Issue: 25
The
November | 2015
LAMPSTAND
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The annual magazine for Old Boys and Friends of Wellington College
Remembering our fallen, 100 years on
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Wellington College Old Boys’ Association • PO Box 16073, Wellington, NZ 6242 • Tel: 04 802 2537 • Email: oldboys@wc.school.nz
The Lampstand | 2015
The Lampstand
2
ISSUE No. 25
Wellington College OBA PO Box 16073, Wellington 6242 Tel: 04 802 2537 Email: oldboys@wc.school.nz
T
he Lampstand is published annually for alumni and friends of Wellington College.
Opinions expressed do not
Friday, 20 October - Sunday, 22 October 2017
necessarily reflect the views of
Where are You?
the Association or the College. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Proofreading by Gil Roper (19591961). Archival material supplied by the College’s Archivist, Paddianne Neely. Lampstand contributions, feedback and suggestions are always welcome and can be sent to us at the above address. We appreciate hearing news and success stories as well as memories and feedback - we
We know most of you are not actually lost or missing... we just don't have your current email address or physical address. But fear not... we are slowly but surely finding missing alumni through Facebook and Linked In. However, if you are in contact with fellow classmates or sons, brothers, fathers etc, please direct them to our website. Finding our Old Boys will help us inform them about forthcoming reunions, events and of course, the 150th Celebrations in 2017.
encourage you to be involved. STAYING IN TOUCH: The WCOBA is about staying
Join us on Facebook
events, as well as support College Awards,
in touch with those who share
buildings, activities and the Archives.
that common experience and connection. The WCOBA maintains a database of all students who have attended Wellington College - currently just over 32,000. Keep your contact details upto-date, especially your email address so you can be informed
By joining the WCOBA, you can help us to print the Lampstand, fund Old Boys'
Remember to send us your memories, feedback, news and achievements of yourself and fellow Old Boys for our magazine and on social media. Readers can also keep in touch with current College News through our website - www.wc.school.nz or through our Facebook Pages - Wellington College AND Wellington College Old Boys.
on news and events (especially
LIFE MEMBERSHIP: $150.00 (Includes a Life Membership Certificate and Lapel Pin) If you wish to just make a donation to the WCOBA to cover general administration, we would very much appreciate your support. Details are in the enclosed insert or on our website.
reunions and functions). Communication via email helps keep our postage and printing costs to a minimum and of course is instantaneous. Stephanie Kane, Editor WCOBA Executive Officer and Wellington College
Are your Details Up to Date? Do WE have your email address? To ensure you are kept up to date with all the exciting and informative alumni news and events, please ensure your contact details are correct. It only takes a few minutes to guarantee you will never miss out on hearing about upcoming reunions, events and important alumni and College updates.
Communications Manager
All you need to do is email us: oldboys@wc.school.nz
s.kane@wc.school.nz
STAY CONNECTED WITH WELLINGTON COLLEGE
The Lampstand | 2015
FACTS and FIGURES
* TAKEN FROM THE WCOBA DATABASE 1867 - 2015
Old Boys recorded on our database: 32, 663 Old Boys without ANY Contact Details: 9,242
Old Boys recorded as Deceased: 9,400 Old Boys with an Email Address: 4,272
Most Popular First Names
Most Popular Surnames
John
William/Bill
David
James/Jim
Robert/Bob
Peter
Smith
Wilson
Brown
Taylor
19%
11%
10%
10%
8%
8%
18%
14%
11%
10%
10%
Ian
Thomas/Tom
Andrew
George
Williams
Jones
Martin
Anderson
Scott
6%
5%
5%
5%
8%
8%
7%
7%
7%
Where we post The Lampstand:
Young
* These figures are taken from the database as at 30 September, 2015. By 31 December, there will be a further 320 added when the
8378 416 120 71 36 13 7 5
Scotland, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates
3
Argentina, China, Cook islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands and Samoa
2
Denmark, Ireland and Malaysia
1
Finland, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia, New Caledonia, PNG, Tonga, Vietnam and Wales
354
By email only
Class of 2015 is included, plus students from other year groups who
Australia
have already left or will do so at the end of 2015.
England
Most popular month to be born:
New Zealand
United States Canada Thailand France, Germany and Israel
Can you spare us $5.00?
WEDNESDAY
6%
Most popular day to be born:
7%
OCTOBER
Michael/Mike Richard/Rick
3
Firth House Boarders
1811 students lived as Boarders at some stage*. 398 are recorded as deceased. * weeks/months/years
"Did you know that The Lampstand is supported only by donations from our readers, not by ads?" WE’RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH, BUT IF YOU COULD SPARE $5.00, YOUR SUPPORT WILL ENSURE THAT THE LAMPSTAND CARRIES ON IN ITS CURRENT HARD-COPY AND POSTED FORMAT SO OUR READERS CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE NEWS OF OUR FELLOW OLD BOYS, STAFF AND THE COLLEGE. The Lampstand | 2015
Digitalising our HISTORY
4
O
ur thanks to those Old Boys who have kindly sponsored a digital issue of
the Wellingtonian - which will soon become a on-line version for one and all to access. There are still quite a few to sponsor, so perhaps if you can sponsor your cohort’s magazine or you could sponsor your son or father or grandfather’s year or just any year. Alternatively, you may wish to just make a donation towards the process. It’s a one-off payment of $60.00 (payable to the WCOBA) and with your support, we will be able to get each issue scanned,
1913
Peter Bischof
1941
1968
1914
Peter Bischof
1942
1969
for searching) and loaded in
1915
Peter Bischof
1943
1970
a magazine format on the
1916
Peter Bischof
1944
1971
Wellington College website.
1917
Peter Bischof
1945
1972
1918
Peter Bischof
1946
1973
(with OCR text recognition
1891
1919
1947
1892
1920
1948
1893
1921
1949
1894
Peter Bischof
1922
1950
Peter Davenport
1977
1895
Peter Bischof
1923
1951
Graeme MacFarlane
1978
1896
Peter Bischof
1924
1897
Peter Bischof
1925
1898
Peter Bischof
1926
1899
Peter Bischof
1927
1900
Peter Bischof
1901
Paddianne Neely
1974 Stuart McIntyre
1976
1952
1979 Vas Coory
1980
Simon Kember
1954
Bill Hinkley
1981
Simon Kember
1955
Warwick/Trevor Bringans
1982
1928
Simon Kember
1956
Malcolm Perrett
1983
Peter Bischof
1929
Simon Kember
1957
Hugh Maehl
1984
1902
Peter Bischof
1930
1958
Robbie Bruce
1985
1903
Peter Bischof
1931
1959
Barry Green
1986
Peter Bischof
1932
1960
Stephen Sherring
1987
1905
Michael Monaghan
1933
1961
Hugh Aston
1988
1906
Peter Bischof
1934
1962
Jeremy Cooper
1989
1907
Peter Bischof
1935
1963
1908
Peter Bischof
1936
1964
Nick Cooper
1991
Peter Bischof
1937
1965
John Wedde
1992
1910
Peter Bischof
1938
1966
1911
Peter Bischof
1939
1967
1912
Peter Bischof
1940
1968
1909
1993 Tim Castle
1994 1995 1997 1998
Name (s):
1999
eg Class of 1965:
2000
*
2001
Email:
2002
Donation:
Or any random year To the general processing of the Wellingtonians OR To the Lampstand
Cheque:
$60.00 payable to WCOBA or Credit Card details below
* Alternative year to sponsor:
Expiry:
/ / Visa Mastercard
Name on Card: Please post to WCOBA. PO Box 16073, Wellington 6242 or Email oldboys@wc.school.nz with your card number.
The Lampstand | 2015
Peter Bischof
Paul Swallow
Rakesh Patel
1990
1996
Cohort:
Kenneth McDonald
1975
1953
1904
John Waymouth
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Ramesh Naran
WELLINGTON COLLEGE CONTINUES TO THRIVE. DESPITE THE EVER INCREASING DEMANDS ON ROGER, HE ALWAYS MANAGES TO MAKE TIME FOR OLD BOYS AND TAKE AN INTEREST IN THEIR ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU ROGER FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT
acting
v
"UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HEADMASTER ROGER MOSES,
From the PRESIDENT
5
about half of those who had signed the menu had been killed on the shores and slopes of Gallipoli.
AND WISE COUNSEL.".
I
t is my privilege to present the 2014-2015 Wellington College Old Boys’ President’s report. I do so on behalf of Matthew
Beattie who is currently on sick leave
from the Executive. We wish Matt a speedy recovery and look forward to his return to the helm of the Old Boys’ Association. 2014-2015 has been another busy year for the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association. In many ways, the heart of the Association is the gathering of Old Boys. These events take place in many forms. They may be year group reunions or gatherings by geographic location. They provide the opportunity for old school mates to catch up, reminisce and also to be brought up-to-date with what is currently happening on the academic, sporting and cultural fronts of the College.
As has become our custom at the College’s ANZAC services, we relate the story of an Old Boy killed on active duty. This year we honoured Jack Howard (2000-2004) who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. It was particularly poignant as Jack’s life was recounted by his father Roger Howard. Present at the assembly were eight Old Boys who are currently serving or recently retired with the New Zealand Armed Forces. There is now a plaque for Jack Howard on the back wall of the Assembly Hall. This has been donated by the Old Boys’ Association. In June, a group of current Wellington College students laid 25 poppies at the base of the New Zealand Memorial at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli. Each poppy had the name of a Wellington College Old Boy killed at Gallipoli written on it. In August, a delegation from the Old Boys’ University Rugby Club presented a magnificent carved wooden rifle to the College. The rifle commemorates the life of College Old Boy and star rugby player, Hāmi Grace who was killed at Chunuk Bair.
The Executive meets around four times a year and with the 150th approaching, we welcome your input.
The achievements of Old Boys over a diverse range of activities are always proudly noted. Many of these achievements are highlighted in this edition of The Lampstand. Also noted in The Lampstand is a record of those Old Boys who have passed away in the course of the year. One of these is John Marshall. John’s life was one of service to the community, including the Wellington College community. John was Head Prefect in 1964. He personified what it meant to be a proud Old Boy. John served the College as a member of the Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the College’s Foundation as well as taking an interest in all matters, Wellington College. It was John who along with Stephanie Kane, introduced the first 40 Years On Reunions back in 2004. At his funeral, there were many Old Boys present. Among the splendid eulogies, was one given by his old school mate and opening bat partner, Keith Quinn and one delivered by Headmaster, Roger Moses. The College’s Chorale also sang. In Labour Weekend 2017, the Wellington College Community celebrates 150 years. Planning is well underway as we prepare for this stand-out event. From now on, updates will keep you posted with the range of activities and events planned. In conclusion and on Matt’s behalf, I would like to thank the members of the WCOBA Executive; Bob Slade, Matthew Rewiti, Brian Smythe, Guy Randall, Roger Moses, Scott Tingey and Ernie Rosenthal. I would particularly like to acknowledge the work tirelessly carried out by the Association’s Executive Officer, Stephanie Kane. Stephanie’s eye for detail, superb organisation and perseverance at tracking down Old Boys are all pivotal to the success of keeping the ‘family’ together and well informed. Under the leadership of Headmaster Roger Moses, Wellington College continues to thrive. Despite the ever increasing demands on Roger, he always manages to make time for Old Boys and take an interest in their activities. Thank you Roger for your ongoing support and wise counsel.
Please contact the WCOBA Office: oldboys@wc.school.nz for more information.
Robert Anderson (1969-1973), Deputy Principal r.anderson@wc.school.nz
Over the past twelve months, Headmaster, Roger Moses and the Executive Officer, Stephanie Kane have hosted functions in Tauranga, Levin and Wellington (coinciding with the Quadrangular Tournament.) As well, the classes of 1965 and 1974 turned up in force to enjoy their respective 50 and 40 Years-On Reunions. These year group reunions continue to be a feature of our annual calendar. They are well attended and Old Boys come from far and wide to enjoy themselves and to inspect first hand their old school. The Leavers’ Lunch for the current Year 13 cohort affords an opportunity to welcome what will be the youngest group of Old Boys into the fold. As well as these formal gatherings, up and down the country and overseas, small groups of Old Boys make contact with one another and catch up. The bond of being a Wellington College Old Boy is a strong one. This year as a nation, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli. In early April 1915, a group about 40 Old Boys serving with the New Zealand Army met up for a Reunion Dinner in Alexandria. At the dinner there was no deference to rank and men of all ranks mingled freely, starting conversations with, do you remember that time at school when…..’ At the end of the evening, everyone signed the menu and it was posted back to J P Firth. Within a few months
OLD BOYS... YOUR ASSOCIATION NEEDS you! The WCOBA Committee are seeking new and youthful members to join their Executive. If you have skills in accounting, law, finance, marketing, event planning or business nous - why not put them to use?
The Lampstand | 2015
Your Executive
WCOBA Administration
6
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.
•
Where needed, support current students at the College.
THESE AIMS ARE MET BY THE ASSOCIATION BY UNDERTAKING THE FOLLOWING: •
Produce The Lampstand and similar publications each year, covering activities of Old Boys and other relevant information.
•
Maintain 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.
•
Provide financial support for College activities, including sporting and cultural activities, sponsorship and academic prizes, as well as supporting the Archives.
•
Organise various reunions and other social functions - at the College, nationwide or internationally for Old Boys who the Association wishes to encourage and extend.
•
Administer charitable funds managed by the Association for current and past students, including assistance with fundraising appeals.
Acting President • Robert Anderson Class of 1973 r.anderson@wc.school.nz Immediate Past President • Brian Smythe Class of 1958 smythelson@clear.net.nz Treasurer • Bob Slade Class of 1958 bob@slade.co.nz Executive Officer • Stephanie Kane oldboys@wc.school.nz Centennial Trust Chairman • Matthew Beattie Class of 1972 matthew.beattie@insteplimited.com Executive Committee Members • Roger Moses, Headmaster r.moses@wc.school.nz • Matthew Rewiti Class of 1990 matthew.rewiti@gmail.com • Guy Randall Class of 2003 randall_guy@hotmail.com • Ernie Rosenthal Class of 1961 e.rosenthal@wc.school.nz • Scott Tingey Class of 1978 zl2tpd@gmail.com
HOW WE CALCULATE YOUR COHORT FOR OUR REUNION PROGRAMME: Example 1: Started 1962 • Left 1965 Cohort is still 1966 Form 3 Form 4 1962 3C1
1963 4C1
Example 2: Started 1963 • Left 1965 Cohort is still 1966 (as you were in Form 3 at another school)
Form 5 Form 6 Form 7 Form 3 Form 4 Up. 5th Up. 6th 1964 5C1
1965 5U2
1966 6XX
Thus 1966 is your Cohort Year (ie the five years from Form 3 to Form 7/Upper 6th
1962 3XX
1963 4C1
Form 6
Form 7
Up. 5th
Up. 6th
1964
1965
1966
5C1
5U2
6XX
Form 5
Thus 1966 is your Cohort Year (ie the five years from Form 3 to Form 7/Upper 6th)
1966 is the year from which your anniversary of leaving school is calculated, by adding 10, 20, 40, 50, 60 years etc. 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 the College, or the years you actually started or left.
O
ld Boys and former staff are invited to receive the College’s Collegian Newsletter (issued quarterly) and
Free of Charge. Each issue contains an
abundance of news from the College academic, cultural, sporting, plus success stories achieved by our students and staff. The Collegian is emailed so if you wish to keep up to date, please email us to be included in the circulation list. The Lampstand | 2015
"ONE OF THE ABIDING FEATURES OF A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SUCH AS WELLINGTON COLLEGE IS A PROFOUND SENSE OF HISTORY. WE FEEL THAT WE ARE PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN OUR IMMEDIATE COHORT AND THAT THE ENDURING VALUES PROVIDE A TOUCHSTONE FOR ALL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE AGES".
From the HEADMASTER
7
Wanganui Collegiate in 1907. On leaving school, Hāmi played rugby for Wellington College Old Boys' and was selected subsequently to represent NZ Māori, the North Island and Wellington. At the end of one season, WCOB had been
O
ne hundred years on from the
relegated and the players were discussing which club they would be
Gallipoli landings, it is singularly
playing for next year. Hāmi Grace, it was reported, said simply I will be
appropriate that we, the current
playing for Old Boys!
Wellington College wider community,
should reflect soberly on the ultimate
It was, therefore, a very poignant occasion this year at the assembly
sacrifice made by over two hundred and
commemorating Chunuk Bair, when the Old-Boys-University Rugby
twenty Old Boys in the ‘Great War’ that 'was to end all wars.'
Club (OBU) presented Wellington College with a magnificent trophy of a carved WWI rifle , encased with replicas of Hāmi’s medals honouring him. How proud he would have been of the performance of his former
It was on that Aegean Coast that Lieutenant-General Bernard
club which in 2015 won the Jubilee Cup for the first time for many
Freyberg, arguably Wellington College’s most famous son, won his first
years. How proud, too, he would have been of the forty-three current
Distinguished Service Order, when he swam ashore in the Gulf of Saros
students who performed a Haka on the summit of Chunuk Bair this
to light flares which would distract the defending Turkish forces from
year as they visited this most tragic of memorial sites on the History
the real landings taking place at Gallipoli.
trip to battle sites of WWI.
