/00/09, WC: 1937 - 1941 MARDON, Peter James Gillespie B: 19/06/33 D: 06/11/09, Hawkes Bay WC: 1947 - 1948 MARTIN, Peter James B: 14/08/50 D: 04/10/09, Levin WC: 1964 - 1965 MATTHEWS, Harvey Charles Nelson B: 05/05/25 D: 18/02/10, Wellington WC: 1939 - 1942

Obituaries

 McHALICK, Denis Murray D: 15/12/09, Wellington WC: 1978 - 1983, Former Master MCKINSTRY, John William B: 31/05/23 D: 18/04/10, WC: 1936 - 1939

72 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

OLIFENT, Brian John (Bree) B: 18/01/38 D: 00/06/10, Lower Hutt WC: 1950 - 1953  PACKER, Gordon John Kitch B: 25/02/40 D: 13/05/10, Canada WC: 1953 - 1957 PALMER, Cecil Naylor B: 13/07/15 D: 02/12/09, Wellington WC: 1930 - 1931, RNZAF PARKES, Murray Alfred B: 22/01/28 D: 11/09/09, Auckland WC: 1942 - 1943  PEEBLES, Donald Clendon, ONZM B: 05/03/22 D: 27/03/10, Christchurch WC: 1936 - 1937 PEEBLES, Howard Jackson B: 30/04/20 D: 26/11/09, Palmerston North WC: 1934 - 1935  POPE, Robert (Bob) Charlton B: 02/07/25 D: 05/05/10, Waikanae WC: 1938 - 1940 RNZAF No 5 Boat Flying Squadron WWII  PORTER, Kenneth Russell B: 22/11/2021 D: 24/07/10, Melbourne WC: 1935 - 1937 5th Field Regt, Status of Cavaliere Ufficiale from Italy (equiv to Knighthood) POWER, Gordon William B: 11/10/31 D: 12/05/10, Waikanae WC: 1945 - 1947  RITCHIE, James (Jim) Ernest (Professor Emeritus) B: 12/12/29 D: 24/09/09, Hamilton WC: 1942 - 1946 ROBERTS, David Charles Ormiston B: 16/10/24 D: 02/11/09, Christchurch WC: 1938 - 1940  SHIELD, Harold John B: 20/09/19 D: 05/02/10, England WC: 1930 - 1933 SIMPSON, Keith Maxwell B: 15/05/21 D: 15/05/10, Wellington WC: 1934 - 1938  SMART, John Innes B: 18/05/39 D: 11/10/09, Blenheim WC: 1953 - 1957 SMITH, Elton Barry B: 08/05/36 D: 07/03/10, Auckland WC: 1950 - 1954 SMITH, Spencer Gannon B: 29/12/30 D: 10/04/10, Wellington WC: 1944 - 1948  SMITHER, Thomas Ashley (Tom) B: 14/05/41 D: 22/12/09, Christchurch WC: 1955 - 1959 SOMERVILLE, Lionel Carson B: 23/06/14 D: 21/05/10, Palmerston North WC: 1928 - 1931

STIRRAT, John Gordon B: 07/02/26 D: 06/05/10, Levin WC: 1939 - 1941 RNZAF ACI WWII STOTHART, Allan Leslie (Arly) B: 01/02/32 D: 16/10/09, New Plymouth WC: 1945 - 1947 STRINGER, Denis Leigh B: 30/06/41 D: 30/03/10, Waikanae WC: 1955 - 1957 SUTCH, Barry John B: 29/05/46 D: 18/09/09, Levin WC: 1955 - 1958 THOM, Walter Maxwell B: 22/11/26 D: 26/11/09, Waikanae WC: 1940 - 1943 THOMSON, Stewart Thomas B: 11/10/21 D: 18/09/09, WC: 1935 - 1937 TOFT, John (Jack) B: 08/12/24 D: 10/07/10, Wellington WC: 1938 - 1942 TOLLEY, Brian Hughson B: 26/08/25 D: 23/10/09, Wellington WC: 1939 - 1944, Dist Fellow IOD NZ TOMKIES, Bryan James B: 20/05/38 D: 21/02/10, Wairarapa WC: 1952 - 1954 TREADWELL, Charles James B: 10/02/20 D: 10/01/10, England WC: 1932 - 1936  TURNER, Peter James Noel B: 18/12/12 D: 04/08/10, Wellington WC: 1928 - 1932 VAUGHAN, Raymond James B: 02/10/53 D: 5/07/10, Tauranga WC: 1966 - 1970 WALKER, William Samuel B: 29/06/31 D: 14/05/10, Wellington WC: 1945 - 1947 WAUGH, David Gray B: 24/11/32 D: 13/08/10, Hamilton WC: 1948 - 1948 WILLIAMS, John Kim B: 24/03/47 D: 30/06/10, Wanganui WC: 1962 - 1964, Major RNZEME YEOMAN, Henry David (Harry) B: 19/12/19 D: 23/02/10, Wanganui WC: 1933 - 1934

BARNARD, Gerald (Gerry) Jennings B: 11/11/27, D: 08/02/10, Wellington Wellington College: 1941 - 1945

also stood for horse. His third formers were his foals, his classroom was his stable and he would say things such as, it's time my colts went out for a bit of a canter around the block just to warm up.

For all the jibes about his nickname, Robert Bradley was not a teacher to tangle with. He was very firm, strong, and always insisted on the highest standards. Apparently, in 1946, when he started to teach at the College, he quickly learned the need to exert control over the boys. They would have to line up outside the class before being allowed to enter and, in the days when corporal punishment was routinely used, he would carry his strap around in his back pocket from where he could quickly pull it from under his gown. One day a boy was strapped in front of the class.

Memories from Garth England (1941-45), who attended Gerry’s funeral. The photo above was taken at a WCOBA function in Wellington. Gerry to the left, Garth on the right.

I attended Gerry's funeral in Kilbirnie - the Chapel was overflowing. He had worked after retirement with the Labour Party since 1992 until a few years ago and was campaign manager for the current MP Annette King, (Deputy Leader of the Opposition). So there were condolences from her, the Leader of the Opposition and also from Helen Clark, the previous Prime Minister now in UN in New York.

Gerry had also been with Grey Power and the Wellington Chairman gave a eulogy. A former Army officer also gave thanks as Gerry had been with the Army Education Service 1954 to 1977 and finished as a Lt-Colonel.

Morrie Deterte (1941-45) was there as Gerry had been in the 1st XV of which Morrie was Captain in 1945. Gerry’s two sons and a daughter spoke also, as well as a grandson, Pierce who is currently at Wellington College and the son of Simon so the Barnard name continues there. I didn't have the chance to speak to his wife Jeanene but she was bearing up well as his illness had developed over the past four years but only became significant over the past year.

Gerry had been a notable athlete while at College being a Senior Champion excelling in 100yd and 220yd sprints.

BRADLEY, Robert B: 05/12/22, D: 26/11/09, Wellington Wellington College: 1946 – 1996, Master and Bursar Obituary from the Dominion Post

His 1957 Wellington College third formers remember the introduction vividly, as he went on to let out a neigh, tell them he parted his hair in the middle to accentuate his horse-like features and that Room H

Robert was brought up in Herne Bay, went to Auckland Grammar, gained his MA in maths at Auckland University and served in the medical corps during World War II. He was brought up in the Exclusive Brethren Church, which barred him from being a soldier but allowed him to serve as a medic.

Joining the staff at Wellington College in 1946, he taught mathematics, physics and other science subjects, before being appointed Head of Mathematics and then Senior Master. He taught mathematics to the highest level, was very analytical and objective and had clarity of thought and patience that earned him a lot of respect.

After retiring from teaching, he returned to the College and completed a half century of service to the school by serving as Bursar. His wife, Ellen, who he fondly referred to as she who must be obeyed, was also on the staff as an art teacher.

Both had been brought up in Exclusive Brethren families and suffered greatly when they were ostracised by the church in 1973 after Mr Bradley allegedly challenged or slighted the church's universal leader. It was a very painful experience for the couple. Their two daughters were forbidden to have anything to do with them and lifelong church friends cut them off.

Another teacher, who was also in the Exclusive Brethren, was required by the church to resign from the College and Brethren boys were withdrawn from it. The College stood by him and he reciprocated.

His reputation was ultimately enhanced by his commitment to the school, its boys and the junior teachers he helped support. He stayed true to his Christian beliefs, but his departure from the Church enabled him to indulge his interest in sport.

He had coached the College's Hockey 1st XI, but it was not until he had been dismissed by the church that he was allowed to enjoy sport outside school hours. Although he was too old to play, Robert took up and excelled as a cricket umpire. He became one of the few New Zealand umpires to pass the English umpires' examination, trained others, set examinations and served on the national B panel.

While he was ranked as one of Wellington's best, his age precluded him from standing in first-class games. However, he umpired two women's oneday internationals during the 1982 World Cup and a highlight was standing in a 50-over WellingtonCanterbury game in 1986, where he relished the chance to stand behind the stumps as Richard Hadlee bowled.

Robert lived in Island Bay for many years, but spent

The new Robert Bradley Student Services Centre at the College is often referred to as ‘The Stables’.

The end-of-year Prize Giving Awards includes the Robert Bradley Prize for First in Year 11 and the First in Year 9 Ellen Bradley Prize.

BRINGANS, Trevor Robert B: 09/01/38, D: 28/11/09, Auckland Wellington College: 1951-1955 Obituary provided by twin brother, Warwick.

Trevor started at Wellington College in 1951 as one of over 300 new third formers. The total roll at the time was 1015, of which over 100 were boarders.

From 1943 to 1950, he attended Ngaio Primary School, which for the first three years was under the headmastership of his grandfather, Robert Bringans. In the 1920s, Robert, together with his elder brother Jack Bringans, who was Headmaster of the Khandallah School at the time, formed the Khandallah Boys’ Club, to keep the local boys occupied, active (and out of trouble) in the weekends. In 1926/27 the KBC became the Onslow Rugby Club and the Onslow Cricket Club.

From 1945 to 1950, Trevor played schoolboy rugby and cricket for Ngaio School during the week and for the Onslow Club in the weekends.

At Wellington College, Trevor was placed in a separate class to his identical twin brother Warwick, and was informed that this was to maintain the two boys individual identities, although, as it was later uncovered, the more likely reason was to allow the masters to tell them apart! That remained the case throughout their five years at College. In fact it was not until their final two years that the twins were able to play in the same sports team together.

Trevor and Warwick were both members of the 1st XV rugby and 2nd XI cricket in 1954 and 1955, prefects in 1955, and two of only three Senior Under Officers in the 1955 Cadet Battalion.

In that era, every boy, when they first entered College, was issued with a 303 rifle with a unique number. Each boy had to maintain his rifle in a clean and ready condition as it was not only used for drill purposes but also for firing on the target range located in the valley immediately to the East of the number four field.

The 1955 1st XV, regarded as one of the best teams produced by the College, won the WRFU 3rd 1st division open grade championship for the first time in the College’s history. This was an open grade, with no age or weight limit, and included only four College XV’s, Wellington, Hutt Valley High School, and both St Patrick’s Town and Silverstream. The remaining teams were club sides, usually made up with ex 1st XV players who had left college and older experienced players who were no longer playing senior rugby.

Following this success, the 1st XV went on to win Quadrangular Tournament for the first time since 1937, winning the final against Wanganui Collegiate School by 25-3. The match was broadcast live on the local radio station, and watched by a large crowd estimated at over 10,000.

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Obituaries

My name is Bradley and they call me 'Horse', because I look like a horse."

Generations of Wellington College students remember him as a very good teacher, stern but fair. He left an indelible mark, an unforgettable character who was always mentioned or asked about at Old Boys’ reunions.

his last years in Sprott House, where he required care for dementia.

Trevor revelled in the competitive environment and in addition to rugby and cricket, excelled at all levels of College life.

On leaving College in 1956, Trevor joined the Scottish Regiment as part of the then Compulsory Military Training Service. This was for an initial three month Corp training at Waiouru Military Camp followed by annual camps. He excelled in the army because the cadet training at College made for an easy fit into the Regular Force. On leaving the army Trevor joined the firm of R Underwood & Co and trained as a Licensed Customs Agent.

He remained with Underwoods for several years before joining CC Toop as Assistant Manager. Toops were later acquired by the Nathan Group and Trevor transferred to Auckland as Manager of the Distribution Division.

Trevor continued to play rugby and cricket after leaving College and despite pressure from WCOB, he returned to the Onslow Clubs where he had played in his primary years.

In rugby, Trevor made the Wellington Junior Representative side in 1956 and made his Senior A debut in 1957. He continued to be a regular member of the Onslow Senior A side through to 1962, when, following a series of injuries, Trevor became a rugby referee in 1962. He quickly climbed through the grades to reach Senior A status in 1965. He retained that grade when he moved to Auckland in 1967 and remained a Senior A referee there until 1976. Trevor was bracketed with test referee, Frank McMullen at the end of 1976, and would have gone on to higher awards had it not been for a misunderstanding with the ARU appointments board, which lead to his leaving the referees. He immediately immersed himself in the Rotary movement and became President of the Remuera Club in 1992/93 and at the time of his passing was an Honorary Member of Rotary. He was made a Paul Harris Fellow in 1991 for services to Rotary.

Trevor married Robyn Watt in 1961 and together they developed a close knit family of three children, and eight grandchildren, all of whom Trevor was justifiably proud.

In his working life, Trevor became an expert on Tariff rules and he eventually built an extremely successful business of his own by using that knowledge. Initially manager for a large distribution company, he moved out on his own account in 1978 and eventually became New Zealand’s largest importer and distributor of hobby related products.

Later his two sons joined the business and they continued to expand and grow the operation.

Trevor developed a love for the game of golf through his contact with his father-in-law, Colin Watt. When Trevor’s children grew up and left home he rekindled his interest and was for many years an active member of the Auckland Golf Club.

Trevor developed lung cancer in 2008 and despite a strong and brave fight, eventually succumbed to the disease on November 28th, 2009 surrounded and supported by his loving family and friends.

Obituaries

Trevor is greatly missed. Although he was known never to take a backward step, he was never the less an extremely warm, kind, and generous man who lived up to the ideals instilled in him during his days at Wellington College.

BROWN, John (Jack) Arthur B: 24/01/34 D: 27/08/09, BC, Canada Wellington College: 1948 – 1952 Obituary provided by wife, Elizabeth Jack was Deputy Principal at Patea Primary school in 1967 when we decided to move to Canada for two years as an adventure and some out-of-country experience. We arrived in Vancouver in August 1968 with our daughter who was nine years old, and our son who was seven. The town in which we received teaching positions was Kamloops, a junction city about fourhours drive from Vancouver enroute to Calgary.

During our first year there Jack was admitted to the Administrative Trainee programme. Two years later he received a principal's position and retained that position until he retired in 1989 .

Jack spent many years trout fishing in the local lakes and golfing at Kamloops Golf and Country Club. He became an ardent fan of our local junior ice hockey team, the Kamloops Blazers, to the extent that we billetted boys from the team for eleven years. We visited friends and family in New Zealand every two years or so and travelled frequently with friends and relatives throughout North America and Britain.

Obviously our original plan to stay for two years was extended. Our two children married and settled in North America so although our bonds to New Zealand are strong, family ties and a very good life kept us here. Jack frequently talked about his years at Wellington College and often on our trips back to Wellington he would bump into fellow Old Boys on the street. These meetings always triggered memories of classmates and rugby games. He was proud of his years at Wellington College.

BURRELL, Craig Donald, Dr B: 05/07/26 D: 20/11/09, Wales Wellington College: 1940 – 1944 Obituary provided by brother, Ian (1946-50) Craig Burrell, MD, Sandoz Executive, and Past President of the New York Academy of Sciences, died in November in New York, of a massive cerebral haemorrhage. He had travelled from his home in Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family.

Craig was born in Gravesend, Kent in 1926. The family immigrated to New Zealand when his father, a marine engineer, was appointed to run the Post Office workshops for New Zealand. Shortly after their arrival in Auckland, his father’s appointment as a foreigner was debated, but resolved in the New Zealand Parliament. Within two years, they moved to Wellington, where Craig attended Wellington College through high school. He graduated Proxime Accessit to Dux, and was awarded the JP Firth Prize for leadership, sport and scholarship. This prize, in addition to a full state scholarship, supported him throughout his six-year medical training at Otago Medical School in Dunedin. Raised in the Presbyterian Church, he was eligible to board at Knox College.

After a two-year hospital internship and stints in rural general practice, he travelled as a Ship’s Surgeon to Great Britain, where he trained in Endocrinology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith, London with Professor Russell Fraser, a fellow New Zealander.

In 1956, he was appointed Registrar in Medicine

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and Resident Medical Officer at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary/Welsh National School of Medicine. There he met his future wife Mary Elizabeth Granger, a junior doctor. They both immigrated to the United States, where they were married in May 1960. They raised a family of five children - Dr Catherine Burrell, a Doctor of Music and Family Physician, Dr Sarah Troxel, a Plastic Surgeon, Craig Burrell, a Trader, Walter Burrell, an Attorney and David Burrell, a Broker.

His career in the United States of America began in January 1960, when he was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine and Medicine in Psychiatry at Cornell University Medical School in New York City. He was in charge of the Metabolic Unit of the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, having previously, with a hospital physicist, set up the first radioiodine diagnostic and research unit in Wales. In his early days in New York, he was introduced to Rockland State Hospital’s research unit, and its medical director Nathan Kline and chief research nurse Amparo Chamberlain, who became the family’s closest friend and confidante.

1961 marked the beginning of his 25 year employment with Sandoz (first Sandoz Pharmaceuticals and then Sandoz Inc). Craig served Sandoz as Medical Director (where he liaised with the Food and Drug Administration on clinical trials, including the removal of LSD from clinical research), Vice-President of Medical Affairs, and finally as Vice-President of External Affairs. He sat on the Steering Committee of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, and was one of three members of a special committee, who worked with the FDA on industry affairs. He was the PMA representative to the Board of Trustees of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Care, and served the AALAC as Treasurer and as a member of its Executive committee.

He was active as a spokesman on issues ranging from patient package inserts to ethics in research.

He was responsible for ensuring that Sandoz did not use prisoners for medical research and testified before the National Commission on Protection for Human Subjects. He was an advisor to the World Health Organisation and under its auspices, set up medical ethical review committees in New Zealand and Australia.

In 1984, Craig was elected President of The New York Academy of Sciences. During his tenure, he was most honoured to host the Dalai Lama. While serving as President, he actively supported the Academy’s strong advocacy of the human rights of scientists around the world, particularly the plight of dissident and ‘refusenik’ scientists in the Soviet Union. Fifteen years earlier, Craig, at the invitation of the Soviet Union had presented a paper in Moscow at the ‘Symposium on Pharmacology and Clinical aspects of Treatment with Psychotropic Drugs’. As a courtesy to his hosts, he delivered his paper in Russian, which he had learned phonetically, with the unfortunate result that his listeners would not believe that he did not speak or understand Russian.

Two days prior to his death, Craig spent the afternoon at the new home of The New York Academy of Sciences, in World Trade Centre Tower 7, where he received a private tour, and enjoyed the panoramic view of his beloved Manhattan.

Craig published and lectured extensively on topics which included the pharmaceutical industry, compliance, ethical aspects of healthcare and comparative healthcare systems. He was a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of the Addictions. He held academic appointments at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine), the School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (Clinical Professor, Department of

International Health) and Kent State University (Adjunct Professor of Health Sciences). He also lectured at Dartmouth Medical School and gave the 35th Mendel lecture at St Peter’s College, New Jersey (where he was a member of the Board of Regents). He so admired the academic and ethical qualities of the Jesuit priests. He was the only nonMethodist Trustee of Union College, Barbourville, Kentucky.

Craig served on the Playfair Foundation (an organisation which supported the alumni of St Andrew’s University, the Royal Postgraduate Medical School and Imperial College, London) as a Trustee, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. He was also a Vice-President and Trustee of the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, and knew and admired Dr Kessler.

Craig held an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Union College, Kentucky, and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Rieker College, and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a fellow of The New York Academy of Sciences, and an Honorary Fellow of the American School Health Association, He was Past President of the Welsh History of Medicine Society and a member of the Cardiff Medical Society.