It was in the Battle of Chunuk Bair, fought a few months later, that
It was a deeply moving experience as the names were read of the
the Wellington Regiment, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Malone, was
twenty-five Wellington College Old Boys who lost their lives in this ill-
decimated in a brave but ultimately futile attempt to capture the
fated initiative of the Allied forces.
strategic heights and in which significant numbers of recent Old Boys of Wellington College were slaughtered.
One of the abiding features of a traditional school such as Wellington College is a profound sense of history. We feel that we are part of
Amongst the fallen was that remarkable young Māori soldier, Thomas
something greater than our immediate cohort and that the enduring
'Hāmi' Grace, who was both a Wellington Cricket representative and
values provide a touchstone for all students throughout the ages. Just
a Māori All Black. On one side of his lineage, he was the grandson
as we look back with respect on those who have gone before, such as
of Thomas Grace, the pioneer missionary; on the other he was the
Hāmi Grace and hundreds of his colleagues, we can also look forward
grandson of Te Heuheu, Paramount Chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa.
to a celebration of our 150th anniversary in 2017, confident in the knowledge that those same values of loyalty, honesty, commitment,
In many ways, Hāmi symbolises our emerging identity as New
service to others and personal sacrifice, transcend particularities
Zealanders in the early part of the 20th century.
of time and place and will guide and inspire new generations of Wellington College students in the future.
A former Captain of the 1st XI Cricket team, Hāmi’s name is remembered forever on the Cricket Honours Board when he gained
Roger Moses,ONZM Headmaster
the impressive figures of 5 for 66 and 5 for 29 in the traditional against
r.moses@wc.school.nz
T
his commemorative display is made up of a carved Lee Enfield rifle, as used by NZ soldiers at
Gallipoli. This was carved, along with the kauri dedication panel, by master carver, Dr Takirirangi Smith, from Victoria University.
The backdrop photo is of Chunuk Bair in the modern day, featuring
written by calligrapher Daniel
by Alby Frampton with further
with his involvement and demise at
Suvla Bay in the background,
Reeve (best known for his work
acknowledgements and notations.
one of the iconic actions involving
the NZ Memorial and the Turkish
on the Lord of the Rings and The
An accompanying book about the
New Zealand troops, Chunuk Bair.
trenches. Hāmi Grace’s photo
Hobbit films). In addition, the
project, along with a DVD of the
and replicas of his service
16th Field Regiment of the Royal
dedication ceremonies have also
The display was dedicated and
medals are also included. The
New Zealand Artillery donated
been commissioned. Hāmi’s story
presented to Wellington College at
display is finished off with the
brass cartridges from their live
seemed to be most appropriate for
Assembly in August, 2015 by Old
Hāmi Grace Story and other
firing exercise in September
this project, a gifted sportsman, a
Boy, Doug Catley, Life Member
acknowledgements being hand
2015. These have been engraved
dedicated club member together
and President of OBU 1997-2007. The Lampstand | 2015
8
the ‘REAL’ HEADMASTER 20 Years On
Headmaster, Roger Moses celebrated two decades in the job in September and spoke about the impact of technology on education, the McEvedy Shield and how he would spend his ideal Saturday. Why did you decide to become
Wellington College?
will become more individualised
followed with a day of watching
Headmaster?
The World Vision Runathons
and there will be an increasing
Rugby and Football at Wellington
Having been a Deputy Principal
have become an integral part of
emphasis on the quality of
College, which are hopefully won
for three years, becoming a
school life and have raised about
teaching. Parents will become
by Wellington College. In the
Principal and running my own
$800,000 since 1998. It is inspiring
increasingly concerned about the
evening, our grandchildren come
school was the natural next step.
to see young men having so much
kind of education they want for
to stay for the night. Once they
Wellington College was a school
fun as well as focusing on the
their children. But the relationship
are in bed, what better way to
which aligned closely with my own
needs of those who have far less.
between teacher and student
conclude the day than by watching
educational philosophy, so I was
It would also be remiss of me not
remains the essential component.
the Hurricanes on a roll. My wife
delighted to be appointed to the
to mention the McEvedy Shield,
It was a brilliant English teacher
may have some disagreement with
role which I have relished over the
that unique athletics event which
I had at Auckland Grammar by
the above suggestions.
last two decades.
engenders so much passion.
the name of Ken Trembath who
How has education changed in
What is your view on boys in
that time?
same sex v co-ed schools?
There have been several significant
I have taught in four very good
What was the last book you
CS Lewis, whose writing has had a
changes. First, the influence of
co-ed schools so I do not have
read?
profound impact on the way I see
technology. The students today are
strong views on one system over
An Icelandic murder mystery by
the world; John Arlott, the greatest
all digital natives and this change
the other. Nevertheless, there was
Arnaldur Indridason entitled Jar
commentator in the history of
has had a profound impact on
some clear evidence produced
City. I am currently reading, and
Cricket and long-time wine
the way teachers must operate.
in a report by NZCER last year
thoroughly enjoying, Jan Morris’s
correspondent for The Guardian;
Second, the introduction of NCEA
that boys in boys’ schools in New
History of the British Empire,
Michael Pallin, in the words of my
and NZ Scholarship. It has had a
Zealand were doing very well
Farewell the Trumpets (Pax
Deputy Principal, ‘surely the most
major influence on the curriculum
academically across the decile
Britannica).
and the way it’s evaluated. The
range. What I would argue strongly
workload for all has increased
is that, for many boys, a single-sex
What’s on your iPod or music
my grandfather who died before I
markedly. Third, the vast majority
school does provide a good option.
player?
was born and fought in the Battle
of students now spend five years at
School leadership and tone,
U2’s Songs of Innocence, Mozart’s
of the Somme and Passchendaele.
school before moving on and our
however, are the most important
Greatest Hits, The Dubliners’
A century later, I would love to
schools are now more ethnically
factors.
Greatest Hits.
seek his perspective on how the
Where do you think education
Describe your perfect Saturday.
What are some of your favourite
will head in the next 20 years?
An early brunch with my wife at
memories of your time at
I think that, inevitably, learning
one of Wellington’s excellent cafés,
inspired me over 40 years ago and
If you could invite any four
whose influence still inspires me.
people, living or dead to dinner, who would they be and why?
diverse.
The Lampstand | 2015
interesting dinner guest anyone could ever have’; and Cyril Moses,
senseless slaughter to which he was exposed affected his life. Interview: Dominion Post
News from the College: ACADEMIC and COMMUNITY SPEECH-MAKER EARNS TRIP TO GALLIPOLI
9
PREMIER SCHOLAR AWARD
2
014 Co-Dux, Joshua Woolley was one of only ten in the country to win a
top scholarship award, and was also the only Wellington student to have picked up a Premier New Zealand Scholarship for 2015. Joshua's accolade came after gaining an Outstanding Scholarship in Biology, Calculus and Physics and Scholarship in Accounting,
the NZ Scholarship examinations
Chemistry and Statistics.
without quite reaching the stellar heights of 2013. The 109
H
For his efforts, he will receive
scholarships gained, places us
ead Prefect, George Barton
Saros and once ashore, he began
$10,000 for three years, during
once again in the top few schools
won a trip to Gallipoli for the
lighting flares so as to distract the
his study of engineering at
in the country.
ANZAC Celebrations.
defending Turkish forces from
Auckland University.
the real landings taking place at
Five other students including
George was our representative in
Gallipoli. He used this example
Wellington College
Jack Trevella, Daniel Petrovic,
the RSA Cyril Basset VC Speech
to look to the future and examine
Headmaster, Roger Moses
Jazz Kane, Jonathan Logan and
competition - an annual speech
what we learn from war.
said he was proud of Joshua,
Alexander McLachlan, were
who was a hard-working
named as Outstanding Scholars,
competition open to Y12 and Y13 students throughout the
Usually the national winner, as
and modest student. It is an
which means that they were all in
country. Students were invited to
part of their prize, wins a trip to
extremely good effort to make it
the next 50 students nationally.
speak on the broad topic of New
Gallipoli, but because 2015 was
into the top 10.
Thus, to have 10% of the best 60
Zealanders in WWI.
the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli,
students coming from Wellington
the eight regional winners all
This was the third successive
In wining the competition, George
went. George travelled with a
year in which a student from
travelled to Wanganui and won
group of 25 Youth Ambassadors
the College had won the top
We are proud of the fact that,
the Central and Lower North
and as part of the NZ Defence
honour.
during the past five years, we
Island Regional Competition with
Force contingent went to Turkey
twelve competitors from the
and to Gallipoli where he spent
Our students once again
scholarships than any other school
region.
two weeks, including the night
performed extremely well in
in the country.
prior to ANZAC Day on the George spoke about the qualities
Gallipoli Peninsula. In addition, as
of leadership that emerge in a
part of his prize, George won an
war situation and how it is for
iPhone and $1000 for himself and
these qualities that we remember
$1000 for the College.
College is a truly superb result.
have had more students win
RUNATHON CONTINUES TO ENGAGE STUDENTS
people. He used as an example, Lord Freyberg, the seventh
George is also the leader of the
Governor General of NZ, and an
Wellington College Chorale
Old Boy of Wellington College,
and the grandson of the late Dr
who at Gallipoli, swam ashore
George Barton, QC.
from his troop ship in the Gulf of
Now in its 17th year, the 40 Hour World Vision Runathon continues to engage the entire student body with the students running around the College circuit for 40 hours while being sponsored for each lap. The students raised over $50,000 for the people of Ibwera, Tanzania. The Lampstand | 2015
News from the College: THE ARTS
10
M
uch has happened in the
Term One, the group welcomed
Their performance showcased a
to enjoy excellent performances
Wellington College Arts
the English World Cup Cricket
variety of items inspired from the
and there is genuine recognition
scene this year, with early
team into the capital and this
islands of Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau,
and appreciation of the talent of
on, our two entries into the
received lots of media coverage.
Niue and Fiji, with an added spice
our musicians in the student body.
Sheilah Winn Shakespeare
Term Two began with a massed
of 'Kiwiana'. The group made their
The fact that there were Twelve
Festival; where excerpts
Haka performed by students
mark on the festival, setting high
Blues awarded for Music this
from Julius Caesar and The
from many different Wellington
expectations and a solid platform
year, for national representation -
Winter’s Tale, winning special
secondary schools to honour
for the future. The group was a
indicates the high calibre of Music
performance awards.
the 100th anniversary of ANZAC
real hit when they performed a
at Wellington College.
Day. It was a huge event and the
set to close the Foundation Black
Junior and Senior Drama once
conclusion to the amazing parade
and Gold Awards.
again entertained and impressed
organised by Peter Jackson. The
their audiences and as usual
biggest highlight was the FIFA U20
Debating has continued to
on their international concert
both were written, directed and
World Cup team welcome at the
flourish. We have always had
tour to China in collaboration
produced by students. Senior
Wellington Airport for Panama,
the numbers and an excellent
with Wellington East Girls’
Drama's In Limbo, had the added
Austria, Argentina and Ghana.
Debating community, run largely
College. At the Regionals Big
challenge of being performed in
However the main goal for the year
by the senior debaters who
Sing, they received two Best
the Girvan Library – technically
was to perform at the Regional
are generous with their time,
Performance awards and at the
and artistically very tricky – but
Secondary Schools' Competition,
coaching and mentoring but it’s
National Competition, gained
the reaction of the overflowing
which was achieved and once
been a year or two since we won
a Silver award and one of four
audience on closing night
again Wellington College and
a competition. The Premier B
Best Performance trophies for
confirmed that the cast and crew
Wellington Girls' College were
team changed that this year with
their highest marks in the New
more than met the challenges of
seen on the Kapa Haka stage at
their outstanding and decisive
Zealand music category.
site-specific drama.
the regional competition level.
win against St Patrick's (Town)
The combined Wellington
At the end of 2014, the Polynesian
College and Wellington Girls'
Club also set a goal - to perform
College Kapa Haka group Te
as a Tu Tangata school once
Music continues to be an integral
national representative Choir in
Haeata Awatea has represented
again. 2015 marked Wellington
part of school events – from Rock
2006 and were worthy recipients
the College superbly this
College’s return to the annual Tu
Band performances in Assembly
of the College's Arts Group of the
year, welcoming international
Tangata festival after a five year
to representation at formal events
Year for 2015.
sports teams to New Zealand
hiatus. 35 students from years 9-13
in the community. As a school,
.
and manuhiri to our school. In
performed in the festival.
we are so fortunate to be able
The Jazz Band has been a
The Lampstand | 2015
The Chorale were outstanding ambassadors for the College
in the finals in the Debating
2015 has seen the Chorale have
Chamber at Parliament.
its most successful and rewarding year since its first year as a
News from the College: THE ARTS
11
welcome and much enjoyed part
development and being aware
students’ enthusiasm and talent,
of a number of events this year
of our reputation in the Arts, the
and the staff commitment to the
and began what has been a great
Arts Foundation of New Zealand
programme, we expect things to
year by winning a Gold Award at
has chosen Wellington College
The Tauranga Jazz Festival then
as a pilot school - the only North
they went on to be named as the
Island school to be involved,
Best Big Band at the Manawatu
to launch a Core partnership
Jazz Festival, where a number of
programme that will see NZ Arts
members won individual awards.
Laureates – Arts practitioners at the top of their respective
There were two Blues awarded
fields, working alongside our
this year for Dance –an indication
senior students as mentors and
of a developing talent and this
facilitators. The programme,
was also a Stage Challenge year.
which will kick in for 2016 was
go from strength to strength. Kirsty Hazledine, Arts Director
Arts Group of the Year: The Chorale
The Combined Kapa Haka group: Te Haeata Awatea The Combined Polynesian Club Wellington College's Stage Challenge Entry The Combined Choirs at the Cultural Extravaganza
launched in the Brierley Theatre Created, directed and produced
with Arts Laureates such as the
by the students, 90 students
well-known photographer Anne
presented a compelling Stage
Noble, presenting to senior
Challenge dance portrayal of the
students. The Arts Laureate
descent into chaos that occurs
of most interest was Old Boy,
when boys are left to their own
Arthur Meek (1995-1999) - now an
devices. The story, loosely related
acclaimed actor, film maker and
to The Lord of the Flies, was
playwright, fresh from New York
conveyed with skill, enthusiasm,
where he performed his own one
humour and enormous energy.
man show.
It was a powerful and popular performance that gained the
The other exciting development
students third place.
is of course the new and eagerly awaited Memorial Hall and
All of this talent and enthusiasm
Performing Arts Centre. This
for the Arts contributed to
has been a massive community
our most successful Cultural
effort but I would personally
Extravaganza yet – combined
like to add my thanks to Tony
with Wellington Girls' College –
Robinson whose support of
a fantastic showcase of Music,
the Arts has been fantastic and
Dance, Kapa Haka and Polynesian
whose affirmation of all we do
Club performances were enjoyed
on the Wellington College stage,
by an audience of over 1200.
and belief that we deserve a fine performance space has been
So it has been a great year and
unwavering.
our high level of involvement, success and commitment to Arts
The extracurricular Arts scene
has been noted in the national
is thriving and with these new
Arts community. In an exciting
developments and with the
SUCCESS FOR KIP CLEVERLEY
K
ip was awarded the College's Senior Student Arts Prize for 2015, recognising his
outstanding efforts in Music. Kip, who plays the trumpet, is a member of the National Youth Orchestra . He also plays in the Wellington Brass Band, which won the Australian Brass Band Championships earlier in the year and more recently won the New Zealand Brass Band title at the National Brass Band
Championships in Rotorua. Also in the championships, Kip won the Individual Junior (U19) Cornet title which allowed him to compete for the Champion of Champions (U19) title and this included all instrument categories. He won this title as well. For the past five years, Kip as been the College's soloist at the College's ANZAC Services, playing the Last Post and Reveille. The Lampstand | 2015
News from the College: SPORT
12
Joint McEvedy Captains, Robbie and Harry Delany hold the coveted Trophy
O
ver 70% of students are involved in sport in one way or another
the Maadi Cup. They won Gold in the U16 Quad, Silver in the U18
and this reiterates the fact that Wellington College Sport is very
Lightweight Double, as well as two more Bronze placings. Of the 16
much more than the just the elite who are performing at the
Man Senior squad, [pictured below] all but one pair made A finals
highest level.
(they made nine A finals and three B finals). The squad were worthy recipients of Wellington College's Sports Team of the Year for 2015.