For twenty-one years, Craig served as a member of the Academic Board of St George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, and for many years, interviewed prospective medical students from Europe, Africa and Asia. Each year, when he visited Grenada, he checked on the academic progress of the students he had recommended for admission.

In 1975, Craig became Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mannes College of Music, at the time that Rise Stevens, world-acclaimed soprano, was its President. Five of his children attended the Preparatory Division, and in 1979, he, Miriam Kartch and Marya Mannes took the Board of Mannes to court to prevent its merger with the Manhattan School of Music. They were successful, and the College faculty formally honoured him. It was one of his proudest achievements.

A Presbyterian Elder, he led health education teams to Appalachia and Arkansas, and was an Elder Commissioner to the 185th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, USA. In retirement in Pembrokeshire, he became a member of the Church in Wales, and attended St Mary’s Church, Newport.

An avid reader, with a fund of general knowledge, he would have been the choice of his friends if they had required ‘Phone a Friend’ on a quiz show.

His beloved wife, Mary and their five children survive him, as do two children - Fiona Birkett, MVO and John Burrell, by a former marriage to Jocelyn Francis, and thirteen grandchildren.

He is also survived by his younger brother Ian Burrell, (1946-50) in Nelson, New Zealand, and his brother-in-law, Dr Colin Granger, in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Craig’s legacy was that he was a consummate diplomat and a caring, loving, gentle man who touched the lives of so many people. He will especially be missed by his family, his secretary Barbara Hintz, close friends, and the residents of Newport, Pembrokeshire, who mourn his loss.

CAPP, Noel Walter Eisdeel B: 11/11/22 D: 01/03/10, Brisbane Wellington College: 1940 Obituary provided by son, Tony Capp (1967-70) Noel was a day boy at Wellington College for one year in 1940 in form five.

His father was transferred from Wanganui to Wellington about then, as the Superintendant of Police in Wellington. Noel played Hockey for the 1st XI, and also Matriculated that year. They lived in Hataitai. Noel went from school into WWII as a fighter pilot in the RNZAF; most of his training was in Canada and the UK. After the war, Noel managed to get a repatriation loan and purchased a dairy farm at Kairanga in the Manawatu. Son Tony, (1967-70) spent his first 21 years on the farm, hence being a boarder for four years at Firth House (Noel booked Tony a place when Tony was only three-years-old).

Noel’s daughters all boarded at Chilton St James in Lower Hutt for their secondary education. One daughter, Susan, was 17 months younger than Tony, therefore she was much sought after by his cohorts, for her friends to partner each other at the various school dances etc.

Noel retired in about 1975, selling the farm and moving to Palmerston North. He was very active in Jaycees, Young Farmers, Lions and golf. He was also a Mason, a member of the Manuwatu Club and President at Hokowhitu golf club for two years and was on the committee for many years. He was also an active Board Member of the Manawatu Milk Board. Noel was involved in the Brevet Club (returned Airmen), which initiated the travel bug him and his wife. They visited Fiji for 25 years in a row, had a world cruise, and various trips to UK and Europe but settled on Portugal as their special place. They went to Portugal ten times.

They moved to Australia in about 1978, for the warmer climate and also because Tony was now living in Australia. In Brisbane, Noel played golf many days a week at the St Lucia Golf Club. He then moved onto bowls, playing at Toowong, St Lucia and finally playing in the 100 Club (100 members only - all by invitation). Last year he was made an Honorary Member of the Club.

Noel passed away after a short illness, following a fall in his unit at the age of 87.

EXLEY, David John B: 27/04/27 D: 06/10/09, Auckland Wellington College: 1940 – 1943 Obituary provided by David Lawson (1941-45) David Exley overcame adversity to build a notable career with the United Nations. He was one of the 1941 Form 4A boys who got together for regular reunions over the years and as one of that group, Hon. George Gair, said at David's funeral service in Auckland, he took the light and held it well.

In 1958, while working in Gaza with the UN Middle East peacekeeping force, David contracted polio.

He was six months in an iron lung, first in Israel and then in New York, but eventually he was able to return to work on crutches. He carried this disability with him into numerous assignments around the world and in 1973 was appointed Director of the UN Information Centre and UNICEF representative in Tokyo.

He described his eleven years in Japan as the happiest years of his career, one of the highlights being his active role in the UN-sponsored International Year of Disabled Persons. For this and other services David was honoured by the Government of Japan with the award of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, believed to be the highest honour that can be conferred on a non-Japanese. At a speech before a crowded stadium, the audience held its breath as David ascended a steep ramp, unaided. The crowd, including his sister applauded wildly in what she describes as a ‘very un-Japanese way’.

David retired and returned to New Zealand in 1987, living firstly in Devonport near his sister Eve Giles and her family, and later in Remuera. While still on crutches, and latterly in a wheelchair, he gained and retained a wide circle of friends and was an invariably cheerful and entertaining companion.

I for one enjoyed getting together and sometimes wheeling him up the street to lunch at his favourite Thai restaurant. I had worked with David on the Evening Post and later briefly on the Auckland Star, but many years passed before we caught up with each other again in Auckland.

Former classmates at the funeral service, in addition to George Gair, were Peter Josephson and Max Moore and messages were received from David Salkeld (UK), John Craig, Lester Franks, Peter Macdonald, Colin Fenton and Ray Harrison. A nearneighbour of mine, Bill Hume, another classmate, who was not able to attend, asked me to pass on his condolences.

GILBERT, Lionel de Vallienger (Val) B: 19/11/17 D: 02/01/10, Dunedin Wellington College: 1931 – 1934 Obituary provided by son, David Gilbert.

A leader both in war and business, Val Gilbert was awarded the Military Cross for his WWII battlefield exploits but never sought to glorify war, believing there was ‘no future’ in it. He died in Dunedin recently, aged 92.

Like many other returned servicemen, Val seldom spoke about the war, during which he rose to the rank of captain. Friends remember him as an unfailingly loyal companion who never mentioned his Military Cross. A New Zealand Defence Force citation reveals more of the story of the North African combat that he was reluctant to discuss, and the many lives he had helped to save.

His Military Cross was awarded for inspiring

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Obituaries

On leaving College he joined the Evening Post as a cadet reporter while studying part-time at Victoria University towards a BA degree. He worked in journalism for eight years in New Zealand, the United States and Great Britain, interspersed with a year at Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar in Journalism.

In 1953 he was appointed as a press officer in the UN Secretariat, New York. This was the start of a 33year career. One of the positions he held in the early days was as press officer to Sir Leslie Munro of New Zealand when he was President of the UN General Assembly. While writing for the Daily Express in London, he was proud to cover the Queen’s Coronation ceremony in 1953.

leadership and outstanding devotion to duty over ten months of continuous operation in the field, and for prompt and determined action on April 9, 1943, during an advance from Wadi Akarit in Tunisia when commanding a troop of 25-pounder anti-tank guns detailed for field gun line protection. An attack of about 13 enemy tanks had bypassed the leading Allied armour and developed a direct threat to the gun line and soft vehicles, the citation noted.

Lieutenant Gilbert, with quick appreciation, promptly deployed his troop to meet this threat just as the enemy launched a strong attack. He ordered his guns into action, controlling their fire with such telling effect that two enemy tanks were knocked out, a third damaged and the remainder so discouraged that the attack was halted. Their fire was also drawn away from the soft vehicles and time was gained for our tanks to re-form, counter-attack and restore a very critical situation. Before this, while serving as battery liaison officer, Lt Gilbert had been ordered to contact a troop attacking with an infantry battalion at night.

He found the troop had run foul of a minefield under intense enemy shell, mortar and machinegun fire and the troop officer had been seriously wounded. He promptly took command, evacuated the wounded and extracted the guns one by one.

Despite heavy fire and repeated counter-attacks, through his tireless energy, coolness and indifference to danger, he also succeeded in recovering all the vehicles from the minefield.

A resident at the Montecillo Veterans Home and Hospital for the past three-and-a-half years, Val recalled, in an Otago Daily Times interview in 2007, leaving for overseas in 1940. I just wanted to fight the Jerries. But there was no bravado about it. I was scared stiff.

Corporal Gilbert was 22 when he sailed from Wellington aboard the troop ship Mauretania in 1940, as part of the 2NZEF, later being commissioned into the 7th Anti-tank Regiment. His brother Gerald, who later also went abroad, in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was killed during a Wellington bomber exercise over Oxford, England, in 1944.

I remember hanging over the bow of the boat as it left Wellington, and seeing Dad and my brother waving me off. I never saw my brother again, Val said. I later visited him at the British Commonwealth Cemetery over there. It's pretty sad when you see how many blokes are buried there. I'm just bloody thankful I'm here, actually. There's no future in war, he added.

When I was in Africa, I was delivering some shells when I got a strafed by a Stuka [dive bomber] and got hit in the backside with a bit of shrapnel. They were awful things, those Stukas. They made a terrible whining sound as they came down at you.

His exploits in the North African campaign against Rommel's forces led to his promotion to Captain. He also served with the 5th Field Regiment during the Italian campaign.

Obituaries

Val was a past-president of the Dunedin RSA and Officers Club, and Dunedin Rotary Club and also played a leading role in several other community organisations.

Born in Wellington, he attended Kelburn School and Wellington College then joined the staff of J Gadsden and Co, a firm which produced tinware, including a wide range of food and other storage containers, as well as lids and bottle tops.

After the war, he returned to the firm and also immediately joined the Territorial Force, being promoted to major and continuing to serve until

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1959, completing 20 years of military service to his country.

In 1950, he married Phyllis Buckrell, a dairy-farmer's daughter from Whakamara in Taranaki.

In the late 1950s, he was transferred to Dunedin as the company's branch manager. The company's large manufacturing complex was near the new Dunedin central police station in Great King St, on the site now occupied by Smiths Sports Shoes.

Away from his work he was well known for the musical ditties he would write for family and friends.

My Old Man's a Mason was one of his favourite song writing creations. It hinted at the fact Owen was a member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 60 years. Within the lodge he rose to the rank of assistant Wellington provincial grandmaster.

In 1972, he left Dunedin and continued his management work with the firm in Wellington.

He and his wife Peg (nee Carlaw) had enjoyed the southern life and, after he retired in 1982, they returned to Dunedin where they enjoyed a long and happy retirement. Over the years, they spent many happy summer holidays camping near Tarras in Central Otago. Val was a keen Otago rugby supporter, as well as an avid reader and solver of crossword puzzles. He was also a capable and enthusiastic bowls player who played fours, often as lead, at the Balmacewen Bowling Club, in interclub competition.

His wife died in 2001 and he is survived by three children.

GWILLIAM, Owen Llewllyn B: 28/02/23 D: 08/01/10, Lower Hutt Wellington College: 1936 - 1938 Obituary from the Dominion Post Owen Gwilliam's behindthe-scenes, 41-year working career for Caltex saw him involved in an unofficial public relations role on the fringes of New Zealand's troubled sporting relationship with South Africa. He worked for Caltex from 1939-80 and in his latter years with the company he was national public relations manager in Wellington.

In this role he reported directly to the then Caltex managing director Jack Sullivan who, in his spare time, was also New Zealand Rugby Football Union chairman in the 1970s.

Jack Sullivan, the former All Black who played rugby against South Africa in 1937 and again in the Western desert in 1941, was deeply committed to retaining sporting relationships with South Africa in an apartheid environment. By contrast, Owen, the oil-company public relations career man who was educated at Wellington College in the 1930s, diplomatically kept his views on sporting relations with South Africa very much to himself. But he was also always the quiet, behind-the-scenes, trusted adviser to the man who was disparagingly referred to as ‘no comment Jack’ throughout the various Springbok tour controversies of the 1970s.

The careers of Jack and Owen mirrored each other within Caltex. Both served their time as Caltex tanker drivers before moving into sales and embarking on war service in World War II. Both retired from the company in the same year, in 1980.

Owen, the son of an Eastbourne grocer in Wellington, saw war service in the Pacific with the New Zealand Air Force during WW II. Away from the office towers in Wellington during his career, Owen had a passion for music, repertory and the use of words. He began singing, aged 13, as a student at Wellington College. After the war he became actively involved in local repertory in Palmerston North, performing lead roles in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan productions.

In the latter years of his life as a resident of the Shona McFarlane Retirement Village, he was a member of the Petone Daylight Lodge.

Throughout his adult life he was closely involved in Caltex-sponsored community projects, including the Golden Shears in Masterton, IHC and the Paraplegic Association. Owen was made a life member of the association in 1980. He and his late wife were regular attendees at the annual paraplegic games at various venues throughout New Zealand. That's the way Owen was.

Like his former boss at Caltex, Jack 'no comment" Sullivan, Owen Gwilliam did not say much in public.

He specialised in lifetime commitments. Behind the scenes he just quietly did things.

HALL, Eric Ogilvie (Emer. Professor) B: 1925 D: 29/07/09, Hobart Wellington College: 1939-44 Obituary provided by Bob Balchin (1943-45) Eric Ogilvie Hall, formally professor of metallurgy at the University of Newcastle, died in Hobart on July 29, 2009.

After completing a degree in Physics at the Victoria University in Wellington, he travelled to England to do a doctorate at the Cavendish Laboratory of Cambridge University, which he was awarded in 1952.

In 1951, he published a paper in volume 64 of the Proceedings of the Physical Society as part of his work toward his PhD, in which he proposed a relationship between the yield strength of metals and grain size which was to gain him international recognition.

Independent work by N.J. Petch, published in 1953, found the same relationship with grain size. The relationship between material yield strength and grain size subsequently became known as the Hall-Petch equation. This equation finds extensive use in explaining the yielding properties of a broad range of materials, an area that became a focus of Professor Hall's subsequent research.

Following a year as a research assistant at the University of Cambridge, he took up a lectureship in Physics at the University of Sheffield until 1959.

In 1959 Professor Hall was offered the position of head of the division of applied science and associate professor of metallurgy at the Newcastle University College of the University of NSW at Tighes Hill, Newcastle.

From the time of his arrival in Newcastle, he played an important role in the preparation of the college for autonomy in 1963 as the University of Newcastle.

With autonomy, Professor Hall was appointed to a full professorial chair, the second at the university, becoming the foundation professor of metallurgy and dean of the faculty of applied science.

In subsequent years he held various positions within the university from director of TUNRA Limited, to deputy of the senate and in 1971- 75 deputy vicechancellor and executive member of the planning committee.

It was in his role as deputy vice-chancellor that he was influential in improving computing facilities at the university and in the establishment of the medical faculty, having written the submission to government for the new school.

After a secondment to the Universities Commission in Canberra as deputy chairman in 1975 he returned to the University of Newcastle in 1976 to resume his position as professor of metallurgy, a position he held until his retirement in 1988.

As a result of an industry downturn in the 1980s and lack of student enrolments, the metallurgy department closed in 1985 and the staff became part of mechanical engineering.

Metallurgy continued to be taught until 1989 when the last students of metallurgy graduated from the university. Over his tenure as professor of metallurgy from 1959 to 1988, about 300 students graduated from Newcastle with a degree in metallurgy. He continued to contribute to the University as emeritus professor until 1991, before retiring to Tasmania.

His seminal paper reporting the yield stress relationship with grain size has now been cited so many times, and has become so well accepted through the Hall-Petch equation, that it no longer draws citations. It has been applied to ceramics and even some polymers which exhibit granularity.

The University of Newcastle owes an enduring debt to his skill as a researcher and administrator through its formative years.

JONES, Barrie Russell B: 04/01/21 D: 19/08/09, England Wellington College: 1934 - 1939 Sources: University of Otago Magazine and The Telegraph, England.

Otago alumnus and ophthalmologist, the late Barrie Jones changed forever the way in which ophthalmology is taught and practised.

Professor Barrie Jones, who died aged 88, made an outstanding contribution to the prevention of blindness in the developing world.

Thirty years ago, it was common in Africa to see a child afflicted by River Blindness (onchocerciasis) or blinded by a - perfectly treatable - condition such as cataract. That this is much less frequent today is due in no small part to Barrie and those he trained with such dedication.

In 1951 he arrived in London, enrolling at the Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Six years later he was a senior lecturer at the Institute and an honorary consultant at Moorfields, and in 1963 he was appointed the

Barrie proved to be an inspired innovator. In the hospital he promoted the division of the general clinics into subspeciality ‘cells’ which concentrated on a single disease or group of conditions, a move that led to an improvement in diagnostic methods.

He also developed new surgical procedures, and made important contributions to the understanding and treatment of many different infectious and allergic diseases of the eye.

His greatest contribution during this period, however, was in the field of trachoma (a contagious bacterial infection of the eye), which at the time was responsible for blindness in some six million people worldwide. From 1965 to 1977, Barrie carried out fieldwork in Iran on the isolation and culture of the causative organism, Chlamydia trachomatis, its transmission within impoverished communities, and its control.

Barrie’s visits to developing countries left him increasingly frustrated by the disparity between the pursuit of excellence in curative services in industrialised countries and the unmet needs of most of the rest of the world. A man of genuine compassion, he believed that academic ophthalmologists had social responsibilities and should act on them.

Thus, in 1981 he resigned his chair at London University to establish and lead the International Centre for Eye Health, a new department of preventive ophthalmology at the Institute. Its purpose was to apply the science of epidemiology and the principles of public health to eye health in the developing world, and to train a cadre of professionals who could bring services to the socially remote and the rural poor.

He proved an impassioned and entertaining teacher, noted for coining memorable phrases. The indiscriminate mixing of ocular secretions between members of a family which spread trachoma he described as ‘ocular promiscuity’; while an ‘ocular condom’ was a hat with a mesh around it to prevent flies reaching the eyes.

Each year Barrie devoted one lecture to ‘Hoffensteiner’s disease’ - a condition so rare that no one in living memory had seen a case, but to which some ophthalmic scientists devoted their entire careers, despite the fact that there was so much that could be done with the knowledge and skills we already possessed.

Barrie received many honours and awards, including, in 1990, the Gonin Medal of the International Council of Ophthalmology. He was appointed CBE in 1985.

positive effect on the University, says Department of Ophthalmology Associate Professor Gordon Sanderson. In ophthalmic circles Otago punches far above its weight, he says. This is the place people turn to when they want postgraduate training or they want to get representation on a committee.

Otago has inordinate influence and that is partly a result of Barrie Jones. He had great respect for those who had gone before, says his daughter. He often talked in lectures about honouring those heroes who had led the way. Now he is playing that role for others.

McHALICK, Denis Murray D: 15/12/09, Wellington Wellington College: 1978 - 1983 Former Master Obituary from Rongotai College OBA Many Old Boys will have been saddened to learn of Denis’ death in December. Denis was a student at Rongotai from 1938-39 and was awarded first prize in Form 2A in 1939. His family then shifted to Levin where he was Dux at Horowhenua College.

He returned to teach in the Rongotai Intermediate Department in 1949. Later he was Head of Mathematics in the secondary department until he was persuaded by Jim MacGregor in 1969 to transfer to Wainuiomata College as the Deputy Principal. In 1978 he moved again to be a mathematics teacher at Wellington College. A feature of his teaching career was his long association in different schools with other well remembered Rongotai teachers, Laurie Gardiner, Jim MacGregor and Bob O’Brien.

Laurie and Bob were also Old Boys. Denis retired in 1983 to bowls, house renovation and almost daily walking of the city.

Denis was a dedicated sportsman and coached cricket and rugby teams at Rongotai. The peak of his sporting days was as a member of the great University Rugby team of the 1950s. Denis was the hooker, following in the footsteps of another Rongotai identity, Dick Burke. His teammate Peter Osborne recalled at Denis’s funeral what was probably the highlight of his rugby career. Minutes before the end of the last game of the season in 1954 against Petone, Denis won a tight head, which, with a kick over the scrum by All Black Mick Bremner (wrong-footing the legendary Bob Scott) and a try

by Ron Jarden, was instrumental in Varsity winning the Jubilee Cup for the third successive season.

In the summer Denis captained a University cricket team, for which fortunate members of the Rongotai First XI were invited to play during the vacation.