There are the 100 plus student coaches across the codes as well as parents and whanau who are involved in coaching, managing or administering. Also, there are the 18 Old Boys who are committed to ensuring our provision of sport. 29 members of staff provide the icing on the cake to ensure that our students really do have the opportunity to experience a positive experience on the field, in the gym or in the pool. Sports Team of the Year: the Maadi Rowing Squad
Success can and should be measured in winning but I firmly believe that the manner that we do this is important. Respecting the
In the other two traditional summer sports, Cricket and Tennis saw
opposition, the officials and above all, coaches and team mates are
success for our teams. The 1st XI Cricket had two comprehensive
important lessons that students experience and I have no doubt that
victories in Traditionals versus Palmerston North Boys' High School
this serves our young men well out in the real world.
and Wanganui Collegiate. The latter was remarkable in that it provided three new names for the Honours Board - Christian Martin was 119 not
The year began well with a superb effort from Chris Well’s (1971-1975)
out and Jordan Herdman was 113 not out, joined by James Hartshorn
team in the McEvedy Shield. Going in as underdogs, it soon became
who took 7/43. Wellington College won by an innings and 116 runs.
apparent we had a chance. Winning all four javelin titles was a highlight but it was the fact that we had depth across all events made this a
While they did not make the Gillette Cup finals, the U15 team, playing
real team effort. Other results worth mentioning were the two records
in the Junior equivalent of the NZCT Trophy, went through to finish
broken by Dylan Lynch in the U14 3000m (9:48.24s) and Cam Robinson
second nationally. This was an outstanding effort which bodes well for
in the U15 Javelin (46.93m).
the future.
As Chris Wells said, Our challenge is now to work out how we can
The Senior Tennis team too failed to qualify for Nationals but we saw a
ensure the Shield stays in our trophy cabinet. With a number of our senior
WC 1 and 2 finish in the College Sport Wellington singles tournament
athletes still Y12 and with great depth in our younger age groups, we
with Rory Murchland (Y12) beating Isaac Becroft (Y10) in the final The
should look to the future with real excitement.
team did however perform well in winning the 38th Quad Tennis Tournament held this year in Auckland with comprehensive wins
Our Rowers had a superb season, taking out the Wellington Champs
over Auckland Grammar School, Hamilton Boys' High School and
- the McLaughlan Shield early on, finishing second equal in Boys
Palmerston North Boys' High School. The team only dropped four
Schools at the NISS Champs before finishing second equal at
matches out of the 27 played in an outstanding effort against good
The Lampstand | 2015
News from the College: SPORT
13
competition. The fastest growing sport of Futsal (a version of indoor football) has
We have also seen success in Orienteering where George Englebeck
seen over 250 students play in summer and the Senior and Junior A
(Y12) and Joseph Lynch (Y11) both won NZ titles and in Floorball (Indoor
teams both won locally and finished third at the Nationals.
Hockey) where the U15s are National Champions.
Heading into the Winter season, the major fixture on the calendar
34 students have either represented New Zealand or won a national
was the hosting of the 89th Quadrangular Rugby Tournament. Playing
title and the following students were presented with Wellington
Christ's College first up, Wellington College won 36-8. The final against
College Blues for being selected at NZSS level (U19) or above. These
Nelson College proved to be a highly competitive but low scoring
are certainly the ones to watch for in the next few years.
affair with Nelson edging out the home team 6-3. Disappointment was
Isaac Anderson
NZ U20 Ultimate Frisbee team
Utu Ah Kuoi
NZ Senior Men's AFL team
Devlin Forsythe
NZ U19 Swimming Champion
The season proved to be a tough one for the 1st XV but it will be a
Seb Hamilton
NZ U20 Ultimate Frisbee team
lesson well learnt for the young team and they finished in the Top 4
Kemara Hauiti-Parapa
NZSS Rugby Team
locally which ensure that they maintain an important presence in the
Theo Moore
NZ U20 Ultimate Frisbee team
preseason Hurricanes competition. Two teams (U80 and U65A) made
Ben Paviour-Smith
NZ U19 Underwater Hockey team
the local finals but unfortunately did not win.
Luc Saker
NZ Senior Men's Futsal team
George Sanders
NZ U20 Climbing Champion Representative
Callum Treweek-Stephen
NZ U20 Ultimate Frisbee team
students playing. The 1st XI, now being coached by Old Boy James Webb (1995-1999) grew in stature as the season went on, finishing
Finally at the recent Wellington College Foundation Black and Gold
second locally but more importantly fifth at NZSS Champs. Here they
Awards for 2015, the following awards were presented:
certainly felt but at the end of the day Nelson were the better team on the day.
Football continues to grow in popularity with 34 teams and nearly 350
took the scalps of Mount Albert Grammar School, Westlake Boys' High School and Auckland Grammar School. These were great results.
ď § Junior Sportsman of the Year: Naitoa Ah Kuoi
Apart from the nine teams that won their respective leagues, the 15/1
Literally a huge talent, Naitoa continues to
team (Colts) went through the season unbeaten and won the inaugural
excel at several sports. In AFL, he played for
Westlake Invitational Tournament. The future indeed looks bright at the
the NZ U16 team which travelled to Australia
top level.
and also played the Victorian team here in Wellington.
Cross-Country has a strong tradition at Wellington College and there is a young cohort coming through which has the potential to regain those
He completed his second year in the
past glories. At the NZSS Championships, the U16 team which has
Wellington College 1st XV team, cementing
been dominant all season, went on to win both the three-and-six-to-
a starting position and being named MVP
count. The Seniors also did exceptionally well in a strong field to take
of the team at the end of the season. He
out Bronze in the six-to-count.
was also member of the Wellington U16 Rep team which won the Hurricanes Region Tournament. Naitoa won Player of the Tournament.
The 1st XI Hockey team continues to maintain its presence as a top
He was also member of the Senior A Volleyball team and the winning
local and national competitor. They won all their Traditionals, finished
McEvedy Shield team.
second in the Wellington competition and were eighth at the Nationals, thereby maintaining their position in the Rankin Cup for next year.
ď § Senior Sportsman of the Year: Luc Saker Captain of the Senior A Futsal team, Luc
For the first time in five years, the Senior A Basketball team qualified
won the WC Senior Player of the Year for the
for the Nationals but arguably the performance of the season was the
second year in succession. A member of the
Senior B winning Division 1 and the Bill Eldridge Trophy.
Wellington U19 and Senior Men's teams, he was selected for the NZ Mens team (Futsal
The Senior A Underwater Hockey team dominated the local
Whites), playing four tests in July scoring
competition to win the CSW Senior Championships and the Central
two goals. Luc was the youngest player in
Regional Championships. Going through to the NZSS Championships,
the team. He coached our Junior A team
they made the final to eventually go down 3-2 to Mairehau High School
which came third at the NZSS Nationals and
in a pulsating final.
also coached the Wellington U12 Rep team. Luc is also a member of our 1st XI Football team, winning the Most
Swimming, the one sport which covers both summer and winter,
Valuable Player Award and at the NZSS Championships, was named
once again proved to be very strong at Wellington College. Under the
Wellington College Player of Tournament by opposition coaches.
leadership of Martin Vaughan who has convened Swimming since 1983, our boys were unbeaten locally and finished third at the NZSS
Dave Keat, Sports Director
Champs. The Lampstand | 2015
14
2015 Study Tour to Europe
s final assessments are
A
remember visiting Jim Morrison’s
handed in and the end of
Grave with you.
College draws nigh, I’ve been
We arrived home on 17 July via
remembering. This year has
Universal Studios in Singapore.
a poignant highlight whose
Messrs Anderson, Bergin, Smith
memories are etched forever in
– thank you, sirs. Mesdames
my life story.
Meronek and Tornquist - merci
my five years at Wellington
beaucoup!
I was part of the Europe Study
Tour at the end of Term Two,
Then came Germany with its
Cemetery. The blood red poppies
Now as I run through my College
arriving at Canakkale Turkey
harshest of reminders, taking an
in Flanders Fields reminded us
years and look forward to
on 28 June. There, on the once
emotional toll on me when visiting
again.
University, and contemplate my
bloodied grounds of Gallipoli, we
the Sachsenhausen Concentration
remembered the fallen, including
Camp Memorial and Museum.
Amidst the homage we paid
in my blazer and tie, I think about
our Old Boys with a resounding
There, I took no photos.
to the fallen, we did the usual
our school’s upcoming 150th
touristy things.
Anniversary.
Haka at Chunuk Bair. We paid
final walk down the school drive
our respects at Quinn’s Post and
Then onward to France and
Lone Pine, and we walked along
the Western Front where we
There was the Haka to the
I reflect on the impact the two
the beach at ANZAC Cove. There,
remembered them in the Somme.
Australians in the ancient city of
wars had on the Wellington
I was struck by how small New
Troy. The paintings at the Sistine
College family, and now these
Zealand is, and how fortunate
Rows upon rows of gravestones
Chapel were simply breathtaking.
words from our school song mean
we were to be in that beautiful
stood guard at the largest
The amazing Colosseum in the
more than ever.
country with its civilisation and
commonwealth cemetery in Tyne
40-degree Roman heat was
culture so awe inspiring and
Cot where it was strange to see
a challenge. An evening ice-
ancient, on the cusp of two great
the occasional German grave.
cream at the Spanish Steps was
continents. I couldn’t help but feel
We stopped to remember at a
decidedly cooler.
that those who gave their lives
number of cemeteries where
We missed German Chancellor,
for the nation,
so long ago would, transposed
some touring students had
Angela Merkel at the Reichstag
Called Follow up and yourself
to another time, have found that
relatives buried.
which had a magnificent view of
showed the way.
the once divided city. The mighty
We who were born in the calm after thunder
renowned intrepid Kiwi spirit
You kindled courage to stand and to stay; You led our fathers to fight
to enjoy this Turkey of cruising
Le Quesnoy was a town we
Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin
on the Bosphorus, reflecting in
visited that has immortalised the
Wall gave us pause.
the divine Blue Mosque, and
Kiwis who liberated it in 1918, with
haggling in the colourful markets.
a New Zealand Memorial and
In Paris I was agog at the Arc
If in our turn we forgetfully
streets with Kiwi names.
de Triomphe and Notre Dame
wonder,
From Turkey we traversed to
Cherish our freedom to think and to do;
Cathedral. I had my caricature
Yet we’ll remember
Italy. We remembered the NZ
In Belgium, with its pervading
done at The Artists’ Quarter at
we owe it to you.
Battalion at Monte Casino.
smell of chocolates, we
Montmartre, and yes I took a
remembered two felled College
‘selfie’ atop the Eiffel Tower.
E noho ra
Old Boys at Cite Bonjean
Mr Patrick Smith, I shall always
Kaspar Flaws, Y13
The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is a War Memorial in Ypres, Belgium, dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres. (L-R): Pierce Day, Devlin Forsythe, Harry Russon and Louis Stevens.
Alistair Gordon gives his reflections at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. The College Haka at Chunuk Bair.
The Lampstand | 2015
Wellington College’s ANZAC Service
B
15
oth visitors and the College
Wellington College’s 2015 ANZAC
spoke movingly about his son
while the three Deputy
community would not
Service held on Friday, 24 April
Jack who was killed in December,
Head Prefects moved
have been able to miss the
was a moving experience. Nine
2010 while serving in Afghanistan
to lay a wreath at the foot
lengthy rows of crosses set in
Old Boys who have served or
with the British Parachute
of the Memorial Window.
the gardens at the start of the
currently serve in the defence
Regiment. Roger attributed with
The service concluded with Kip
school drive near the entry to
force were present. As part of the
appreciation, the firm foundation
Cleverley playing the traditional
Government House leading up
service, Deputy Principal, Robert
that Wellington College had
Last Post and Reveille.
to ANZAC Day.
Anderson, recounted the life of
given to Jack in his formative
Ted Reynolds – the first Old Boy
years.
The named crosses represented
A plaque to honour Jack as one
to lose his life in WWII.
Old Boys killed at Gallipoli in 1915
of our fallen, was unveiled by During the service, Y13 student
the family at the back of the
and as well as those killed on the
Roger Howard, with his wife Anne
William Pereira gave a rendition
Memorial Hall, now alongside
Western Front in 1916.
and daughter Charlotte are the
of Epitaph. Y11 student, Michael
those who died in the Boer War
parents and sister of Private Jack
McKenzie played The Battle of
and both WWI and WWII.
Howard, (Class of 2004). Roger
the Somme on the bagpipes
For all those who attended,
Lieutenant Matt Singleton and Lieutenant Tama Wawatai, (both Class Prefect, Hamish Ware and Deputy Head Prefects, Tom Schuyt, Adam
of 2004), stand in front of fellow classmate, Jack Howard's plaque which
Blackwell and James Hartshorn.
was unveiled at the ANZAC Service.
Old Boys at the ANZAC Service included Stu Filo, Class of 1994 (Retired), Lieutenant Matt Singleton, Malcolm Faulls, Class of 1951 (Retired), Steve Phillips, Class of 1956 (Retired), Captain James Martin, Class of 2002, Major Scott Cordwell, Class of 1991, Steve Taylor, Class of 1965 (Retired), Lieutenant Tama Wawatai and Lieutenant Sione Stanley, Class of 2002. The Lampstand | 2015
16
Memories of a Young Man
The address given by Jack Howard’s father, Roger Howard at the 2015 ANZAC Service.
E
leven years ago, a Y13 boy sat where you’re sitting now. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him. He wasn’t a Prefect, nor was he in the 1st XV. He wasn’t going to be Dux. But in six years he would be dead, killed in Afghanistan on his second tour. His name was Jack Howard and he was my son. Let me tell you his story. Jack was born not far from here, in Wellington Hospital, on Good Friday 1987. Apart from two years in Singapore when he was small, he grew up in Newtown. His introduction to formal learning was not entirely successful. At Wellington South Kindergarten, he was more interested in climbing the trees in the playground. The fact that he could out-climb his kindy teachers no doubt explained why he could neither write his name nor count to ten when he started at Kilbirnie School. Jack spent four years at Kilbirnie before we moved him to St Mark’s School. We had become concerned that he was far from a model pupil, attracted more towards the school hoods than the school scholars. We thought he needed a more disciplined environment. St Mark’s certainly needed most of the four years they had Jack for. A good portion of his time was spent, not in the classroom but outside in the corridor. But in Y7, he discovered Drama and found that there were better ways to seek the recognition of his peers. Jack started at Wellington College in 2000. If I could have asked him how to approach what to say today, he would no doubt have said – depends what the next period is. If it’s maths, spin it out; if it’s history or drama, keep it short. The Lampstand | 2015
At College, Jack developed a great love of Shakespeare. I remember him lying on his bed reading Shakespeare for pleasure. And under the guiding hand of Jan McLean, Jack pursued his love of acting, appearing in three school productions – Othello, Midsummer’s Night Dream and Richard III. In his final year at College, Jack was seriously contemplating an acting career when he suddenly decided to try for a commission in the NZ Army. He’d always had an interest in the military and in his first year at College joined the Air Training Corps. Failing the Officer Selection Board, he said at the time, that was the worst day of his life. But years later, he was to reflect that at the time he was just ‘an immature smartarse’. Instead, Jack joined the Territorials and headed off to Victoria University, but university never really engaged him. Although the warning signs were there when he didn’t wake up in time for one of his university exams. We were not prepared for his announcement that he would not be returning to university the following year. Instead he intended to join The Parachute Regiment Their recruiting slogan had been effective: Are you good enough? Jack decided to take up their challenge. He purchased a one way ticket to London and ended up getting a job as a kitchen hand at Ludgrove, a prep school that Prince William
and Prince Harry had attended. Its attraction, however, was that it boasted large grounds and an indoor pool, ideal for training for the Para preselection course. The job interview had been conducted over the phone by the Matron who told him her husband would pick him up from the nearby railway station. What do you do? Jack asked him on the way back to the school? I’m the Headmaster, he replied, in just three words dispelling Jack’s preconceptions of the British class system. Passing the preselection course, Jack commenced 28 weeks’ basic training at Catterick in North Yorkshire. It culminated in Pegasus or P Company - a final five-day selection course required for entry into The Parachute Regiment. As he put it in an email home the night before, I am about to begin the hardest and most emotional five days of my life so far. Of the 61 who started, Jack was one of only 14 to pass and go on to receive the coveted maroon beret of The Parachute Regiment. He was posted to the Regiment’s 3rd Battalion. At his passing out parade, the reviewing officer asked him where he was from: New Zealand, Sir. And what did you do before you joined the Army? I was at university, Sir. What were you reading? Psychology, philosophy and religious studies,
Sir. Well I’m sure you will find them most useful in 3 PARA. As he was soon to discover, the soldiers of 3 PARA, or ‘the Grungy Third’ as it is known, were from all walks of life. Jack’s platoon included both those who had graduated from university and those who had graduated from prison. Four months later, Jack deployed with 3 PARA to Afghanistan. And so began a series of descriptive, considered, and lengthy emailed reports on his experiences. For the first three months, he wrote of great plans turning into great disappointments; of endless patrolling with no sign of the enemy; carrying 80lb loads of ammunition and water; of not showering for a month; all horrendously boring to young men on their first tour. But it was not without its lighter moments. On his first operation his unit, having cleared a town, rented several compounds. His platoon, he wrote, had the good fortune of being allocated a drug dealer: Our section room had a massive sack of something dodgy that several guys immediately claimed was 'black squidgy' with a street value of about £600,000 in the UK. The room stank of it and soon so did we. When the time came to move on we made our own small contribution to the war on drugs by pouring a load of black squidgy into the burns pit and hung around for the aroma. The platoon commander never clicked on to why we wouldn't stop giggling. Finally, in June he reports on his first full blown contact. By then he had become the platoon signaller: I’ll never forget that feeling standing on the top [of the ridge] and silhouetting myself [as] I
Above: Jack Howard in his final year at College. Left: Jack in his PARA Uniform
Memories of a Young Man quickly drew machine gun fire. The whizzing of bullets around me was deafening and blinding, I felt like I was standing in a wind tunnel or in front of a fan after throwing gravel into it. Absorbed in [trying to spot the firing point], I hadn’t noticed the bullets splashing sand all over the ridge to my left and creeping towards me as the enemy machine gun adjusted its fire on me. I ducked into cover cursing myself when I heard Dave screaming ‘ANTENNA!’ No wonder they’d been aiming off on me, I had a 2m antenna over me. Dave later told me the splashes were landing less than a foot away when I ducked down. His was only one of a number of close calls for his platoon that day. Two months later he experienced his first 'Man Down' when Pte Peter Cowton of 2 PARA was fatally wounded. He describes the scene afterwards: Reality hit home when we got back. Cowton's dragon tattooed section commander sat alone, crying silently before his sergeant helped him up, a minimi gunner walked past carrying the dead lead scout’s webbing. Everyone felt awful, three of our lads had been in Cowton’s platoon through basic training, they’d had a brew with him the night before and were pretty shaken up. We flew out at 1500 the next day and then waited for a 0200 flight back to Kandahar. Mentally and physically drained I struggled to stay awake long enough to shower for the first time in ten days. We were greeted with the news that we will be going straight back out for six weeks in a few days. And so the reports continued. More close calls, but his platoon’s luck holds as does that of 3 PARA. Back home he reflects on his first tour: Leaving Afghanistan was as surreal as when I first arrived. I thought about what I'd done and what I'd heard. Private Cowton's
broken body on the back of a quad trailer; getting shot at on a ridgeline; that guy on a 2 PARA patrol who stood on a pressure pad that wasn't wired properly. His legs were snapped and he was blasted into the air, when he looked down to see everything was still there no one could use their personal radios for the next minute as he babbled BOSS, BOSS! I'VE STILL GOT MY LEGS, BUT I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN...BOSS BOSS! I'VE... Or the other guy who stepped on one which was wired correctly and hearing it click had time to swear before he vanished into pink mist. The only thing that's really changed in me is my memories and even now I'm starting to forget the boredom we suffered. But it won't really be over until the guys I went through depot with in 2 PARA come back, alive. Although I'll always maintain 3 is vastly superior to 2 PARA they really have had a rough tour. They've lost about 13-14 badged members as well as several attachments. Include the wounded (some now legless) and the odds are [shorter] than 1 in 10 for their battalion. Back in the UK after a spell of well-earned leave, 3 PARA begin the training cycle building up for their next tour in 2010. There are deployments to Norway and Kenya. Jack spends a month in California with the Red Devils, The Parachute Regiment’s display team. And he jumps on Normandy and Arnhem in the footsteps of his predecessors 65 years earlier. In one of those ironies of history, at Arnhem they jump with German parachutes and dispatchers which qualified him to wear German airborne wings. In July 2010, Jack was selected to serve with the Pathfinders, the Parachute Regiment’s Brigade reconnaissance force and Special Forces in all but name. He deploys with them to
Afghanistan in September 2010 on a positive note: The last two months have been the best in my life. A month back home, some decent training, sun and beaches in Ibiza, ridiculous nights out in Blackpool and awesome times with my mates. Just what I needed before going back to the war. In an interview after his first deployment, Jack said: I’ve always had this intrinsic belief that I am lucky. When I look back and reflect [on various incidents during my last tour] I realise – [there] was one of my nine lives gone. And as his emails from his second tour revealed all too clearly, he was using up those nine lives. The last time I spoke to him was via a satellite phone from goodness knows where. He sounded flat. What’s wrong? I asked. John got hit the other day, he said. Their section had been pursuing some insurgents up a wadi when they were ambushed. A round had entered his section commander’s little finger and exited his elbow. Leaving his section to fight the battle, Cpl John Broadhead applied his own field dressing, chose not to use his morphine in case it clouded his judgment, and made his own way back to their patrol base 2km away, carrying his pack as well as his rifle. Such are the men who wear the maroon beret.
17
concluded Jack’s official obituary by saying: It is clear to me from the tributes paid to him that Private Jack Howard was an immensely well liked soldier and an exceptionally gifted Paratrooper. That he chose to leave his native New Zealand to join the British Army to fight for the freedoms we all enjoy across the world speaks to his drive and determination. But these attributes didn’t appear out of nowhere. In large measure, Jack was a product of this school where he spent nearly a quarter of his life, some of his most formative years. The Headmaster might not have picked him up from the railway station, but I am sure that if Jack had thought about it, he would have acknowledged the role played by Roger Moses and his staff in shaping him into the man Liam Fox spoke about. And it is right that we, his family, formally acknowledge that, here, in this place, on this occasion. But what would Jack want me to say to you guys? I think it would be this: Do not be afraid to dream, And pursue those dreams with quiet determination. Whatever your field of endeavour, do not be afraid to measure yourself against the best. Be sincere in your friendships, And keep those friendships in good repair. Hold true to your values. Be your own man.
Not long afterwards, Jack returned from operation to discover a round had gone through his backpack. A week later, Jack’s section was poised to attack an enemy position, having already fought and overcome two others that day, when he ‘received the good news’, as the Paras say. His luck had finally run out. The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox,
Private Jack Howard (2000-2004) British Army, Brigade Reconnaissance Force, Parachute Regiment, 3rd Battalion 1987-2010 The Lampstand | 2015
18
ANZAC STORIES
A Last Letter Home
A
lexander McColl (1908-1909) was one of 223 Wellington College Old Boys killed during WWI. A talented sportsman, he had been a member of the 1st
XV in 1909 and a champion rower.
Friends to the End
A
fine scholar and sportsman, Douglas (Dougie) Harle (19081911) was one of Wellington
College's outstanding students in the years immediately before the
Like many of his schoolmates, he was quick to enlist
war. Dougie, a 24-year-old Second
when the war broke out. He landed at Gallipoli with the
Lieutenant in the Canterbury Infantry
Wellington Battalion in April 1915 and took part in much of the heavy fighting on
Regiment, was killed during the successful attack on
the Peninsula. He was wounded but returned to active service and was present
Gravenstafel Spur on 4 October, 1917. A fellow officer
at the evacuation in December 1915. By 1916, Alex was in France with the 1st
reported that he showed ‘great dash and initiative’ in
Battalion, The Wellington Regiment. On 1 July, he wrote to his mother, excited at
leading his men against an enemy machine-gun post in
the prospect of leading a raid on the German lines.
a farm building. He was killed ‘just as the position was practically taken'. Dougie was buried in the Dochy Farm
France. July 1, 1916
Cemetery. The surrounding landscape today is a far cry
My Dearest Mother,
from the wasteland of 1917. Back then it was a sea of mud,
Just a small note in case I should be incapacitated for a few days or so. Today is
pock-marked by shell holes that quickly filled with water
a red letter day in my history as I am taking out a raiding party against the huns.
and became graves for many men.
I have been down here with my party for a few days and everything is working beautifully. If we don’t give the Boche the biggest hiding he has ever received it will
His school reports highlight a young man of outstanding
not be our fault.
character: Prefect, top scholar, talented gymnast and Lightweight Boxing Champion; in 1911, he was also Dux.
I suppose you think it rather strange that I, as an Adjutant, should be selected for
Dougie completed a law degree at Victoria University
this job. I am really the luckiest of men to have got the chance. In the first place,
College before being accepted for military service, at the
all subalterns were selected for the job, but through a most unfortunate bombing
second attempt, in early 1916. He was commissioned as an
accident, two of these were killed. Captain Nareby was next thought of but soon
Officer.
after he went back to England with appendicitis. As we are awfully short of Officers at present, there was no one left with the necessary experience and stamina to
Shortly before the Battle of
take the party.
Passchendaele, Dougie and two old school friends, Norman Shrimpton
I know that the Colonel did not like me going but his hands are tied and personally
[pictured left] (1911-1915) and Ken
I consider myself the luckiest of men to have the opportunity of leading such a
Luke [pictured below] (1905-1906),
splendid body of men that I have under me.
went on leave to Boulogne. For many New Zealanders, the war was a great
They are all trained like fighting cocks. I have been at Football etc for the last few
adventure. The very real possibility
weeks. I have most of the old Football team here including some very well known
of being killed or maimed was often pushed to the back
reps, just the boys for this game.
of the mind as these young men lapped up their first taste of overseas travel. The opportunity to visit places such
Am feeling absolutely confident, so please, dear mother, do not worry about me.
as Boulogne, with its famous port and Roman-walled old
I am quite sure you would not have me do otherwise, especially if you saw how
town, was one of the reasons these old school friends had
pleased the men were when they found I was coming down.
enlisted in the first place. The food, wine, sights and smells would have been a welcome diversion for young men who
I have received several of your lovely letters lately, written as only you know how
were about to participate in what has been described as
to write them. I am quite excited about the improvements to the house and would
New Zealand’s greatest disaster.
dearly like to see them. I would love to fit into my old place at home once more. Ken Luke was the only one of the Best love to all the girls and many thanks for their letters. Tell Dad I am trying to
three friends to survive the war.
keep his good name untarnished. Received a lovely birthday parcel a few days ago.
Norman Shrimpton was killed in 1918
All my love and good wishes. Ever your loving son, Alex
and is also buried in Belgium. Ken returned to Wellington and became
Captain Adjutant, Alex McColl was killed in France on 2 July, 1915 aged 24.
Civil Engineer. He was responsible
Leading a successful trench-raid the evening before, he was anxious for the
for designing and building the iconic
same removal of his wounded and went back out to look for them, becoming
Wellington landmark, the Band
wounded himself, dying of his wounds. His grave is in the Cite Bonjean Military
Rotunda at Oriental Bay.
Cemetery, Armentieres, France. The Lampstand | 2015
ANZAC STORIES
19
WWI Fundraising
S
tudents at Wellington
College raised £2945 for patriotic funds during
the War, in part by growing vegetables. This sum amounts to more than $300,000 in today’s money. Fundraising also began in 1916 for a School Memorial Hall. This opened in March 1928, thanks to a donation of £6000 from the Old Boys’ Association.
V
oluntary cadet groups existed in many schools prior to 1909, when the Defence Act introduced compulsory military training. This act required nearly all boys aged between 12 and 14 to undergo 52 hours of physical
WWI Masters
training each year as Junior Cadets. Initially, this training was supervised by
T
he Board of Governors at Wellington College topped
their teachers.
up the military pay of teachers who enlisted to the level of their teaching salary. They were also given a
A School Rifle Volunteer Cadet Corps had been established at Wellington
grant of £50 per year, and those commissioned before
College in 1870, and school cadets were to remain an integral part of life
going overseas received a further £20 for equipment.
at the school well into the 20th century. J.P. Firth, Headmaster from 1892 to 1920, placed great emphasis on the cadets and the importance of being
One member of the teaching staff, PA Ongley, was killed in
physically fit. Photographs of boys in the military uniform of the school’s
action at Bapaume, France, in August 1918, another Dr GV
cadet corps or shooting teams make the transition from schoolboy to soldier
Bogle serving with the NZMC was killed while attending
more plausible. Many of the more than 1600 Old Boys who served overseas
to the wounded in September, 1916 in France and JH
during the war had learnt to handle a gun, salute and march in formation
Goulding was killed in the trenches at Gallipoli in June,
on the playing fields of the school. Students were even awarded merit
1915. Six other members of staff were wounded including
certificates in bayonet instruction. [see image below left].
AE Caddick, AJ Cross, JR Cuddie, AW Diprose, HTM Fathers, GW Morice, CM Taylor and OW Williams. T Brodie
Many schoolboys were also Boy Scouts. The Boy Scout movement began
survived unscathed. Two Masters, JB Mawson and OW
in New Zealand in 1908. While preparing boys for war is not something we
Williams, were awarded the Military Cross.
associate with the modern scouting movement, its founder, Robert BadenPowell, had been a lieutenant-general in the British Army. His principles of scouting, published in Scouting for boys (1908), were based on his earlier military books. The movement aimed to teach boys ‘peaceful citizenship’ – moral values, patriotism, discipline and outdoor skills – through games and activities and to produce patriots capable of defending the British Empire. These principles were heartily endorsed by Firth and were key ingredients in
GV Bogle
J H Goulding
PA Ongley
his leadership and management of the school. J.P. Firth knew each of the Old Boys who were killed during the war. Personal memories would have come flooding back as he wrote letters of condolence to their families. When the armistice was declared in November 1918, he was observed standing on the steps overlooking the bottom field with tears running down his face. THE COLD HARD FACTS: Of the 1643 Old Boys, known to have served, 225 have laid down their lives and 340 have been wounded. As some of the 1643 did not actually reach the firing-lines, the fact that our casualty lists amounts to 33 ¹/³ percent of the total on active service and shows to what extent our Old Boys must have shared in the 'rough and tumble' of the fighting. THE WELLINGTONIAN, 1919 Left: A Certificate of Merit for Bayonet instruction, presented to Wellington College Cadets, 1915. The Lampstand | 2015
20
ANZAC STORIES: WWI in Watercolours and Ink
A
s part of the WWI Commemorations this year, a catalogue was published by
the Royal New Zealand Navy in conjunction with Watercolours NZ Inc on the occasion of a national exhibition which featured works in watercolour and in ink by seven servicemen of the NZ Expeditionary Force and the Royal
Esmond Hurworth Atkinson, Surrender of the German Fleet in the North Sea, 1919, charcoal and watercolour on paper. Hocken Collections, University of Otago
Naval Volunteer Reserve who packed watercolour paint or pen and ink into their kitbags. One of the artists featured was Old Boy, Lieutenant Esmond (Es) Hurworth Atkinson RNVR (1904-1905) [1888-1941] and his story was recounted in the catalogue by his grandson, Richmond Atkinson. My grandfather, known as Es, was born in Wellington in 1888. His maternal grandfather was pioneering New Zealand water-colourist J C Richmond, whose daughter, artist D K Richmond, was an influential aunt in the lives of Es and his brother Hal and two sisters. When Es was seven years old, the family moved to 'Rangiuru by the Sea' near Otaki, where the children spent the next five years 'messing about in boats', and Es furthered his interest in painting and the natural world. His schooling included a spell at Wanganui Collegiate School, later returning to Wellington College. On leaving school, he joined the Department of Agriculture, Biological Section, and studied towards a BSc degree. In 1916, he worked his passage to England to enlist in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. On the way he enjoyed short botanising trips ashore at Albany in Western Australia. In England, he married Alison Burnett, a long-time family friend, and viewed the works of his artistic heroes, Frank Brangwyn and especially JMW Turner, while in officer training. As a Lieutenant, he served as a signals officer, first in a seaplane carrier, Riviera, on a Mediterranean voyage, and then on the light cruiser Constance, from the deck of which he witnessed, and later painted, the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet in the Firth of Forth. Returning to New Zealand in 1919, he transferred from the Biological Section to the Dominion Museum as official artist, but afflicted by epilepsy, he was retired in 1932. He continued to roam back country New Zealand, often with his wife and two sons, and paint many landscapes, until his death in 1941 from an accident resulting from his illness. The Lampstand | 2015
Above: Torpedo firing 19/07/18 on board 'Constance'. 'Caroline Class' in the distance. Private Collection. Below: American Battleships, 24/07/18. Private Collection
ANZAC STORIES: Tough Man of the Somme dies in Africa
21
illiam Clachan was made of
W
to a tailor for his uniform and
For a young man from Wellington
Above Left: William James
tough stuff.
equipment. He would need, he
- he was in his mid-20s - the
Clachan. Above Right: Men of the
was told, the considerable sum of
sights were stirring.
King's African Rifles at Njombe,
The Old Boy and schoolteacher
100 to 200 pounds depending on
was wounded three times on
the unit.
the Western Front. He twice
German East Africa. In a letter, he wrote: By day we had great fun shooting crocodiles - my
With the Askaris, William was
suffered head injuries, and on
He had his first taste of trench
word, their tails do lash. The hippos
called on to settle disputes.
the second occasion, doctors
warfare in March 1915. During
and rhinos also kept us amused. At
A man steals another man's wife
found the bullet which caused
fighting in the battle for Hill 60 in
one very interesting mission station
- so then he has got to pay the
his first head wounds. Each time
Flanders, he took a bullet in the
we visited Mary Moffat's [David
original hubby 30 shillings for her,
William recovered and, after
head. Despite treatment, the lead
Livingstone's wife's] grave.
and so on. This case does not
time away from the battlefront to
remained undiscovered. William
recuperate, threw himself back
stayed at the front and in July,
William's destination was
and then it crops up. The men all
into action.
took part in the battle of Hooge
Nyasaland - what is now Malawi.
have their wives and kids in the
in Belgium, where he suffered a
Handed command of a company
lines with them, so frequently you
Born in Sydney to Scottish
further head wound, and nearly
of Askaris, William's task was
have a wife (umkazii in native
parents, William grew up in
lost an eye. The silver lining was
to train the young men, mostly
lingo) run in before you for some
New Zealand. He went to Te Aro
that the bullet lodged in his head
members of the Yoo tribe.
minor offence. They come in with
Primary School, then Wellington
for three months was recovered.
occur every day, but every now
a cloth round the hips, usually a He was impressed: They are
kid slung round their shoulders by
studying German and Science at
The soldier was soon back on
a hundred times keener than
another cloth.