On his retirement in 1986, he was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine for his contribution to the prevention of blindness. This enabled him to embark on a large clinical trial in Nigeria, which showed the efficacy of the drug Ivermectin in the prevention of blindness from onchocerciasis.

In addition to family members, other speakers at Denis’s funeral included Bob O’Brien, who shared his recollections of teaching and travelling with Denis, and a former student who registered his gratitude for the inspirational teaching he received from Denis at Rongotai.

At the age of 81, Barrie returned to New Zealand, where he enjoyed becoming reacquainted with the distinctive native flora and cultivating the garden plants that had not responded at his home in Surrey.

PACKER, Gordon John Kitch B: 25/02/40 D: 13/05/10, Canada WC: 1953 – 1957 Memories from Keith Fleming and Robbie Bruce.

Barrie is survived by his wife, Pauline, to whom he was married for 62 years, and by their daughter and three sons.

I got to know Gordon well many years ago when we worked jointly on our final year BE (Chem) thesis topic at Canterbury University. Although he was a year ahead of me, our final year of study in 1962 coincided because he was in the final class to take the five-year BE (Chem), BSc double degree and I

Although Barrie had spent his entire career overseas, his reputation and Otago connections have had a

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Barrie was born at Silverstream, near Wellington, in 1921. He was educated at Wellington College and Victoria University College, where he read Physics and Chemistry. He then studied Medicine at Otago University, Dunedin, before joining the band of New Zealanders who came to Britain for postgraduate training.

first Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of London.

was in the first intake of the shorter four-year BE degree.

Mennonite Brethren Church. He will be fondly remembered and missed.

Gordon was truly a great guy, mildly eccentric but with an extraordinarily inventive mind and an enormously compassionate personality. In his student days at Canterbury, he was known to knit baby clothes during lectures for his new baby sister.

He attempted endurance stunts like cycling the high-country Tophouse Road in mid-winter snows.

Later, while studying for a PhD at Massey University, he commuted regularly on his bike to visit his family in Wellington. Such cycle exploits were extended after he moved to Alberta, Canada with legendary tales of epic winter rides in the extreme cold across western Canada, from Alberta to Yellowknife in the North West Territories. He even featured in a Time magazine photo, cycling in shorts on a chainequipped bicycle through the snows of mid-winter Edmonton. Sadly, it is a cycling accident that claimed him last week.

PEBBLES, Donald Clendon, ONZM B: 05/03/22 D: 27/03/10, Christchurch Wellington College: 1936 - 1937 Obituary from the Dominion Post.

His inventiveness led to the development of a 360° panoramic camera which was used to capture great images of the Rockies. Another example of his ingenuity was adapting a wheelchair for his first wife, a polio victim I believe, who relied continuously on electrically-powered respiratory equipment.

With its heavy lead-acid batteries, he contrived to mount the bulky wheelchair onto a tricycle which he would then pedal with ultra-low gearing over any mountain trails that he could negotiate. So his compassion, dedication and inventiveness gave his disabled wife opportunities to share and enjoy his passion for cycling.

It didn't stop with cycling around Alberta with his wife in her life-sustaining wheelchair. He just had to bring her to New Zealand to meet his family - an almost impossible task given airlines reluctance to transport such a perceived risky passenger. After a prolonged battle with the airlines, he eventually succeeded, fulfilling an odyssey to reach New Zealand with her. But it didn't end there - the size of her wheelchair with its electrical equipment proved almost too much to fit in the NZ Railways units to reach his old home suburb of Khandallah.

I understand his second wife also endured disabilities but his dedication and compassion continued to her too, enabling them both to enjoy life together. Unfortunately, I know no more than this and perhaps somebody can contribute further.

Obituaries

As Robbie says, Gordon was a ‘brainy bloke’ who, had he chosen, could probably have achieved much more had he been able to complete and finalise all that he began. I know from our work together in 1962 and his subsequent studies, he had an outstanding ability to explore every possible avenue and take on seemingly impossible challenges, typifying a great kiwi 'can do' attitude.

Don died in Christchurch, where he had lived for many years. According to the New Zealand Arts Foundation, Don was a key figure in the emergence and evolution of New Zealand abstract art. He was a leading force in contemporary New Zealand painting and is one of New Zealand's most senior and respected practitioners. He was also an avid tennis player.

He attended Wellington College before leaving to deliver telegrams for the Post Office in 1937. He saw active service in the army during World War II and studied art in Florence briefly at the war’s end before returning to New Zealand.

He attended classes at the Wellington Technical College Art School from 1947-50 until a leave of absence from the Post Office enabled him to study full-time at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney from 1951-53.

In 1960 he travelled to London for further study.

There he met Constructionist artist Victor Pasmore.

The works of Pasmore and other Constructionists influenced him to embark on a style of painting that tried to get at the essence of things - to keep pushing back the boundaries.

In 1965, Don was appointed to the staff of the University Of Canterbury School Of Fine Arts, becoming Head of the Painting Department in 1980. He retired in 1986 and returned to painting full-time. His work has been acquired by both public and private collections in New Zealand and internationally. He was recognised as one of New Zealand's most important abstract artists.

Don continued painting throughout his battle with cancer. He had a sharp wit and an extremely dry sense of humour.

Gordon was our newest stats person this year. He was the ‘guy with the accent’ that was friendly and always had a story to share about his life. He was very enthusiastic about learning about quizzing and helping out where he could. He was looking forward to helping out again next year in the stats room in addition to learning how to fix the equipment for us. The Vauxhall/Brooks group welcomed Gordon into their group this year and was able to share some good times with him.

Don, being extremely well read and a source of wisdom, was an unofficial mentor and guide for a lot of New Zealand artists. He is survived by his wife, Prudence, and their three children.

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Bob Pope was born and educated in Wellington.

Soon after leaving Wellington College in 1941 he began work with chartered accountancy company David Markham & Co. After two years with the firm, he saw war service in the Pacific and Far East flying as a navigator on Catalina flying boats. His mathematical and accounting ability made him an ideal man for the role.

The fifth generation New Zealander rejoined his accountancy firm after his war service, became a partner in 1951, went on to become its Chairman and reached the top of his profession by being elected President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (1980-81).

Away from the world of high finance, Bob was passionate about many things, including cricket.

After playing for Wellington College, he joined the Wellington College Old Boys’ Cricket Club and was captain of the Club’s 2nd XI. His love of cricket and Wellington College combined in his latter years when he became a benefactor of the school. He assisted the College’s 1st XI (one of many organisations to benefit from his philanthropy) to travel to games away from Wellington, especially to the Willows Cricket Club, north of Christchurch.

He also held the role of honorary auditor for several charitable and community organisations and for the last 18 years of his life was honorary finance controller for Kapiti Emergency Medical Services Trust.

He was also a Kapiti Coast District Councillor in the late 1990s. Travel, friends and family were other passions. Bob took great delight in travelling to various parts of the world (Greece, Italy, and Turkey) to enjoy the culture and cuisine of those countries.

He was an inveterate letter writer to The Evening Post, The Dominion and The Dominion Post over

Don was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999 for his services to New Zealand art. In 2003 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Literature by the University of Canterbury. He received an Arts Foundation Icon Award in 2007, awarded to just 20 living people at any one time.

Gordon, from Vauxhall Canada, died from injuries sustained as a result of an accident that occurred as he was bicycling.

His passing will be felt strongly by the members of the Vauxhall/Brooks quizzing team as well as his family and friends and members of the Vauxhall

POPE, Robert (Bob) Charlton B: 02/07/25 D: 05/05/10, Waikanae Wellington College: 1938 - 1940 Obituary from the Dominion Post.

Page 60 of the 2009 Lampstand featured an interview with Don and featured some of his work.

Bob, with 2006 1st XI Cricket Captain Charles Gallagher. Charles presented Bob with a framed photo of the College, taken in the 1940s as a way of thanks to Bob for supporting the 1st XI travel expenses to the Willows.

many years. His letters were erudite and covered a wide range of subjects, reflecting his keen sense of humour.

Following the election of an elderly Pope Benedict, one of his last letters to The Dominion Post took a self-deprecating chip at his Old Catholic mates across the Basin Reserve from Wellington College at St Patrick’s College. All this fuss about the election of an elderly churchman in Rome. I’m only a few weeks short of my 80th birthday, but have enjoyed the title all my life. RC Pope, Paraparaumu Beach.

Bob’s son Derek attended the College from 196569 and currently, in Y9 is his grandson Simon.

Bob was no stranger to the College - often you would find him sitting on the Terraces watching our 1st XI play, or just a friendly visit and chat with the Headmaster. He would also follow them at their away Traditionals, particularly so at Wanganui Collegiate. Cricket was not the only beneficiary of Bob’s generosity. He often supported those students who found it difficult to meet the cost of their extracurricular activities by paying for boots and school trips. The College has indeed lost a good friend.

PORTER, Kenneth Russell B: 22/11/2021 D: 24/07/10, Melbourne Wellington College: 1935 - 1937 Obituary provided by son, Ronald.

Ken Porter was born in Hataitai, Wellington in 1921 and attended Kilbirnie School before going to Wellington College.

His early life was dominated by the Great Depression and he actively started working for his father from the age of ten, helping in his shop and theatre after school hours. The family pulled together and were able to weather the Depression. Nevertheless, he had time for sport and was active in swimming, football, boating, fishing, tennis and table tennis. He also managed to pass his Matriculation examination at College while participating in sport.

In 1938, Ken joined the Union Bank of Australia in Wellington, this being one of the forebears of the current ANZ Bank.

When war broke out in 1939, it wasn’t long before Ken signed up at the age of 19. By then he had attained national medals in swimming and played first class rugby.

At age 21, he went overseas to join the NZ Division in the Middle East. He had been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in New Zealand but resigned his commission to go overseas but was re-commissioned in the field during the battle of Cassino in 1944. He landed in Italy in late 1943 and saw action in most of the Italian campaigns including several months in the front line at Cassino. In September that year, Ken was wounded near Rimini in Northern Italy and was sent by hospital ship to the huge base hospital at Bari in the south. While convalescing, he was posted to HQ at Senigallia in the north and it was there that he met his future Italian wife, Laura.