Victoria University.
his feet and took charge of
the recruits we were getting in
his company in the first major
England, he wrote. He felt they
In early 1918, the British attacked
He enlisted at the outbreak of
Somme offensive in July 1916.
would give the Hun a rough time,
German forces at the confluence
war in 1914 and was one of seven
This time he was hit with machine
but saw that fighting in Africa was
of two rivers and William's
young soldiers selected after a
gun fire above his ankle and was
not easy: The great trouble is the
company, the first to advance,
stiff exam for a commission in
sent back to England to recover.
food and ammunition supply -
came under heavy flanking fire.
College from 1906-1909, before
Africa being a country of miles -
The commander fell early in the
A year later, having completed
not yards, he observed. The grass
fight. His name is on a memorial
further officer training, William
was so high that it is quite easy for
in Mangochi, near the shore of
William sailed with the NZ
was seconded for duty with the
two opposing forces to miss one
Lake Malawi.
Expeditionary Force as far as
King's African Rifles in East Africa.
another.
the British or, as it was called, Imperial Army.
Egypt, then went on to Britain,
NZ Herald
where he joined the Middlesex Regiment - the so-called 'Die Hards', named after their commander, William Inglis, who,
Left: The Malawi Cemetery was
wounded and having had his horse
used from October 1917, to
shot by Napoleon's forces in 1811,
December 1918, There are 60 war
called to his men to 'Die Hard'.
casualties commemorated in this site and just one New Zealander -
In London, William was directed
William Clachan. The Lampstand | 2015
22
Architect’s impressions of the new Memorial Hall and Performing Arts Centre
T
his long-awaited facility is due to begin construction early in 2016 and as the project evolves, it is very exciting to be able to share these latest images with the Wellington College Community. The main features will be a formal meeting place to cater for the full school, and a flexible Performing Arts venue which will allow much larger audiences to appreciate the versatile skills of Wellington College students. The
College looks forward to providing further information in the coming months as this important project comes to fruition.
The Lampstand | 2015
Under Construction
23
Over the last summer, the No 1 Field was upgraded, with the sewer pipes replaced and then re-levelled and resurfaced. At the same time, the cricket wickets were renovated and the field was back up and running in time for winter sport. Firth Hall’s restrengthening included replacing the slate tiles and is expected to be finished in February 2016. Steel beams will also be inserted into the Firth Hall structure to meet the code of compliance. Below Firth Hall, B5 has been gutted and a new concrete floor has been poured. The room needs to be reinforced to meet WCC requirements. The MOE have cleared much of the bank and trees to reinforce the bank below Wellington East Girls’ College and behind the Old Boys' Gym and Frank Crist Centre which has given us greater width to the Football and Cricket boundaries. Restrengthening on the banks below WEGC continues, and will eventually be planted with trees and allow us to park there again. Extensive work has been carried out on the Science Block to resolve the weather-tightness issues The lawn behind the former Headmaster’s House has seen two new buildings erected - The Uniform Shop and a Classroom. The Lampstand | 2015
24
The ARCHIVES
T
‘A goodly heritage, proud traditions, cherished memories’ collection.
he year began with Property
Merlot, along with numerous
Staff, Kelwyn D’Souza and Roy
photographs from 1862-63 and
Smith completing the much
1918-20. A fascinating story with
Two comments really took my
a great deal of research involved.
breath away: Blessed to be here. It
needed shelf storage space
flood in. It is your contributions that cause these words of praise to be forthcoming.
is a privilege to have this insight in
My thanks to Ted Clayton for
historical photographs and large
Ashleigh Flynn, the Events
the beautiful history of my school -
his continued work on the
reunion display boards. These
Administrator of the NZ Arts
thank you.
newspaper collection and other
items are finally off the floor and
Foundation was very pleased to
can be accessed with ease. A
see the display we had on Ballet
Seeing this amazing history makes
with. A valuable colleague.
dream come true! Thank you.
dancer and Old Boy, Alexander
me proud to be part of the school.
Headmaster Roger Moses, Tony
Grant. (1922-1924). Ashleigh very
I can appreciate the work that has
Robinson, Penny Basile, Marilyn
One room though is covered
kindly sent two copies of the Arts
gone in to present this.
MacLennan, Glenda Schmitt and
with all the Prefect and House
Foundation booklet featuring
Prefect boards that adorned the
Alexander Grant their NZ Icon
I found this last comment after
and I thank them all for their
walls of Firth Hall. This area is
Awards winner 2005.
a visit by Te Piringa, the Māori
kindnesses.
for masses of large framed
areas of the Archives he helps
Stephanie Kane are so supportive
families of Wellington College
being earthquake strengthened so these boards along with the
Three Old Boys have sent
when they visited the Archives
150 years of Wellington College is
life size portrait of J P Firth and
splendid collections of
one evening in October.
on the horizon. Please remember
other historical photographs have
photographs, programmes,
been stored in the Headmaster’s
school reports and testimonials
Finally the word, ‘Respect’.
display as soon as possible
House. It was a massive job
that have proved most valuable.
This was written by a special
to make it a success. Is there
to take them all off the walls,
Thank you Mike Monaghan
gentleman - Professor Verne
anyone out there that can help
carefully number then wrap them
(1961-1965), Ewen Thompson
Harris. Verne hails from South
donate display cases to show
in conservation material before
(1974-1978) and Rodney Callender
Africa. He was the personal
off our material please? I would
transporting them across the
(1954-1958). These collections
archivist of Nelson Mandela and
dearly love some help there!
grounds to their temporary home
will prove ideal for the 150th
has set up the Nelson Mandela
May the Festive Season be a
for safekeeping.
Celebrations display.
Foundation.
happy one for all of you.
Marvellous gifts continue to be
The Class of 4A, 1941 has been
Thank you to all the donors for
Paddianne W. Neely
donated to the Archives including
dear to my heart for many years.
the material that continues to
College Archivist
a large charcoal and watercolour
I was deeply saddened to see
framed print of The Surrender of
another of the boys had died,
the German Fleet in the North Sea
George Gair (1940-41). It was
1919 by Old Boy, Lieut. Esmond
George who nominated me
Hurworth Atkinson RNVR (1904-
to be an Honorary Member of
1905) [see story on page 20]
the Class of 4A, 1941 during a
was kindly donated by former
reunion in London. I will always
parent, Claire Clarke. Claire
remember him stopping off at the
obtained this print and displayed
College in 1992 en route to the
it at the Watercolour exhibition
airport to take up his new job in
Splash held in the Wellington
London as High Commissioner
Anglican Cathedral this year in
for New Zealand. He dropped
commemoration of WWI artists.
off his 4A school blazer that had been hidden in the back of
Richard Boag (1977-1981) and the
his wardrobe all those years. It
Old Boys' University Rugby Club
featured in the College’s 125
have had a large framed tableau
years display.
made of a photograph of Chunuk Bair in the background with a
Over 160 visitors have signed
carved copy of an Enfield rifle,
the Visitors’ Book this year. I’ve
the type used by Hāmi Grace
been touched by the generous
(1904-08) set in front along with a
remarks. Some include: Fabulous
portrait included of Hāmi.
displays. Fascinating objects. Fantastic history. My father’s
David Wesley has compiled
history, a top guy. Well done,
the life story of one of our early
I’m completely blown away. A
Masters, Augustus Francis
magnificent history, beautiful
The Lampstand | 2015
to send in photographs for the
Remember The Archives before you go to the tip! 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, Prizes & Trophies Art Work Books & Music Reports & Papers Correspondence
Please send your stories College Life; Students, Staff, Old Boys, Form Classes Caps, Ties, Blazers, Boaters Jerseys, Caps, Boots Dux, Badges, Awards, War Medals, Academic, Sports and Cultural Awards Paintings, Sketches By Old Boy Authors/Singers or about Old Boys Academic, Certificates, Governing Boards, Headmasters, College Mothers', Parents’ Assoc. Letters to and from Staff, Students and Old Boys
Do you have form class photos (preferably named) from 19302000 that you could donate to the Archives or lend for us to scan and return? We only have a small number of photos and wish to increase our collection for Reunion displays and of course the 150th Celebrations.
Please contact Paddianne W Neely Wellington College Archivist Tel: 04 382 9411 (W) • 04 386 2072 (H) or Email: oldboys@wc.school.nz
The ARCHIVES
25
ď Ž NEELY, MRS PADDIANNE QSM: For services as an archivist (NYH)
Prep Room, Firth House 1948. (L-R): Terry Turner, Jim Collins, Professor Verne Harris (Centre) seen here with Don and Paddianne Neely. Photo: PW Neely, Archives
Alf Miles. Photo: J Tunnell, Archives.
Ewen Thompson 'tied up' in Mr Farland's Classroom. Photo: E Thompson, Archives.
The Wellington College Pipe Band outside the West School around 1936-1941. Photo: Mac Gapes, Archives.
P
addianne Neely has been recognised as a leader in the establishment of school archives throughout New Zealand over the last 36 years. Paddianne helped instigate an annual workshop for people involved in maintaining archives and records in schools, libraries, churches and community organisations, which attract attendees from around the North Island. She has established, compiled, expanded and maintained the archives of Rongotai College, Scots College, Queen Margaret College, Wellington College, Wellesley College and Wanganui Collegiate. She has designed and mounted historical displays for significant jubilee events and other occasions at these schools.
Mr Wall's English Class, 1978, featuring Human Biology. Photo: E Thompson, Archives
Helgi Stedman (1987), Wellington College 1st XI Traditional at Wanganui Collegiate. The Coach was Mr From the playing fields of Wellington College in 1884, many of
Rob Corliss and the Captain
Wellington's top football players developed skills and love of the game
was Matthew Bond.
In 2011, while working on Wellington College's archives she oversaw the conversion of the vacated Headmaster's House into a permanent archive and museum, which now houses 148 years of the school's historical artefacts, and also made similar use of an old building at Wanganui Collegiate for the school's 150th celebrations. She has assisted her husband, Don Neely with research in the preparation of two histories of cricket in New Zealand - Men in White and The Summer Game. Paddianne was tasked by Wellington Cricket to decorate the Norwood Room in the R.A. Vance Stand at the Basin Reserve, designing and mounting a permanent display of historical photos and an Honours Board. Government House Citation The Lampstand | 2015
26
Reunions: CLASS OF 1965
Back Row:
Hamish Hancock, Hugh Cromie, Monty Black, Bert Lamb, Phil Pacey, Roy Hughes, Mark Williamson, William Sommerville,
Third Row:
John Culliford, Jim Lynch Dale Renouf, Russell Morrison, Peter Barker, Norman Paris, Bob Tricklebank, David Hamilton, Jock Struthers,
Second Row: Front Row:
Peter Martin, Bryan Lawrence, Pete Rodger Brett Windley, John Wedde, Paul Martin, Rob Earles, Ted Raba, Duncan Milne, Bob Sadler, Barry Hellberg, Philip Chong Steve Taylor, Gerry Cooper, John Raine, Ted Clayton [Master], Roger Moses [Headmaster], Michael Monaghan [Head Prefect, 1965],
Absent:
Tony Lendrum, Stewart Whitney, Ken Houston, Keith Woodford Andy King VISITORS TO THE COLLEGE IN 1965
T
he Class of 1965 returned to Wellington College in March and
old school [pictured
were welcomed back by Headmaster, Roger Moses.
left with Headmaster, Seddon Hill]. Four
Many of the group had met ten years earlier at the 40 Years On
months later, he would
Reunion and it was nice to also see some new faces of those who
be on the front cover of
couldn’t get return on the last occasion. Sadly since they last
TIME Magazine - his
met, six of the cohort have passed away. Joining the group in the
second appearance.
morning was 1961 Head Prefect, Gil Roper [who is currently working at the College] and 2015 Head Prefect, George Barton.
The Firth House Boarders were able to
Following the drinks reception and music medley from the Chorale,
enjoy the newly-installed
the dinner ensued, with the College’s Deputy Principal and Old Boy,
television set in 1965.
Rob Anderson hosting the function. A Toast to the College was given by Hamish Hancock and responded to by Roger Moses. Hamish has had four sons attend Wellington College and was one of several that evening who have also had their sons enrolled. Toasts were also given by Peter Rodger (Firth House), John Raine (Masters) with special mention to Ted Clayton who attended the Dinner. Steve Taylor concluded the formalities with a Toast to Absent Friends. The rest of the evening saw guests continue with their reminiscing and making a point to be back for the College’s 150th Celebrations.
The Lampstand | 2015
In March, Dr William Pickering visited his
Class of 1966 Reunion: 50 Years On Friday, 1 April 2016 @ WC
Photos: Billy Dancer, Class of 2015
Reunions: CLASS OF 1965
27
The Lampstand | 2015
28
Reunions: CLASS OF 1975
Back Row:
Trevor Moss, Adrian Risman, Gregory Szakats, Ron McKenzie, Paul Steele, Terence Burns, David Knott, Rod Miller,
Third Row:
Grant Coppersmith, Nigel Clements, John Hebenton, Mino Cleverley David Shillson, Alan Lear, Peter Williamson, Duncan Hall, Steve Gray, David Ironside, Kenneth Johnston, Paul Hunt,
Second Row:
Jonno Suppree, Ross Pickard, John Soulis, David Hatfield, Michael Mann Julian Heyes, Graeme Hall, Adrian Watts, Ivan Downes, Tim Kirby, Chris Gough, Stan Yee, Peter Hatten, Brent Drysdale, Martin
Front Row:
Fine, Peter Marriott, John Sutherland, Martin Dalgleish, Gary Lewis Martin Conway, David Boag, Grant Fraser, Chris Wells, Deen O'Brien, Rich Gaskin, Gary Girvan (Master), Roger Moses (Headmaster), Peter Morrison [Head Prefect, 1975], Kingsley Baird, Mark McHugh, David Sole, Giff Goldsmith, Dave MacCalman
T
he Class of 1974 attracted a good turn-out this year, with alumni travelling from all corners of the globe to attend.
With a few buildings unavailable because of the building work, the cohort met in the Archives for morning tea and welcome from Headmaster, Roger Moses. Roger, accompanied by current students then led a tour of the College, showcasing all the facilities now in place for the twenty-first century student. It was also a pleasure to have former Masters, Gary Girvan and Mike Pallin join the morning festivities as well as Jan McLean. The evening formalities began with drinks and an opportunity to view the photos from 40 years ago. The College’s Chorale entertained the group before dinner in the Assembly Hall. Toasts were given by Peter Morrison (Toast to the College), Michael Mann (Firth House), Julian Heyes (The Masters) and Chris Wells (Absent Friends). The rest of the evening saw guests continue with their reminiscing and making a point to be back for the College’s 150th Celebrations.
Class of 1976 Reunion: 40 Years On Friday, 14 OCTOBER 2016 @ WC The Lampstand | 2015
Photos: Billy Dancer, Class of 2015
Reunions: CLASS OF 1975
29
The Lampstand | 2015
30
Ten Years On: The Class of 2005
F
irstly, I would like to pay
Max Harris, Peter Clark, and
been a two-time NZ Muay Thai
Rosevear Brothers, a tailored-
tribute to an absent friend of
Edward Stace have all achieved
Champion. David Isaacs and Luke
clothing outfitter. Due to his
our cohort, Andrew Truesdale.
amazing academic success and
Dustin have both been to the
constant dealings in China, Pat
Andrew tragically passed away
received full scholarships to
World Championships in Canoe
became fluent in Mandarin and
in July, 2013. I was not present
Oxford. Ed and Max were both
Polo, and after helping carry us
if what I’ve seen on Facebook
at his funeral but from all
recipients of Rhodes Scholarships
to McEvedy glory in 2005 - Billy
is anything to go by, he is now
accounts it was an extremely
and Max has been elected as an
Crayford has won seven NZ Men’s
a reality TV star in China. When
moving ceremony that reflected
Examinations Fellow at All Souls
Open High Jump titles and also
his schedule permits, he also
the amazing work he had
College, Oxford. The seven-year
represented NZ at the World
practices law.
done as a volunteer and as a
fellowship is one of the world's
University Games. We wish Billy
paramedic for Wellington Free
most competitive and prestigious
all the best in his quest to make
Thomas Golding did a BSc
Ambulance. Nothing showcased
academic awards.
the Commonwealth Games in
in Geophysics and Geology,
2018.
and then a MSc in Petroleum
this more than the guard of
Geoscience with First Class
honour he received from St John
Jono Ross continued his
Ambulances and staff lining the
outstanding success in the pool
The success of our cohort,
Honours at VUW. He is now
streets outside Old St Paul's.
and represented NZ at Waterpolo.
however, is not, and will never
in Perth working for Shell as
Nick Douglas, Matt Thompson
be judged on the number of
an Exploration Geoscientist,
It seems like yesterday that we
and Jason Roche, all hailing from
academic achievements or
exploring for new oil and
walked down the ‘Coll Drive’
the prestigious Northland Primary
sporting awards. We have
gas reserves in Australia and
as students for the last time.
School, teamed up to represent
doctors, administrators, personal
Southeast Asia.
After coming to terms with the
NZ in Handball (the Olympic
trainers, professional sportsmen,
fact that it has actually been
sport, not four-square). David
armed servicemen, teachers,
Sam Templeton, who I had the
ten years since we had the
Plowright traded in his outdoor
lawyers, engineers, investment
pleasure of running into at a bar
honour of donning the black and
football boots for indoor ones
bankers, and sales people all
in Lagos, Portugal only a few
yellow uniform, I have tried to
and played goalie for the NZ
leading the way in their chosen
months ago, has decided after
piece together what everyone
Futsal team. Michael Grain has
fields. I actually think the greatest
working for Weta Digital here in
in our cohort has been doing in
represented NZ in the small-bore
indication of our cohort’s success
Wellington that he is going to
that time. The results are truly
rifle and also cleaned out every
is that we have not had any
take his talents to Berlin.
impressive, so without further
circus he’s ever been to. Jamie
politicians yet!
ado, here is the Class of 2005, ten
Eades definitely takes the alpha-
years on.
male title for our year and has
The Lampstand | 2015
Tom Bridgewater set up a small Patrick Rosevear co-founded
business named ‘project’ out of
Ten Years On: The Class of 2005
31
The 2005 Head Prefect Team (L-R): Michael Hobbs, Simon Worker and Adam Cahill. Opposite Page: The Class of 2005 on their last day at Wellington College. as to what the last
head to greener pastures (and
in this world, and to not stress too
decade has entailed
smaller opponents) and I have
much about the future. Tomorrow
for him, but I can report
been based in Japan playing in
is not guaranteed, so handle
that he has followed his
the Japan Top League for the
your business today. I am excited
past three seasons now. Living in
about what the future holds for all
Japan has taught me a lot about
of us, and I hope the choices that
myself. I have had plenty of time
we all make in the next 10, 20, 30
to reflect on the mistakes I have
plus years of our lives will reflect
made in my life to date and the
the great men that Wellington
I touched on David Isaacs’s
kind of person that I want to be
College nurtured us to be.
his garage that helps people get
sporting achievements earlier, but
remembered as.
unique and bespoke furniture
outside of the pool he spent a year
into their homes at a price that
volunteering in Israel, completed
After two shoulder surgeries
head knocks on the field (or
they can swallow. What started
a Masters in Mechanical
this year alone, my body/mind
too many beers off it), I cannot
out as a hobby in his spare time
Engineering, designed Aircraft
is telling me it is time to give
remember if I offered any decent
is starting to gain traction and he
and Super Yacht components in
rugby away and move into the
advice during my final address
is doing some really innovative
Auckland, and also designed parts
next chapter of life. I look forward
as your Head Prefect. I’ll take this
things in the community.
of the last America's cup boats.
to giving my body a break from
as my chance to atone for that if I didn’t.
strong entrepreneurial nature and been extremely successful in his ventures down in Queenstown.
Unfortunately, after too many
He now lives in Singapore working
the rigours of professional
Simon Worker, one of your
for a Silicon Valley IT company,
sport, and further challenging
Deputy Head Prefects, graduated
and on top of that, I would not
the capabilities of my mind at
We have now spent twice as
from Otago University and then
have been able to put this article
Business School in the United
long out of Wellington College
spent a year in Beijing working
together without his assistance.
States.
than we spent as students, a few
moving home. He is now based
I know there will be many more
I am sure many of you have had
signs that the boys we once were
in Auckland working for a NZ
success stories out there and
similar experiences in your own
are now becoming men. Mario
Investment Bank and Corporate
congratulations to you all. I
careers.
Puzo, the author of The Godfather,
Advisory company.
apologise that I have not been
weddings, babies, and overall
and studying Mandarin before
able to track you all down. Your other Deputy Head Prefect,
once said – Great men are not Nothing tends to work out exactly
born great, they grow great – so
as we had intended, but then
wake up every morning and be
Adam Cahill, has been one of
Personally, after leaving school
again, that is the beauty of life.
the best that you can be. You only
the toughest people to track
I was very fortunate to make
There is an old Yiddish proverb
get one shot at this life. Don’t die
down for this article. As Mark
a career playing rugby. I had
- man plans and God laughs
with the music in you.
Tinkle very aptly commented on
the honour of representing our
- regardless of your religious
the WCOB page, you'll need to
hometown Lions in the ITM Cup
beliefs I think there is something
Michael Hobbs
send smoke signals or a pigeon
and to also go on and play four
that everyone can take away from
2005 Head Prefect
to contact Adam. Unfortunately,
seasons of Super Rugby. After
that saying. I’ve always taken it
mjd.hobbs@yahoo.co.nz
I have not been able to get a
recovering from a serious back
to mean to enjoy each and every
first-hand account from Adam
injury, I decided it was time to
day that we are blessed to have
Michael Hobbs from the Highlanders during the Super 14 match between Stormers v Highlanders at Newlands Rugby Stadium in 2010 in
Oxford Scholars (L-R): Edward Stace, Max Harris and Peter Clark.
Cape Town, South Africa.
Read their story on page 46. The Lampstand | 2015
32
Missing Old Boys
T
o assist us in informing alumni of their forthcoming Reunions, we seek your help in locating the Old Boys listed below. You may be a relative, friend or colleague and know where they now may be or sadly, if they are now deceased. Either contact the WCOBA Office or ask him/them to contact us directly, particularly if they wish to know more about their Reunion and/or the 150th
Celebrations. The Class of 1976 are those who would have been in Form 3 in 1972 whether it be at Wellington College or another secondary school. Likewise, the Class of 1966 would have been in Form 3 in 1962. Many of these have become 'Gone, No Address'.
Class of
1976
Alamsyah, Emir Allen, Stephen Arden, Geoffrey Askew, Neil Ball, Garry Ball, Phillip Batten, Phillip Bennett, Stephen Birch, Jonathan Blake, Ronald Blanchard, Lance Bloomfield, Gregory Braddock, Geoffrey Broome, Keith Bullock, Peter Burry, Andrew Buswell, Martin Campbell, Irving Carr-Gregg, Michael Chan, Derek Chan, Keith Charles, Howard Charteris, Michael Chin, Alvin Chin, Colin Christian, Grant Clark, Gregory Clarke, Geoffrey Cochrane, Nicholas Coffey, Joseph Connor, Mark Cook, Martyn Cooper, Paul Cotton, Derek Counsell, Robert Crabtree, Stephen Crawford, Ross Crombie, Dwayne Cunliffe, Paul Davies, Christopher
de Silva, Christian Dennison, Dallin Domanski, Richard Dozell, Carl Eastman, David Economou, Constantinos Eddey, David Eden, Nicholas Ellen, Thomas Fitzgerald, Allan Gandhi, Nitin Gardiner, Francis Glossop, Gregory Graham, William Gray, David Gray, Steven Gregory, Christopher Grennell, Mark Greville, Craig Gruenberg, Allen Guppy, David Haines, Philip Hair, Stuart Hambling, David Hamlin, John Harding, Kevin Harrison, Geoffrey Harrison, Wesley Hawkins, Paul Heine, Alastair Hettige, Priyalal Hettige, Sunil Hewson, Grant Hing, Trevor Hoekman, Mark Holden, Lewis Holton, John Houpt, Anthony Hoy, Kelvin Hunter, Richard Ingram, Mark Jacques, Anthony Janssen, Thomas Jayasuriya, David Johanson, Paul
Kaye, Christopher Kerr, Dennis Kerr-Hislop, Robert Keyzer, Gerard King, Denis King, Graeme Lambaditis, Evangelos Larsen, Andrew Larsen, Roger Lauchlan, Grant Lee, John Lindsay, Kenneth Lines, Stanley Little, Neil Livingstone, Robb MacAulay, Thomas MacEwan, Douglas MacFarlane, Miles MacGregor, Iain MacKay, Paul Major, Dale Mansfield, Robert Marklew, Paul Marriott, David Marshall, Craig Mason, Jeffrey McDonald, Gavin McInnes, Paul McKean, Craig McKenzie, Ewen McKenzie, Stephen McLean, Richard McLeod, Warwick McNabb, David McSparran, Gregory Megennis, Barry Misirlakis, Michael Moore, Christopher Moore, Jeffrey Morris, Brent Mullins, Michael Newson, Lee Nixey, Philip Norman, Paul North, John O'Connor, Michael
O'Connor, Peter Olsen, Leonard Olsen, Paul Orchard, Leslie Palmer, John Parkinson, Roger Partington, Colin Patching, Warren Patel, Ramesh Payne, Christopher Petitie, Jonathan Pilone, Max Preston, David Rae, Grant Read, Alan Reeves, Derek Ritchie, Christopher Roberts, Peter Robertson, Grant Russell, Philip Salisbury, Sean Scadden, Richard Seddon, Martyn Shearer, Stephen Short, Martin Sidebotham, Mark Sim, Bruce Simpson, Perry Smith, Brian Smith, Brian Smith, Ian Smith, Stuart Smyth, Peter Soma, Suresh Staines, Andrew Stapleton, Alan Stent, Paul Stewart, James Sumner, Brent Taylor, David Taylor, Michael Tessier, Timothy Thomas, Trevor Thomson, Laurence Tischler, Richard Todd-Lines, Stanley
Bay of Plenty Branch Lunch 2014
A
n increase in numbers for the 2014 Lunch, which was held as usual at Daniels in the Park in Tauranga saw 32 Old Boys in attendance, one former staff member and three guests including Headmaster, Roger
Moses.
Trask, Maxwell Tringham, Alastair Vallance, Ronald Van den Bos, Cornelius Van Vliet, Michael Vasbenter, Peter Veld, F Verberkt, Ronald Viatos, James Ward, Thomas Ward, William Watts, Jonathan Wells, Christopher Welsh, Mark Whitwell, Gary Wicherts, Grant-Erle Williams, Reece Wilson, Francis Wong, Christopher Woods, Peter Wright, Ian
Class of
1966
Adams-Schneider, Warren Alexander, John Allison, Raymond Anderson, David Anderson, Bruce Arthur, Peter Bacon, Joseph Barzukas, Peter Beatson, Geoffery Bell, Christopher Bell, J A Bittar, Joseph Blakiston, Roger Briggs, Richard Broad, Antony Brockie, Christopher
Brown, Peter Caughley, Alistair Chisholm, Robert Churchill, Gordon Crowther, Michael Darvell, Perry Davies, Roger De Bruyn, Jan Deben, Klaus Dellow, Dennis Desmond, John Diment, Graham Doig, John Dollimore, R S Duncan, James Farmer, Duncan Faye, Daniel George, B S Gibson, John Glover, James Gordon, Richard Hall, Barry Harford, Donald Harley, Robert Hewett, Erskine Hough, Theodore Howard, Keith Howell, Colin Huppert, Richard James, Kerry James, Rodney Jenkins, Larry Lamb, Robert Langton, William Lin, Voon MacGregor, J W K Maidens, James Malden, Trevor Marks, Colin Martin, Michael McGrath, Patrick McGregor, James McKenzie, Alistair McLennan, James McLennan, John Meagher, John
Molineaux, Raymond Nicholson, Bruce Paine, Bruce Papalii, Moselota Paris, Angelo Patterson, B Paul, Edward Pottinger, David Press, A W Preston, Bruce Prosser, Dale Redstone, Peter Robati, Griffith Sender, Campbell Senior, C C Shirtcliff, John Simmons, David Simpson, Athol Skinner, Perry Stewart, Anthony Stewart, Donald Stewart, John Sykes, Nicholas Tangaroa, Nicholas Taylor, Clive Thompson, David Tidy, Philip Tolley, Nigel Tomlinson, Paul Towns, David Townsend, Martin Tucker, Bryan Turner, Hugh Twigden, Clive Twist, Neville Wade, Graham Walker, Robin Wamsteker, Nico Whiteacre, Stephen Whitwell, Mark Wilkinson, Dennis Wood, Laurence Woolliams, Roy Wright, Edwin Young, Bing
Class of 2006... Please get in touch with your Head Prefect, Jono Anderson and share your news and plan your reunion.
The attendees gathered for pre-lunch drinks and much reminiscing of school days in many instances long passed. After welcoming those present and acknowledging those Old Boys who had passed away in the past twelve months, we followed with a roll-call and some memories of special times at the College. Graeme Ingham (1951-1954) proposed the Toast to the College and was followed by Roger Moses, who spoke with feeling about the many achievements and notable events at Wellington College of today. As usual, his speech was well received by all of us. Lynn Morrison (1957-1961) proposed the Vote of Thanks to Roger and this was strongly supported. The luncheon finished with a spirited rendition of Forty Years On. The annual event once again proved to be a most happy occasion. Barry Ward (1948-1952) The Lampstand | 2015
janderson@sacredheart.school.nz
Bringing OLD BOYS Together
33
WCOBA Quadrangular Tournament Beers ‘n’ Bites
T
he 85th Quadrangular Tournament, hosted by Wellington College was held in late June. On the Tuesday evening, we invited Old Boys to our Beers 'n' Bites Function, held at the nearby Cambridge Hotel and was well attended by both local and visiting Old Boys. The Function also included former 1st XV members from 1955 to 1995. The evening was filled with many stories and recollections from past Tournaments.
Headmaster, Roger Moses addressed our guests and brought them up-to-date on news from the College. He was also honoured to present Bob Mitchell (1952-1956) somewhat belatedly, his 1st XV Cap.
Nelson College break 14-year drought with Quadrangular Tournament win
N
elson College broke a 14-year drought after beating Wellington College on their home to win the 89th annual Quadrangular Tournament rugby title in late June.
Despite the old fashioned 6-3 scoreline, Nelson produced a Herculean effort to secure their first Quadrangular title since beating Wellington College in Nelson in 2001 - the result reflecting both the tightness of the exchange and both teams'
It was a pleasure to welcome a number of regular Quadrangular Tournament Old Boys to Office 150 for a coffee before the final matches.
defensive fortitude. It was by no means a dour spectacle as both teams attempted to give the ball plenty of air in the pristine conditions. The defence from both teams held firm, as did Nelson's discipline to avoid conceding an equalising kickable penalty. The elation of the Nelson team on the final whistle, mirrored by
2016 QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT is at Christ's College from 4 - 6 July, 2016. WCOBA Function on Tuesday, 5 July at the Classic Villa, Worcester Street kindly hosted by Peter Morrison (1970-1975).
the despair of Wellington fully demonstrated the significance of this victory. Christ's College beat Wanganui Collegiate 22-0 in the early
Email oldboys@wc.school.nz for more information or a friendly reminder closer to the time.
match to secure third place. The Lampstand | 2015
Reunions: CLASS OF 1995
34
M
y good mate and colleague
generous contribution to cover
Jamie Crump hit me up
the food, all was set.
a few months ago and
suggested I look at organising
In the classic party style only
the Class of 1995 20 Years On
four people were in attendance
Reunion as he’d done for the
until 8.00pm whereupon we had
class of ’94. I’d missed the ten
a full house within 30 minutes
year reunion so was keen to
or so. It was great to see the
see the lads after 20 years and
vague recognition on the lads
thought I’d at least check in with
faces as they walked in the room,
Stephanie at WCOBA to see if
changing to hearty smiles and
anyone was organising it already.
handshakes.
When she let me know that
The night picked up from there
no one was, I thought why not
and was really rewarding for
and asked for some advice on
me personally seeing everyone
how to go about it. Stephanie
reconnect, in some cases for the
was amazing and sent me the
first time in 20 years!
roll of ‘95 to begin the task of contacting everyone, and along
I’d like to also say how sad we
with Jamie’s Facebook page from
all were to hear how class of ’95
the previous year for reference
Old Boy, Misiluni Moananu had
I picked a date and cracked on.
lost his battle with cancer and
A shout out to Julian Watt and
passed away only a few days
Bojan Cvetkovic for helping me to
after the event. He had accepted
contact everyone. This was much
the invite and we know he would
appreciated.
have been there if he could . Our thoughts are with his family.
It was great to see so many Old Boys living overseas sending in
Thanks again to Stephanie and
their messages about how they
the lads that helped make the
would love to have attended - it
Class of ’95 20 reunion a reality,
was good to see the spirit still
was a blast.
alive.
Euan Howden, Class of 1995
Saturday, 7 November at the
A big shout out to Euan for taking
Cambridge Hotel was the plan,
control and arranging the Reunion.
and with the support of Stephanie
Congratulations Euan!
on behalf of the WCOBA with a
Stephanie Kane.