Ken rejoined the bank as a relatively junior officer and started the long haul up the hierarchical ladder

In 1955, Ken received his first promotion to Manager of a bank at Browns Bay, Auckland and in 1959 to a larger bank in Penrose, Auckland, and then back to Wellington as Assistant District Manager. In 1966, he transferred to Melbourne as First Assistant Manager at the Bank’s then main branch at 394 Collins Street.

This was followed by tours of duty as Chief Manager, Nominee and Registrar Department and Deputy General Manager.

In 1973, Ken returned to New Zealand as General Manager and found himself back in Head Office in Wellington. He and Laura lived in the Bank’s house in Wadestown – Sylvia and Ronald remained in Australia. After four very interesting years as NZGM during which he and Laura visited branches throughout the country, Ken was promoted to State Manager, Victoria where, again they visited branches throughout the State and lived in the Bank house in Toarak.

Ken retired in 1981 aged 60 and took on some company directorships.

Throughout his career, Ken belonged to many clubs and organisations. He was also a JP and had attained his BCom, FAIB, FBINZ, FCA, Dip Banking and was Cavalere Ufficiane (which is equivalent to an Italian Knighthood). The President of the Republic of Italy conferred the honour of Cavaliere Ufficiale for his services to the Italian communities in New Zealand and Australia. It is the third in the order of four and the equivalent of a Knighthood.

Ken wrote the book The Mortgage Debenture now into its third edition as well as the book Luck is no Fortune. Ken was also Life Governor of the Spastic Society and the Royal Women’s Hospital and was awarded the Military ED and Bar. In Ken’s last years, he was keen to garden and work around the home as well as reading, using the computer, playing chess, painting, golf, swimming.

He had his own painting studio and was an accomplished oil painter. Ken kindly presented to the Archives ‘Tugboats, Wellington Harbour, 1967’, painted by himself. This painting now hangs in the Headmaster’s Reception area where it has been much admired. Ken has been a constant support to the Archives and has given some very valuable memorabilia and generous donations over the years.

Of course, his most abiding interest was his wife and family which had grown to eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

RITCHIE, James (Jim) Ernest Professor Emeritus B: 12/12/29 D: 24/09/09, Hamilton Wellington College: 1942 - 1946 Written for the Waikato Times by Roy Burke (1946-47)

Jim Ritchie was a man of firm determination. He once threatened to divorce his wife, Jane. He wanted her to be hired as a psychology department lecturer but there was prejudice against the idea of a Head of Department employing his wife. It came to a vote by the university council. Jim was a member of the council and was asked to leave as the vote was about to be taken.

But he had some parting words: if it is necessary to divorce my wife to make you appoint her, I am prepared to do that. Jane got the job.

Jim and Jane were a formidable team, married for almost 53 years. They taught together (she also earned the title Professor), campaigned together on issues such as anti-smacking, and co-authored a shelf of acclaimed psychology books. They had five children and a lusty team of grandchildren.

The partnership ended last September. Jim had long battled cardiac problems and was admitted to Waikato Hospital several times. His condition was past surgical solution. Jim was 79.

His engine was worn out but his mental energy was intact till the last. A year ago he taught classes at Waikato University and held students with his sharp-edged thinking. He was a trusted advisor to Tainui.

Jim has left many milestones. He built Waikato University’s department of Psychology and was a key figure making it responsive to the needs of Maori. He saw culture as the core of who people are and how they relate - the key to their whole identity (that was a revolutionary view when he espoused it). His work made Waikato’s Psychology Department notably different.

He had strong commitment to making psychology useful, influencing life quality. He believed the place for psychology is where people live, not ‘in the laboratory.’ He was determined that psychology must make a difference.

He had huge influence on three or four generations of psychology students, many of them Maori.

He taught them and mentored them. He was a significant rock thrown into the waters of our cultures. There is no counting how far the waves and wavelets travel.

He joined many battles. His focus was frequently on Maori. He was pakeha, but strongly for Maori ever since his teen years. Jim was a member of Wellington’s Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club and at 18 in 1948, made a first visit to Turangiwaewae as a member of the Club’s Haka Party. He was the only pakeha and had been asked to stand aside, but Princess Te Puea personally told him to join in. We won.

The Princess told her inner circle to watch over that young man for he will be useful to us. Useful indeed! He was a major contributor in the Tainui

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Obituaries

Later on, while in Sienna awaiting transport home, he proposed to Laura and she arrived in New Zealand mid 1946, and they married in June. Sylvia was born in 1947 and Ronald in 1951.

of the bank. He threw himself into his studies and passed several degrees.

land settlement process.

Jim met many Maori leaders and others influential in the Maori cause. He won an understanding of the politics of Maori issues.

In 1964, Jim was offered a founding Professorship at Waikato University. There was a decision to be made, for at the same time he had been offered a chair in psychological anthropology at Queens University, New York. I guess I chose to be a sort of middle-sized fish in a somewhat small pond rather than drown or be consumed by the piranhas in the rivers of American academia, he recalled in 1998.

The deciding factor was the opportunity to work with Tainui and Waikato Maori. I mapped out a possible role for the university in things Maori. As I look back, it has now been substantially achieved.

SHIELD, Harold John B: 20/09/19 D: 05/02/10, England WC: 1930 – 1933 Source: David Duxbury, Christchurch based aviation volunteer researcher with the Air Force Museum NZ404953 Harold Shield was a member of the RNZAF during the period of WWII, although all his operational career was on attachment to the RAF in the UK. He enlisted in New Zealand on 1 December 1940, and left Auckland for Canada on 22 July, 1941 aboard the Dominion Monarch, sailing across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal, to disembark at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 16 August, 1941. At this point he was attached to the RCAF for his advanced training as an Air Observer (although he would have been re-rated as a Navigator in about July 1942 when the old Observer trade was abolished, by being ‘split’ into the new trades of Navigator and the Air Bomber). He would have completed his training as an observer in about January 1942 and was almost certainly appointed to a commission at this point, in rank of Pilot Officer, and then would have been attached to the RAF prior to sailing across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom.

Obituaries

He was still attached to the RAF in April 1945, holding rank of F/L (date of seniority 23 January, 1944). For his operational service with the RAF he was awarded the DFC on 11 October, 1943 (for his first tour with 149 Squadron, which during this time was flying Stirling heavy bombers - he flew 27 ops), and the Bar to his DFC was gazetted on 13 April, 1945, after his second tour with 692 Squadron (Mosquito, 6 ops with Light Night Striking Force), and with 105 (Pathfinder) Squadron (also Mosquito, 54 ops). He completed his service with the RNZAF on 5 September, 1945. In the interval between his two tours (August 1943 to April 1944) he flew as an instructor with 1665 and 1654 Heavy Conversion Units, helping new crews convert to the flying and operation of heavy bombers.

He may well have returned to NZ before returning to the UK to join the RAF postwar. Incidentally it was common practice for those who graduated as Air Observers to later refuse to give up their original ‘Flying O’ badge for the new navigator (or Air Bomber) badge, claiming (rightly) that the original observer classification was equivalent to both the new badges, and to be forced to choose (in their eyes) an inferior qualification badge was an insult. There should be a photo of Shield wearing his ‘Flying O’ badge somewhere – it might be worth contacting the RNZAF Museum and seeing if they have a wartime picture of Shield.

The citations for his DFCs as follows:- DFC dated 11/10/43. Flying Officer Shield has at all times displayed outstanding efficiency and reliability in his navigational work. The targets he has attacked

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have included Hamburg, Berlin and many Ruhr objectives. His coolness, on many occasions when his aircraft has been actively engaged by the enemy defences has contributed largely to the general success of his crew.

(Bar to) DFC dated 13/4/45. Throughout the whole of his operational career, Flight Lieutenant Shield has shown himself to be a most skilful and courageous navigator. Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross he has participated in a large number of operations which have included attacks against such well major and well-defended targets as Essen, Duisburg, and Cologne. By his concentration on his allotted task, great determination and consistent devotion to duty, Flight Lieutenant Shield has set a magnificent example to all.

This information is from Errol Martyn's For Your Tomorrow, Volume 3 (Volplane Press 2008) for details of his departure from NZ; Colin Hanson's

By Such Deeds (Volplane Press, 2001) for citations detailing reasons for awards, birth details, in and out of service dates, and details of his tours. Royal New Zealand Air Force List, dated April 1945 for details of his seniority as a F/L (and his approximate whereabouts in April 1945).

There is no mention of Shields in Volume 1 of the H L Thompson's volume in the Official History of New Zealanders in World War Two, New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force, but in Thompson's Vol 2 (which covered the European theatre January 1943 to May 1945) he rates a brief mention on page 50, although the only new information is contained in the footnote, which states that prior to his enlistment in December 1940 he was a commercial artist. His name appears in the narrative in a list of navigators to achieve distinction during 1943.

This just goes to show that more detailed information in specialised fields is often available in books than on the Internet, although once you can obtain certain key details as I have included above you may well be able to locate further references to Shield on the Internet if you look up 105, 149, and 692 Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, for instance.

It appears that Harold remained in the UK after the war, and remained a friend of the College as a recipient of the Lampstand up to his death.

SMART, John Innes B: 18/05/39 D: 11/10/09, Blenheim Wellington College: 1953 – 1957 Obituary from the Marlborough Express Eleven years after Ben Smart vanished in the Marlborough Sounds, a memorial for his father will face the same stretch of water.

A memorial bench is to be placed on the Picton foreshore for John Smart, who died aged 70, in Blenheim after a brief battle with melanoma.

It will be put there by his engineering firm and Port Marlborough to mark his work as a harbour and coastal engineer.

John entered the public eye when his son Ben, 21, along with friend Olivia Hope, 17, disappeared on New Year's Day 1998, after celebrating at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds. Their bodies were never found His sister-in-law, Veronica Reed, said the way in which John handled himself during that difficult time was a testimony to the way he lived. He was just so calm, so unflustered about everything. What you saw of John during that

terrible time was what we all saw of him. He was content to let the police get on with their job, she said.

John was a successful civil, coastal and marine engineer, and was co-director of the company Smart Alliances. He started out in civil engineering, working in various parts of New Zealand and Australia before moving to Blenheim in the 1960s to fill a design engineer position on the County Council. He later joined the new Harbour Board in 1970. This was around the time the Picton Ferry terminal was extended and, as a qualified civil engineer, it was John’s first exposure to coastal and marine work. After ten years with the Harbour Board, John worked for himself as a harbour and coastal engineering specialist, and then for several companies on larger projects in Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.

In 2000 John set up his own company, Smart Associates, in Blenheim, dealing with structural, civil, coastal and marine engineering projects, before joining forces under the banner of Smart Alliances.

Large-scale marine harbour and resort projects both here and off-shore included the Hilton Hotel Resort Maldive Islands; Timber luxury villas constructed over water were first designed for Rangali Island in 1995; the Marlborough Sounds Marinas; the Kooddoo Island Fishing Port and investigation, planning and supervision of a new fishing port in association with OPT International of Dunedin.

John is survived by his wife, Mary, and two daughters.

John returned to Wellington College in 2007 for the 50 Years On Reunion of the 1957 1st XV. SMITHER, Thomas Ashley (Tom) B: 14/05/41 D: 22/12/09, Christchurch Wellington College: 1955 - 1959 Old friends and acquaintances of Tom Smither will be grateful for the following memories recounted by a number of Tom’s cohort.

Tom was indeed a fine athlete - not surprising as he was a nephew of Tom Morrison, an All Black winger of the pre-WWII era. Tom's father owned a sports shop with Tom Morrison in Featherston Street, retailing rugby and other sporting gear to Wellington College students with friendly efficiency.

In addition to his sprinting abilities, Tom had a good eye. He knocked up a rapid century for the College’s 3rd XI around 1957 against one of the Hutt Valley colleges - more sixes than fours. If you close your eyes you will see him in his glory days as a school athletic champion. You might find him raising our school assembly in the mornings. There he is, speeding down the touchline in his 1st XV’s colours.

And, again, summoning his College Battalion to attention. Now, a moment’s stroll across the quadrangle. Then, a caramel milkshake in the old corner tuck shop after an arduous rugby practice.

The back ever straight, principle always first, loyalty to the ideal unswerving. I am glad I knew Tom. Tom attended the College from 1955 - 1959. He attended the 50 year Reunion for the 1959 class as recorded in the 2009 Lampstand where his photograph appears on p12 sitting beside Roger Moses and again on p13 along with Head Prefect, Ian Uttley of 1959 and 2009 HP Karl Moresi and DHP Andrew McIndoe.

In his address to the Assembly, Ian Uttley said I'm hugely honoured to have the opportunity to address you this morning, following a long line of Head Prefects who have done so at their respective class reunions. As I stand here, I'm glad to have the support of four of the 1959 Prefects. Tom Smither, Deputy Head Prefect and the outstanding sprinter at the 1959 intercollegiate sports and a very quick winger in the 1st XV. I remember Tom very well as we were Prefects in 1958. For years, the school appointed its prefects from the final year class but in Tom’s time there was break with tradition when John Hunn was appointed from the Lower Sixth form and the following year became the Head Prefect .

In 1958, three of the twelve school prefects were from the penultimate form being Tom Smither, Peter Webb and AJ (Gus) Mills who was in Firth House and came from earlier grazing in the Wairarapa.

Ian Uttley was a prefect also and stayed on in 1959 when he became the HP; Peter Webb who made a career in law stayed on to have a second year as a prefect also.

Being prefects together meant that we had considerable interaction especially in the Prefects' Room in the basement. There was much humour, drinking of milk (free in those days and brought to us by third formers from outside the West School) and to be frank we didn't have too much to fix up in terms of trouble. Mainly duty on the driveway after school, reporting lateness, attending to litter, seeing caps were worn down town and that socks were up three fingers below the knees, rehearsing the haka with the school, meeting with ‘The Boss’ once a month, reading the lesson in assembly and running Room 13 on Fridays for recidivists.

Tom was always of splendid humour and a thoroughly amicable and helpful, enthusiastic friend.

Tom was very respected by fellow students. He made a big mark for himself in athletics excelling I seem to recall in the 100 and 220 yard sprint events and the relay no doubt. He was a very natural athlete like many at school at the time - a modicum of training and technique to deliver the goods. Tom was of average height but had very well developed quads to power away in the sprint events. His pumping arm action for a sprinter was copybook stuff.

Tom Smither will be remembered with great affection. He is survived by five grandchildren.

STEPHENS, Thomas Martin (Tom) B: 10/12/11 D: 25/06/10, Wellington WC: 1926 - 1928 Obituary provided by son, Don Stephens, (1963-64) It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Tom Stephens. Tom passed on 25 June, aged 98. Tom was an Onslow Cricket Club ‘Original’ having been involved with the club during our early years. Tom besides being involved with the Onslow Rugby Club (since 1929) also, played cricket for Onslow when the club first started in 1930 until the late 30s.

Tom was instrumental in setting up Ngaio Kindergarten in the 1950s and it is still thriving in the community. At the time he was the Chief Accountant for the Wellington Education Board.

After Mount Cook School was destroyed by fire at its original site on Buckle Street, Tom was also involved with its relocation on its present site in Tory Street and the setting up of Kimi Ora Special School in Thorndon.

Tom was also involved over in the Wairarapa which came also came under the Wellington Education Board where they were consolidating various small district high schools in a couple of larger high schools and often the school committees of these small district high schools were very parochial and wanted the new high school in their patch. It got so bad that the Chairpersons of these boards ended going to the Education Board and it was left up to Tom to sort things out. The end result was that Tararua College was built at Pahiatua and Kuranui College was built in Greytown as both towns were midpoint of where all these district high schools were located.

Tom was heavily involved with the Methodist Church where besides being the Circuit Steward for the North Wellington Circuit (which covered from Pukerua Bay down to Ngaio) and later the Ngaio-Johnsonville Circuit for over 40 years was also Secretary-Treasurer between 1955 and 1967 and then Treasurer between 1968 and 1969 of the Wesley Social Services Trust where he was involved with the establishment of Wesleyhaven at Naenae and Epworth House which was a hostel established in the 1950s for Maori girls who came to work in Wellington.

Tom was also involved with the local community and sporting activities as he was an assistant scout master with the Ngaio Scouts, a former secretary of the Onslow Rugby Club and besides having been a Wellington lower grade rep selector also served a term as the secretary of the Wellington Hockey Association as well as on the committee of the Wellington Branch at the YMCA that included a term as President of the Optimist Club which was part of the YMCA. He was also a freemason having belonged to the NZ Pacific Lodge No2 since 1954 and other organisations he had belonged to included the Tararua Tramping Club, Prisoners Aid, Forest and Bird Society and later was a member of Greenpeace.

Soon after Dad first went into Malvina Major at the end of August 2002 there was a concert down in the main atrium and someone tapped him on his shoulder. It was another elderly resident who said I recognise you; you were in Mod 5A at Wellington College in 1928. This person was Spencer Radford (1926–29) of the Radford family that owned Radford’s and from the time Dad left College in 1928 until he went into Malvina Major neither Spencer nor his paths crossed even though they both became qualified accountants, freemasons and lived in Wellington all their lives.

Anyway Spencer and Dad besides being in the same classes, played tennis together at College and their friendship renewed at Malvina Major as Spencer often visited Dad in his room as Dad wasn’t as mobile as Spencer.

I also remember Spencer once telling my mother who was also at Malvina Major where she later died, that he could clearly remember after all these years that Tom was probably the poorest kid in the class and in those days a country boy as Tom was the son of a plumber and Ngaio was then regarded as being out in the country. Anyway Spencer told Mum that he always admired Tom by saying that Tom was probably the only boy in the modern fifth form classes that year to gain full matriculation and could have gone straight to university from the fifth form, but Dad had to leave College as his parents couldn’t afford to keep him at College and he needed to go into the workforce. I do remember Dad saying that he wished he could have spent a year in the sixth form but he realised that times were tough with the Great Depression around the corner.

TURNER, Peter James Noel B: 18/12/12 D: 04/08/10, Wellington Wellington College: 1928 – 1932 Obituary from the Dominion Post Peter Turner was a gentleman, a man with firm views of what was right or wrong, a ballet lover and an adventurous cook. He also pulled his weight in the community - helping organise reunions of his World War II comrades and serving on school boards. He supported the National Party and the Freemasons, and volunteered his skills to serve as treasurer or auditor for all sorts of groups.

His love of cooking dated back to his childhood, first in Gisborne and then in Wellington where all his brothers and his sister were expected to do their bit in the kitchen. Every Sunday the family would go to church, but on his mother's insistence one of the six children had to stay home and have the Sunday roast and dessert ready by lunchtime.

Preparing food and experimenting with different recipes became a passion. He would study cooking magazines and was inspired by them. Pavlovas were a speciality. He always insisted on making the family Christmas cakes and flaming Christmas puddings.

His father, Ned Turner, a newspaper man, was illustrations editor on The Evening Post for many years. The family's Wellington home was in Everton Terrace. There was also a bach at Ferry Road, Days Bay, and on weekends they would go over on the Cobar.

Peter went to Muritai and the Terrace School and Wellington College, where he stayed on for a year longer than he might have because jobs were so hard to find in the Depression of the 1930s. He studied Accounting. One of his first jobs was at Harold Miller's accountancy office in Courtenay Place.

A couple of years before World War II he joined the territorials. The day war was declared he was called up to man the gun batteries defending the entrance to Wellington Harbour at Fort Dorset, Seatoun. While the army wanted to keep him there, he was determined to go overseas and finally got to Egypt in 1941 with the fifth reinforcement as the New Zealand Division recovered from its losses in Greece and Crete.

He rose to the rank of sergeant in the 14th light antiaircraft regiment in Egypt and later fought in the Italian campaign until the end of the war in 1945.

He was at El Alamein and Cassino, horrendous battles where the roar of gunfire ruined his hearing.

An invitation to attend officer- training courses

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 81

Obituaries

On leaving Wellington Tom trained and qualified as an accountant before his twenty first birthday and had been a member of the New Zealand Institute of Accountants since 1933 and a Fellow Chartered Accountant since 1947.