1996 I
Class of
f you are interested in attending/arranging a Get-Together for the Class of 1996 like the 1993, '94 and '95 ones, drop me a line and we can get things in motion for 2016. We can contact fellow classmates through email and social media, plus help with the event itself - logistically and financially. It just needs someone from the cohort to get the ball rolling. Email Stephanie Kane at oldboys@wc.school.nz
The Lampstand | 2015
Class of 2015: Leavers' Lunch
35
T
he Year 13 students of 2015 had one last chance to gather and celebrate together at the annual Leavers’ Lunch, held this year in the Old Boys’ Gymnasium – the lack of function venues limiting
our options but were well fed by a sumptuous spit roast buffet prepared by Baxter’s Catering. It was a happy, relaxed afternoon, full of humour and memories as students prepared to go their separate ways. Deputy Head Prefects Adam Blackwell, James Hartshorn and Tom Schuyt MC’d the Lunch, with nominated students tailoring their special mentions of their days at Wellington College, the staff and the array of activities and events over the past five years for their fellow students.
O
ne of New Zealand top comedians and Old Boy, Steve Wrigley (1993-1997) was the guest speaker at this year’s Class of 2015 Leavers’ Lunch. Steve is a core cast member on the hit TV3
panel show 7Days and quite simply, a stand out comedy talent.
Guest speaker, Steve Wrigley, Year 13 Dean, Steve Lyster and Head Prefect, George Barton also each gave speeches, in which they
Steve credits Wellington College for producing five of New
congratulated the students on the fine young men they have become,
Zealand’s current top comedians: Dai Henwood, Nic Sampson and
and challenged them to go out into the world with purpose and self-
Joseph Moore - who are regular panellists alongside Steve on
belief.
7Days - plus Raybon Kan.
Headmaster, Roger Moses wished the students’ well for the future,
Steve won the Billy T James award in 2008 and was the first ever
assuring them the school had prepared them well for life beyond
comic to follow that up with back to back nominations for the
Wellington College. With a rousing rendition of Forty Years On,
2009/2010 Fred Dagg award. His live shows during the comedy
the Class of 2015 now become part of the 32,000 plus Old Boys of
festival are always a sellout, and his energetic and infectious
Wellington College.
humour sees Steve as a regular addition to comedy showcases on television. Steve’s speech to the students was honest and imaginative, his genuine love for making people laugh with personal anecdotes of his time at Wellington College and then beyond won the boys over and they certainly enjoyed his company. Steve now resides in Auckland and his infectious vigour has entertained audiences all over New Zealand and, indeed all over the world delivering humour with the gusto of a comic who loves his craft and the pleasure it brings to audiences and himself alike. The Lampstand | 2015
36
2015 Honours for Old Boys
The citations for each recipient are provided by Government House
BAIN, JOHN, JP (1959-1963) MNZM: For services to the community and sport (QBH)
HUNN, JOHN (1951-1955) ONZM: For services to business and philanthropy (NYH)
MARSHALL, MR JOHN, QC (1960-1064) CNZM: For services to the law (QBH)
J
J
J
He has been closely involved in sports committees, raising funds for the North Auckland Rugby Union to successfully bring it into a sound financial position, and serving on the Whangarei Golf Club Committee. In the 1990s, he joined the Sport Northland Board, returning in 2011 and fundraising for a new Sport Northland base.
John has held senior executive roles in a range of significant New Zealand companies and is a Distinguished Fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors.
ohn Bain has contributed to the Northland community for more than 35 years.
John was Whangaruru Rugby Coach for Māori Youth from 1992 to 1994. He joined the Whangarei St John Ambulance Area Committee in 1977 and has served as its Chairman since 1984. He helped raise funds to build a new ambulance station in the 1970s. His has been a member of the St John Ambulance Northern Regional Committee, the Northern Regional Trust Board, and in 2014 he was appointed a Member of Priory Chapter, National. John served for 25 years as the initial founder, Chairman and fundraiser for the rescue air ambulance charity Northland Emergency Services Trust, helping to get the emergency helicopter service up and running. Since 2003, John has been a member of Northland District Health Board and the Northern Regional Council, of which he was Deputy Chairman from 2000 to 2013. [John was overseas when the investitures took place]
The Lampstand | 2015
ohn Hunn has contributed to the community for more than 50 years.
He has been President and Chairman of Cricket Wellington, Chairman of Wellington Cricket Trustees, and member of the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust. His support to charitable organisations has included a seven year stint as Chairman of the Samaritans Wellington Management Committee and Chairmanship of New Zealand NZ Lottery Board Aged Welfare Grants Board. He has lent financial and moral support to emerging artists, including through the NZ Opera and the Dame Malvina Major Foundations. In 2012, he established the charitable John and Margaret Hunn Education Trust to support and encourage tertiary students and graduates with grants to enable completion of post graduate courses and leadership development. John has been Chairman of Wellington Regional Enterprise Board and the NZ Committee of the Pacific Basin Economic Council, and has served on the NZ Business and Parliament Trust, the NZ Tourism Council, and Enterprise Trust NZ.
ohn Marshall was elected President of the New Zealand Law Society in 2006 and oversaw the implementation of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 in his term.
John previously served in the positions of Vice President and Treasurer and was Chair of the Governance Group for the Regulatory Review of Services Operational Improvement Programme and a member of the Services Delivery Group. He was the Society's representative on the South Pacific Lawyers Association, which he helped establish. John was a member of the Wellington District Law Society Council from 1995, a member of the Restructuring Committee and the Complaints Committee Convenor, and President in 2003. He was a member of the organising committee for the Presidents of Law Associations in Asia Summit for 2014. He was a member of the Arbitration Appeals Panel for the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of NZ and Chair of the Appeals Council and Admission Appeals Tribunal of the NZ of Chartered Accountants. John has been Chairman of the Wellington College Foundation, a Trustee of the Todd Foundation, Convenor of the Book of Order and Judicial Committee of the national Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Kelburn Normal School Board of Trustees. [John's wife Mary accepted John's CNZM].
MARTIN, BRUCE (1962-1965) MNZM: For services to tertiary education (QBH)
B
ruce Martin served as CEO of the Eastern institute of Technology (EIT) from 1991 to 2004 and was Deputy Chief Executive of Aoraki Polytechnic from 1988 to 1991. Bruce's leadership of EIT turned it into a flagship institute of technology with positive impacts on the local and regional economy. During his tenure, EIT trebled in size and developed a comprehensive range of programmes across disciplines and from certificate to degree and post-graduate level. He was instrumental in building positive relationships and partnerships both locally and nationally and worked to lower fees for Hawke's Bay school leavers through the provision of scholarships. He was instrumental in the development and construction of the Pettigrew Green Arena, situating it across from EIT to bring EIT and the community closer together. Since stepping down from EIT, Bruce has become a wellknown and respected education and management consultant, including chairing the Board of the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality. He has been a Board member and at times Chair/President of a number of not-for-profit organisations nationally and in the Hawke's Bay region.
CNZM: Companion of the NZ Order of Merit MNZM: Member of the NZ Order of Merit NYH: New Year Honours ONZM: Officer of the NZ Order of Merit QSM: The Queen's Service Medal QBH: Queen's B'day Honours
2015 Honours
PIRANI, MR IAN (1953) QSM: For services to conservation (QBH)
WINGFIELD, MR BLAIR (1955-1959) MNZM: For services to health and sport (NYH)
I
an Pirani has contributed to conservation and the environment.
Ian is a former goat farmer who has given voluntary service to wetland preservation and other farm environment initiatives. Early in his farming career, he suggested to his employer to fence rather than drain a wetland. Later, he and his wife established the largest water fowl collection in Australasia and were the first people to privately breed whio in captivity. He joined the Wellington Acclimatisation Society as a councillor in 1964, serving until 1972 and was a Councillor on the National Acclimatisation for three years. In 1974 he was a co-founder of Ducks Unlimited, through which he and his wife initiated a Pateke breeding programme and nesting boxes for Grey Teal throughout New Zealand. He strongly advocates for the profitable live harvest of feral goats from indigenous forests for environmental reasons and for use as a meat export. Ian has served on a variety of environmental and farming boards including the Meat and Wool Board as a member of the Goat Advisory Group, on the Eastern Fish and Game Board, Bay of Plenty Goat Farmers Association, the Department of Conservation East Coast Board, and the National Trust of Balance Farm Environment Board.
ROBERTS, MR IAN (1943) QSM: For services to the community and education (QBH)
I
an Roberts has been a member of the Lions Club of Kairanga for 37 years and served as President in 2004 and 2005. Ian has been the approved pyrotechnic leader for the Lions Club's fundraising fireworks displays since 1990. He has organised between ten and fifteen fireworks displays each year since, which have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for community causes. Manawatu displays have audiences in the many tens of thousands annually. His role has required in excess of 300 voluntary hours each year to safely plan and stage the various displays and to coordinate the teams who deliver them. His experience with pyrotechnics has included making recommendations for pyrotechnic displays with government agencies in the 1990s and has included recently involvements with the Environmental Protection Agency reviewing rules and regulations pertaining to both indoor and outdoor pyrotechnic displays. Ian has spent more than 30 years as a school principal and had more than ten years' experience as a New Zealand Educational Institute Counsellor and Industrial Advocate. After retiring as Principal of Terrace End School in Palmerston North, he served as Chairman of the school's 125th celebrations in 2009. Since retiring, Ian has had continuous involvement as a consultant to schools over the past 15 years.
SWALLOW, MR PAUL (1980-1984) MNZM: For services to the State and the community (QBH)
P
aul Swallow worked with the Ministry of Economic Development from 2004 to 2012 and following the Canterbury Earthquakes in 2011, he volunteered to assist Business New Zealand in helping businesses recover from the quakes. Paul became Director of the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust in 2012. He led a team of funding advisors to distribute nearly $100 million in donations within three years of the formation of the Trust. Having allocated the funds of the Trust, he moved on to become the Project Manager of the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct building project in 2014. He has continued to be involved voluntarily as Director of the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust throughout 2014 until only a small amount of administration was required. Paul has volunteered for a number of organisations including the Helping Hands Foundation in Wellington, Youth for Christ in Lower Hutt, and in recent years, the Plimmerton Community Trust. Paul was a key person in the establishment of the Parachute Music Festival and was involved from 1989 to 1994.
37
B
lair Wingfield has contributed sporting and community services, particularly to leukaemia sufferers. Blair was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia in 1981. His fight against this disease determined him to assist other leukaemia sufferers with a 'One Stop Shop' to support Blood Cancer patients and their families. In 1999 he became a Trustee of the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation (now Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation New Zealand) and was Chair of the Foundation for four years. He was a Trustee of the South Pacific Bone Marrow Transplant Trust which put transplant units into Auckland and Starship Hospitals. He has coordinated efforts to diagnose blood cancer research and raise funds for haematology treatment through events such as the '100 Hole Golf Marrowthon'. He was also instrumental in establishing the New Zealand Cord Blood Transplantation Appeal Trust. Blair has been involved for many years at Pakuranga and university sports clubs as a Referee and Coach of Rugby, Cricket and Soccer. He has also contributed to the community for the past 40 years as a Rotarian. Blair established the Wingfield Medal at St Kentigern College, to be awarded to the student who exhibits pluck, endurance or the capacity to triumph over difficulties.
The Lampstand | 2015
38
Here's to 'Mr JPL'
AUDITORIUM NAMED FOR FORMER DIRECTOR, DR WILLIAM PICKERING
T
he Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Projects Centre Auditorium has been
dedicated in honour of Dr William Pickering (1923-1927). Dr Pickering was JPL’s longestserving director who led the Lab as it created America’s first successful satellite and sent the first spacecraft to Venus and Mars. [JPL is a federally funded research and development centre and NASA field centre located
institution for deep-space
what Pickering meant to this
in Pasadena, California. JPL is
exploration. Elachi noted there
organisation and the nation. Under
managed by the nearby California
was a lot of pressure on JPL
Pickering, JPL really became
Institute of Technology for NASA].
during Pickering’s tenure, due to
part of the fabric of the American
William is only one of a selected
the Cold War and President John
culture, part of the nation’s identity,
few that have appeared on the
F. Kennedy’s pledge to safely
said David Crouch of the NASA
cover of TIME Magazine twice.
send astronauts to the moon by
Management Office.
1969. At that time, we barely knew In a ceremony in July, past JPL
how to launch things, he said.
Leon Grice, consul general of New Zealand in Los Angeles, said
leaders, dignitaries, current employees and many retirees
Key successes under William
William Pickering remained very
packed the venue in Building
included Mariner 2’s successful
connected with his home country,
321 as it was formally named the
flyby of Venus in 1962 and
with a focus on education.
William H. Pickering Auditorium.
Mariner 4’s first close-up photos
His legacy shaped the JPL of
of Mars in 1965.
When Elachi first came here, he joked, William Pickering was one
today, said JPL Director Charles William retired in 1976. He died
step below God. But he added that
in 2004. It’s rare that a federally
one of William’s favourite honours
William Pickering joined JPL in
funded building is named for
came when JPLers reverently
1944, and ten years later was
a person, noted JPL Deputy
called him 'Mr. JPL.'
named Lab Director. When
Director Larry James. It’s a
the Soviet Union launched the
very special day for JPL. We are
William Pickering was pictured
Sputnik Satellite in October 1957,
honouring a tremendous leader
on the cover of Time magazine on
William quickly organised a team
who really made such a difference
8 March, 1963: William Pickering:
to design and build Explorer 1,
for science and exploration and
from Roxburgh Street to Venus,
America’s first satellite, launched
for the world. It’s testament to
and again on 23 July, 1965.
Elachi.
31 January, 1958. When NASA was created later that year, JPL became the agency’s only centre staffed and managed by an educational institution. Under William’s leadership, robotic missions to the moon, Venus and Mars cemented JPL’s reputation as the pre-eminent Right: William Pickering (left), James Van Allen and Wernher von Braun display a full-scale model of Explorer 1 at a news conference announcing the successful launch The Lampstand | 2015
July 23, 1965
IN THE NEWS
39
WELLINGTON COLLEGE’S 35th ALL BLACK
L
ima Sopoaga caught the Wellington College careers officer by surprise during
his final year of school. Asked to outline his career plans, the
senior side and by 19 was in the
retiring from international rugby,
Lima has also been nominated for
youngster said confidently: To be
Wellington rep team.
and signing for Racing Metro,
the Investec Super Rugby Player
and Colin Slade leaving for Pau in
of the Year at the 2015 Steinlager
France next season.
New Zealand Rugby Awards
an All Black. But Jamie Joseph, who knew the
which will be held in December.
Lima had grounds for optimism.
Wellington rugby scene well,
He was in the NZ Secondary
understood Lima’s ability and
Just this month, Lima has re-
Schools’ team and had been in
in October 2010, signed him as
signed with New Zealand rugby
New Zealand Rugby general
the Wellington College 1st XV
Colin Slade's understudy for the
and the Highlanders until the end
manager of rugby Neil Sorensen
for three years. He'd captained
Highlanders.
of the 2018 season.
said Lima's signing was ‘awesome
Lima helped the NZ U20 team
Lima is pleased to have locked in
Lima is a class act, and has
win its World Cup in Italy in 2011,
his future as he looks forward to a
shown in both the All Blacks
The first five-eighth fulfilled his
but his career has been stalled by
pre-season with the Highlanders
and Highlanders jerseys that he
career goal in the rugby cauldron
two serious injuries. However, his
as they try to defend their Super
has some fantastic skills, said
of Johannesburg's Ellis Park,
play has benefited through the
Rugby title. I'm so grateful for
Sorensen. It's exciting to think
when he guided the All Blacks to
influence of Highlanders Assistant
the opportunity to sign to the
that we're just scratching the
an exciting 27-20 win over South
Coach, Tony Brown.
Highlanders until 2018, he said.
surface of what this young man
I owe a lot to the coaching staff
can deliver.
news’ for Highlanders fans.
the side through a particularly successful season in 2009.
Africa in July. He showed his class in this
and the organisation for sticking
Lima is 24, and it's interesting to
year's Super Rugby final, when
by me and allowing me to develop
Meanwhile Joseph, is pleased
see how his game has changed
he outplayed the Hurricanes'
not only as a player but as a
to have secured the services of
since he left school. He ran
Beauden Barrett. Lima was a
person. I wouldn't be where I am
Sopoaga in the long-term. Lima
the ball more at school, when
decisive factor in the Highlanders
today without the great team
has worked really hard in the past
defences were not as tight, and
winning their first Super title.
culture, team-mates, coaches and
few seasons to develop his game,
medical staff. I'm looking forward
he has grown into a skilful first
to my future with the Club.
five and become an important
his place-kicking has become more consistent. Having said
Lima was unlucky to miss out
that, Wellington College rugby
on the All Blacks Rugby World
followers still talk about his
Cup squad of 31 this year. He
Lima has been a key player
What's more exciting is that I
brilliant kicking in Tauranga,
was a standout out performer
for Coach Jamie Joseph in his
don't think he has achieved his full
when he led the school to its only
for the Super Rugby Champions
time in charge of the southern
potential yet and is only going to
National U15 title.
and impressed in his test debut
franchise. He holds the season
get better.
in the All Blacks victory over the
record for points scored by a
Springboks at Ellis Park this year.