During his time with the board, he played a major role in the funding or financing required for a large of schools that were being built. The new schools he was involved with included, Rata Street School, Waddington Drive, Naenae College, Taita (now Avalon) Intermediate, Taita College, Mana College, Onslow College, Heretaunga College, Kapiti College, Waiwhetu Girls High School, the relocation of Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College from next to the Petone Rec down to by the Ava Railway Bridge over Hutt River.

was declined because he feared it could delay his return to New Zealand. He finally got back in 1945, although he and all the other troops remained on notice that they might have to do further service in Japan, which was then still at war.

Back home he took advantage of the free travel package offer that came with his furlough to travel the South Island. An army colleague had told him that when he got back to New Zealand he should call on his family in Timaru and forecast that Sergeant Turner was bound to fall in love with, and marry, his cousin Dorothy. It proved to be - they married in 1947.

War service had affected Mr Turner's health. A problem with movement in a foot and one arm was diagnosed as multiple sclerosis and his doctor warned that within two years he could be confined to a wheelchair. The condition was held at bay with treatment consisting of four drops of arsenic a day

for three weeks every month. He also developed skin cancers, put down to exposure to the desert sun, his hearing was bad and just a year or so ago he was reportedly the oldest person in New Zealand to be fitted with a contact lens to correct an eye problem. He never let it get him down, although in later years he was on a 100 per cent war disability pension.

His time in the army taught him the importance of camaraderie and to respect people for what they did regardless of their education and background.

For half a century he helped organise regimental reunions in Wellington. They had started as weekends of revelry around a perfunctory memorial service at the Railway Social Hall, but he was instrumental in getting the service shifted to Old St Paul's. This was later to become the highlight of reunions. At the regiment's 50th Jubilee he deemed it an honour to make the jubilee cake.

Wellington College Merchandise

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on’t forget that you can purchase through the WCOBA, the Association’s Tie and Lapel Badge. Ties retail at $30.00 and Lapel badges are $5.00. Orders and payments can be made on the enclosed Feed Back Form.

The College’s Uniform Shop has an extensive stock of Wellington College merchandise including Boxer Shorts, Umbrellas, Golf Towels, Bathing Towels, Hip Flasks, Rugby Jerseys, Scarves, BBQ Aprons, Key Rings, Pens, Beer Mugs and Coffee Cups to name a few.

After the war he had considered becoming an Anglican Vicar but stuck to accounting, although he often said that if he had his time over again he would have been a chef. For many years he was company secretary for Adams Bruce - a company that specialised in cakes and confectionery. He later worked for Buttons importers and Baird Motors in Strathmore. His retirement job was at Olpherts' law firm on The Terrace.

The family home for 40 years was an old villa in West St, Northland, which he did up over the years.

Later he and Dorothy moved to the Masonic Village in Levin, where Peter was particular in ensuring all the rules relating to resident care were followed.

Peter is survived by his wife, two daughters, five grand children and a great grandson.

LAMENT FOR A COLL BOY Save your tears for when I fall, for we are one and one for all.

We are but brothers you and I, to ascend to the stars in the infinite sky.

I love you brother, hold no fears There’s a bright, amazing world out there!

Stay not in the past, turn your leaf anew, Just remember I will always be there for you…

Through thick and thin, doubt and pain, I can be the one to help ease your strain.

Be it in person, spirit, or just in your heart, We have forged a camaraderie built to last.

Just call on me brother, when you need a hand.

I shall come running from far-away lands.

For we are brothers, bonded in unity.

I live in you and you in me.

So wherever you go brother, whichever path you take, Remember we are Coll Boys, this no-one can break.

If you are visiting the College, the Uniform Shop is based at the back of the Assembly Hall and is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 11.00am - 2.00pm (term time). You can email them at uniforms@ paradise.net.nz or telephone 04 801 5069 to arrange your purchase.

Therefore keep your tears for when I fall, Our bond is as brothers, our home, forever Coll.

A Good Start to the Day

FOR ALL COLL BOYS - PAST AND PRESENT. ‘WE ARE BROTHERS, EVERY ONE OF US’

Hugo Randall (2005-09)

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round 220 met in the Brierley Theatre in May for the inaugural ‘Fathers and Sons Breakfast’ organised by the Parents’ Association to create an opportunity to reinforce the importance of father–son relationships.

College News

Headmaster, Roger Moses set the tone for the morning in a superb way.

He spoke of the importance of relationships, and the necessity for us all to recognise life’s priorities. Work and community commitments are important but not paramount. Fathers must demonstrate the importance of a strong personal relationship with their sons. Despite the growing urge for independence, sons need to appreciate that a reciprocal relationship is no less essential. We mimic and mock our fathers mannerisms, but grow remarkably like them.

He spoke of the appreciation fathers and sons must show for each other. Hard though it will be for most of us, we must speak of affection. Don’t leave it until your father is dead before realising you have never told him that you love him.

And then we had a hearty breakfast. It was ‘a good time’ for all.

82 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2010

The new Languages Block, opened in late 2009 and incorporates French, German, Japanaese, Chinese, Latin and Spanish classes

Wellington College in the News

Challenging the Arts

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ith 120 boys involved, the nationwide dance competition Stage Challenge is the largest Arts activity at College. From tentative beginnings nine years ago with just 45 participants, over 300 boys now audition for the 100 on-stage dancing roles. Senior students run Stage Challenge in its entirety – from theme and concept, to choreography, creating a sound track, designing and making a set, organising and managing rehearsals for 100 boys, to costume design and fund-raising. Over the years of participation we have done well in the Wellington competition, being awarded first place four times.

But in 2009, it was time to soar even higher.

The theme was Take the Plunge and we certainly did. The eight-minute dance sequence followed the fortunes of a young boy, plucking up the courage to take the plunge and ask a girl out – a theme which the student leaders felt was pertinent in a society where taking the plunge could mean being ostracised and ridiculed. The young boy was inspired by larger than life figures that had stepped out and boldly made the move – such people as James Dean, Neil Armstrong, Bill Gates and Barack Obama.

After months of hard work, their eight minutes on stage at the TSB Arena were all the boys dared hope for. The audience loved them in a style that won over both the crowd and the judges.

From this success, the performance went into the nationally televised finals and with over 200 schools and 15,000 students involved during the process, Wellington College won the national title – the first time an all-boys school has taken the honours.

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Girvan Library undergoes major refurbishment

he Girvan Library is located in the centre of the College and is the heart of learning, information and resources for our students.

The Library reopened mid-March 2010 after a period of refurbishment. The spacious, openplan layout means that the Library is now even more user-friendly. The addition of extra research spaces, as well as a silent study room, makes the Library accessible for students of all year levels. To further develop the focus on information literacy, the Library has a bank of computers and 32 wireless Netbooks, enhancing online research skills and encouraging students to be independent learners. Students are also able to bring their own laptops and log on to the wireless network.

Students are encouraged to read for pleasure as well as information, and this is reflected in the purchase of the latest teen-fiction and popular non-fiction. The shelves of up-to-date books and the comfortable atmosphere make the Library a very appealing place to browse and spend a lunchtime.

The Library is extremely popular throughout the school day, and we have recently increased staff numbers to provide greater assistance to students. As the NCEA examinations approach in Term Four, the Girvan Library is open late into the evenings for silent study. This is supervised by members of senior management and is wellattended.

Wellington College supporters at the 2010 Quadrangular Tournament.

A number of students took time away from classes and study to support the 1st XV.

Running for Hope

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n eagerly anticipated annual event at Wellington College is the 40-Hour World Vision Runathon which has now far outgrown its modest beginnings in 1998. Back then, the reality of getting teenage boys to partake in the World Vision 40-Hour Famine had proved challenging, so Headmaster Roger Moses came up with the idea of a 40-Hour Runathon as a more active alternative. The idea generated school wide appeal and has since become embedded into the calendar. Over $500,000 has been raised for World Vision projects as a result of the yearly Runathons.

Again this year, hundreds of boys (and some hardy staff!) ran hundreds of 800 metre laps around the school grounds beginning at 6.00am on Friday, 12 March and finishing at 10.00pm the next night. For the event, the College is divided into nine teams each organised by a student leadership group. Each team aims to run the most laps and raise the most money over the 40 hours. Students raise money through donations, sponsorship from local businesses and associated Runathon events.

In 2009, $61,341 was raised, making Wellington College the highest earning school in the country for World Vision. The goal this year, with money still coming in, is to top that amount.

And from the boys’ perspective, there’s a very real outcome for their effort. All money is targeted to a five year project constructing toilets, classrooms and providing clean water in the Tanzanian township of Ibwera and next January, the teacher in charge of the World Vision Runathon, Mr Ben Lau, is taking a group of eight students to visit and work on the Wellington College sponsored works.

The Runathon is not without its challenges. This year, the major test came after only ten hours when Wellington was lashed by a severe storm.

As the temperature plummeted, the rain poured down and wind gusts reached gale force, it was a great credit to the determination and fortitude of senior students who maintained that there should be someone running for every minute of the 40 hours and never gave up.

THE LAMPSTAND, 2010 • 83

College News

And happily - after a short pause for breath planning is already underway for the 2011 World Vision Runathon, when Wellington College will once again give back to the international community.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION NOTICE BOARD DATES TO NOTE

Friday 15-Saturday 16 October 2010 Class of 1970 • 40 Years On Reunion @ Wellington College • Thursday, 21 October 2010 NSW Branch Dinner The Union Club, 25 Bent Street, Sydney 2000 • Wednesday, 17 November 2010 Bay of Plenty Branch Lunch Daniel’s in the Park, Memorial Park, 11th Ave, Tauranga • Thursday, 18 November 2010 Auckland Branch Dinner @ Auckland Grammar School • Friday, 25 March 2011 Class of 1961 • 50 Years On Reunion @ Wellington College • Friday, 15 April 2011 Wellington College ANZAC Service • Thursday, 12 May 2011 The Foundation Freyberg Lecture @ Wellington College • WCOBA Dinner in conjunction with 2011 Quadrangular Tournament Tuesday, 23 August 2011 • Friday 29-Saturday 30 October 2011 Class of 1971 • 40 Years On Reunion @ Wellington College

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TO BE ADVISED...

WCOBA 2011 Annual General Meeting Canterbury Branch Dinner Hawkes Bay Branch Lunch Wellington Get-Together Full details of the above events are contained within the following pages.

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