Highlander with 191 in 2015. He is
Growing up in the Hutt Valley
member of our team, said Joseph.
the second-ranked Highlander for
(apart from a year in Dunedin), he naturally wanted to play for
The talented up-and-comer is
most career points on 453 behind
the Hurricanes. He was quickly
seen as a vital player for the All
assistant coach Tony Brown.
into the Old Boys-University
Blacks in 2016 with Daniel Carter The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
40
Wellington College Football has the largest student participation in history ith over 520 registered
W
night and lost 1-3 but at the
Football Old Boys have also
players and 34 teams,
NZSS Premier Nationals
made their mark on the field.
Football continues to grow
at Nelson the following
Daniel Carbonatto-Bowkett
at Wellington College and
month, they enjoyed the best
(2009-2013) and Angus Kilkolly
remains the school's largest
performance by a Wellington
(2013) were both members of
team sport. Eleven teams won
College 1st XI in a decade.
Wanderers SC which was a team from the extended New
competitions this year but the numbers of students not only
They were unbeaten in pool
Zealand U20 squad (Junior All
playing but also coaching and
play and eventually finished
Whites) which played in the NZ
refereeing Football has provided
fifth with just one loss, 0-1 to
National League. Daniel played
the real legacy for the code. .
Macleans College, but along
a number of matches for the
the way, had accounted for
Junior All Whites and for New
The 2015 Football 1st X1 coached
Football powerhouses Mount
Zealand A.
by Old Boy, James Webb (1995-
Albert Grammar School,
98), had a sound year. Their
Westlake Boys’ High School
Angus was a key player in an
striker, Christian Martin, the son of
and Auckland Grammar School.
epic Chatham Cup semi-final between his club team, Napier
Old Boy Russell Martin (1980-84) A happy James Webb, 1st XI Coach
was awarded the Golden Boot for
Overall, during the season,
scoring the most goals in the top
the 1st XI played 31 matches in
grade and they won the Champs
competitions and tournaments,
qualification and he was able
by a penalty shoot out with Angus
Cup for topping the points table
winning 22 with seven losses and
apply the latest international
converting his shot to help his
in the College Sport Wellington
two draws. They scored 126 goals
coaching strategies to his team
team win. On the other side was
Youth Premier Competition. They
with 27 against.
also retained the Wynton Rufer
City Rovers and Birkenhead United. The match was decided
2014 1st XI captain, Christian Gray James is one of a number of
(2012-2014). Other Old Boys have
Trophy, a challenge trophy which
For James Webb, it was a great
Old Boys making a significant
contributed as team coaches and
is at stake for all CSW home
return to a team he had played
contribution to Wellington College
managers.
games played by the holder.
for, as a student in 1998. James is
Football. A successful Football
currently a Football Development
Academy is in place under
The Wellington College 'Football
Winning the Champs Cup
Officer at Capital Football and has
Academy Coach, Andre Canton
Boys' past and present continue
automatically placed them in
coached extensively overseas
Buckley (2006-2010). The Sir Ron
to make their mark.
the final for the Trevor Rigby
and in New Zealand. The
Brierley Turf really proved its value
Cup against second placed
holder of the top New Zealand
this year with both the Academy
Hutt International Boys’ School.
coaching badge, he is currently
and 1st XI utilising it for early
Wellington College had a bad
undertaking a FIFA Confederation
morning, before school sessions.
Football honours board unveiled
F
ormer All White and 1980 Football 1st XI Captain, Dave Burgess (1977-1980) and Headmaster, Roger Moses, unveiled the Wellington College Football Honours Board on the weekend prior to the College’s 1st XI impressively defeating Kapiti College 15-1 on the Sir Ron Brierley Artificial Turf.
The Board honours the Wellington College Old Boys who represented New Zealand in FIFA ‘A’' Internationals, NZSS Reps and 1st XI Captains.
Left: Dave Burgess and the mother of Wellington College’s most capped All White, Simon Elliott, point out their names. Above: Football Old Boys and supporters check out the names on the Honours Board. The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
41
So much for retirement... s the white hulls of cruise
A
Stationed at key points across the
ships appear once again
city, a team of 90 ambassadors
from behind the headlands
rostered on throughout the
of Wellington harbour, Cruise
season guide visitors around the
Chip Ambassador Mike Pallin
city. A lot of the visitors just want to
is getting ready for tourists
catch a local bus and see what the
flooding into the capital.
city is really like.’
I’m passionate about Wellington,
The Ngaio resident says the
and it’s great to get out there and
capital’s cafe reputation has
show these people what our city
made itself known around the
has to offer.
world. A lot of them just want to get a decent coffee, because
ship volunteer ambassadors to
we live in New Zealand’s capital
The former Deputy Principal of
the coffee on the ship is so bad.
join the team. Mike says to be a
city and we’re only minutes away
Wellington College for over 20
Obviously, they have a huge range
successful ambassador, you need
from dozens of places to explore
years, Mike enjoys showing off
of choices.
to be a certain type of person.
and enjoy.
years to some of the 3000 visitors
Mike taught at Wellington
You need to be passionate about
This is why I joined the Wellington
disembarking off cruise ships.
College for 41 years, eventually
the city, knowledgeable about
Cruise Ambassador volunteer
working as International Director,
Wellington and enjoy talking to
programme when I retired.
As a cruise ambassador, we offer
which involved showing the best
people.’
Taking the cable car to the top
suggestions about how they might
of Wellington to international
want to spend their day. When
students studying at the College.
the city he has lived in for 50
there are two ships in, there can be
and strolling down through the Wellington is such an inspirational
Botanic Gardens and through the
city because we are spoilt for
historic Bolton Cemetery back
6000 people on the streets, so we
As visitor numbers increase,
choice for places to go and things
to Lambton Quay always does it
are there to make sure they can
Positively Wellington Tourism
to do. After living in Wellington for
for me.
find their way around.
is looking for 70 more cruise
50 years, I still pinch myself that
The Dominion Post
Marking the 70th anniversary of WWII’s end in the Pacific
F
ormer fighter pilot Leon ‘Pip’ Piper reckons a commemoration
marking 70 years since World War II ended in the Pacific may be his and many fellow veterans’ last. Flight Sergeant Piper, 91, of Plimmerton, was one of about a dozen veterans from throughout New Zealand who attended a service at Wellington’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to mark the 70th anniversary of the war’s end in the Pacific. During his three-month tour, the then 19-year-old flew as air support
W
hen Barry and Phyllis Tingey met on a blind date, they had no idea they would one day celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. However, this became a reality for
the couple who celebrated 60 years of marriage in October.
for Allied forces during the campaign on the Japanese-occupied island
The pair met on a blind date in 1951 after one of Barry’s
of Bougainville. ‘‘A lot of the veterans from the Pacific are gone, a lot of
friends organised for them to attend a ball together - and they
my mates have died and while it’s nice to remember, life goes on.’’
have been dancing together ever since.
Pip, BSc came from Whakatane High School to Wellington College in
Barry, an Old Boy and former Master of Wellington College
1955, replacing Bruce Cockburn. He left at the end of the following
suffered a stroke last year, which has curtailed his ballroom
year.
dancing but still maintains an active interest in committee
The Dominion Post
matters as well as photography and their family. The Lampstand | 2015
42
IN THE NEWS
C
hamber Music New Zealand
career, he leads the Armonico
earlier this year, celebrated
Consort's Orchestra in their varied
its 50th Jubilee and followed
programmes of mainly baroque
up on one of their first contest
repertoire, and in their popular
winners – our very own Bear Trio
and highly entertaining theatrical
– Miles Golding, Mark Jackson
productions such as Too Hot to
and Christopher Beckett, to see
Handel. He is married to mezzo-
where their music has taken
soprano Catherine Denley, with
them fifty years on.
three sons, all of whom are fine musicians.
The National Chamber Music NZ Final was held on 6 August,
Cellist, Mark Jackson's (1964-
1965. From over 300 entrants,
1967) playing career first led
ensembles from Auckland,
him to Australia where he was
New Plymouth, Palmerston
appointed Principal Cellist of the
North, Wellington, Nelson
newly-formed Australian Opera
and Christchurch played to
Orchestra and then Co-Principal
members of the visiting Vienna
of the Melbourne Symphony
Octet. Speaking through their
Orchestra.
clarinettist, Professor Boskovsky, the Octet expressed pleasure at
After moving to London, he
the quality of the performances
became a member of the Royal
and awarded first prize to The
Philharmonic Orchestra and then
Bear Trio from Wellington, who
the Co-Principal Cellist of the
had impressed them by their
London Philharmonic Orchestra
musicianship, sense of style and
and appeared on many occasions
the skill with which each player
as guest cellist with the Melos
had maintained the balance of
Ensemble. In 1989, he accepted
his individual part. The finalists
the position of Professor of
What are your memories of
What's your stand-out memory?
received medals and a long-
Violoncello at the Conservatorio
preparing for the Contest?
One of the adjudicators, Alfred
playing record given by the Octet.
Regional do Algarve in Portugal.
Mostly we rehearsed with the
Boskovsky, clarinettist in the
He now lives back in the UK
grand piano in the spacious living
Vienna Octet, was as tall as his
teaching and playing the cello.
room at Chris Beckett's house in
Viennese accent was thick. All
Wadestown, but we had some
that I recall in his speech was
Where are they now? Before heading overseas, violinist Miles Golding (1963-1967) had
Christopher Beckett (1963-1967)
coaching from violin teacher Ken
his surprise and pleasure to
a brief spell in the original Split
pursued his piano studies in
Magill in a cramped little room in
discover the strength and love
Ends, before they became Split
France, where he was admitted
Firth House at Wellington College,
of music displayed by so many
Enz! However, as a classical
to the Conservatoire National
with a horrible upright piano. I can't
young musicians in such a remote
violinist he furthered his study
Superieur de Musique de Paris
remember how we rehearsed -
country and we were much more
in London with Eli Goren of the
and obtained two first prizes in
we were all so young and hadn't
remote in 1965, and that there was
Allegri Quartet and co-leader
piano and chamber music. As a
learnt how to listen critically, and
such a committed infrastructure
of the BBCSO, and Sascha
professional, he toured the USA,
so we were pretty dependent on
that made it possible.
Lasserson, pupil of Leopold Auer,
Canada and Australia with violinist
those with more experience to
and then embarked on a very
Regis Pasquier and passionate
address crucial technical and
How did you decide on your
successful free-lance career,
about theatre, he accompanied
musical issues. It was very funny
name Bear Trio?
performing with some of the top
the actor-cellist Maurice Baquet
that Wellington College, where
Silly thoughts around the fact
orchestras in London.
and the singer Anne Sylvestre for
music was suffered rather than
there were three of us· a big piano,
nearly thirty years. Christopher
appreciated at the time - sport and
a medium sized cello and a small
Miles became interested in
Beckett teaches at the Music
marching around in platoons and
violin. It was as mundane as that!'
period performance in the late
Conservatory of Sevres.
cleaning Bren guns were the most
(Goldilocks and the ...!)
1970s and worked with the
important extracurricular activities
Academy of Ancient Music,
Recently, violinist Miles Golding
- suddenly realised that they had
Are you still in touch with the
English Baroque Soloists, London
got in touch with CMNZ and the
three musical ambassadors! I am
other members of The Bear Trio?
Classical Players Orchestra
opportunity was taken to ask
thrilled to see that things have
Not for many years, but I renewed
of the Age of Enlightenment
him about his experience of the
improved: the level and breadth of
contact with Chris and Mark a few
and the English Concert. Still
Contest in its inaugural year.
musical activity there is astonishing.
years ago to ask if they fancied
enjoying a busy free-lance The Lampstand | 2015
attending our ‘Forty Years On’
IN THE NEWS Reunion at Wellington College
all local talent. We've put on a few
(Class of 1967). Mark was unable
fundraising musical events over
to do so, but Chris was game. He
the years here, all involving young
lives on a houseboat on the Seine
musicians. It's hard work, but very
near Orly Airport. I went over with
enjoyable. It's a way of paying
my wife Catherine (a singer) and
back the debt I owe to those who
we rehearsed a few sonatas on
supported me and the other Bears
one of their grand pianos, while
and all those other young musicians
Catherine and Brigitte walked,
in Wellington fifty years ago.
43
talked, and sang and played too. Chris and I played at the school,
Recent events?
and performed two other recitals
Playing percussion in another
in Havelock North and at Waikato
production of the Flud de (I lent
University. Music still features
them my slung mugs and the wind
strongly there, because they know
machine I built, and played them!),
what a powerful beneficial force it
a recording of Purcell's Dido and
can be.
Aeneas, and performing three
If you were invited to go to your
Music that the ensembles enjoy with
of the best string quartets ever
perfect chamber music contest,
their hearts and minds and souls:
In 2013, Catherine and I, along with
written - late Haydn, late Mozart
what would you like to hear
their joy won't fail to touch other
a local drama teacher, produced
and early Beethoven. And I enjoy
played?
hearts, and they will all be winners.
a Noye's Fludde in our town, using
listening to many kinds of music.
Myles (on violin) and Chris (on piano) perform at the Class of 1967’s Forty Years On Reunion in 2007
SIGNING OFF AFTER 26 YEARS BEHIND THE DESK
B
rendan Smyth (1964-1968),
for names and faces. He is also a
Head of Music & Radio for
big music fan who counts many
NZ On Air announced his
of New Zealand’s biggest pop
retirement after 26 years in the
music names as friends; NZ On
role.
Air was involved with the likes of Bic Runga and Brooke Fraser,
As a civil servant and master of
Shihad, OMC, Scribe, Kimbra, Gin
government bureaucracy, he had
Wigmore; The Naked + Famous,
the responsibility for the small
the feelers, Opshop and many
packet distribution of $4.7M of
more before they became
taxpayer’s funds into the local
household names.
Brendan Smyth (left) with Mark De Jong after he was presented with the Industry Champion Award earlier this year.
music economy annually. Earlier this year, at the Music Thirty-something when he
Managers’ Forum Music Awards,
became the new NZ On Air’s
Brendan was given the ‘Industry
Radio Manager, he is now an
Champion’ Award for 2015.
impressively youthful 65-year-
Brendan’s contribution to New
old Kiwi music industry veteran
Zealand music is incomparable,
who is widely held in extremely
being responsible for all music
high regard, in the local
funding given by NZ On Air and
music community and also
helping to develop many of NZ
internationally.
On Air’s initiatives that support all
GRAND DESIGNS
T
his limited collector’s edition celebrates the architectural achievement of Bernard W Johns (1916-1918), an architect who influenced and changed the architectural landscape of Wellington and its region, for over half a century [see the 2014 Lampstand for full story].
artists in New Zealand including In 2011, Brendan was made a
NZ Music Month and the funding
Member of the NZ Order of Merit
scheme Making Tracks.
(MNZM) for Services to Music. Brendan is building a home Pedantic about accuracy, he is
to eventually retire to in
by any measure a musicologist,
Martinborough and will switch
has a degree in Philosophy and a
from being a bureaucrat to full-
deft sidestep, a couple of tattoos
time music fan.
and a disturbingly good memory
The book contains biographical information, photographs, designs, plans and the stories of those who commissioned works by Bernard Johns. For over five decades, he helped revolutionise the manner in which we all live. The book sells for $65 plus $7.50 (for postage) a total of $72.50. You can pay by internet banking, please deposit into: Kiwibank VA Innes-Jones: 38-9007-0659300-01 with your name in reference field and/or email thebachdoctorpress@ vodafone.co.nz for more information and orders. The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
44
French lessons learnt by NZ expats
M
ark Forgan (1993-1997) and
used to presenting one or two
Jamie Standen started their
ideas at a time. In that respect,
ad careers at Clemenger
the culture shock worked in both
BBDO Wellington, then six years
directions!
later moved to the opposite side of the world and became French,
So teams work differently in
at least a little bit. First stop was
Paris?
Y&R Paris, then CLM BBDO Paris.
When we talk about a team presenting one or two ideas, it’s not
In 2012, the pair left with the
to say they’re lazy. It’s more that
ECDs, Jean-Francois Sacco and
they prefer to craft something up
Gilles Fichteberg, to help them
before presenting it, whereas we’re
and ex Publicis president Jean-
still quite comfortable showing
Patrick Chiquiar launch a new
squiggles on paper. The emphasis
agency, Rosapark Paris.
on craft is huge in France. If given the choice between something
Why did you both move to
beautiful with no idea, and a great
France?
idea that looks a bit stink, many
We get asked this question almost
French creatives would be torn in
every day, but there’s still no clear
two. In New Zealand we used to
answer! We’d done about six years
present to the client concepts that
at Clemenger BBDO in Wellington
were drawn up by the art director –
and wanted to see a bit of the
does that still happen anywhere? It
world. London’s a pretty classic
certainly doesn’t here.
move, but we thought we’d go a few hundred kilometres further
Where are you working now?
at the agency. On top of that,
were scanned to a sound that
and see what France was like. We
After a stint at BBDO Paris working
the agency is in a district of Paris
represented the product. Milk
didn’t have a job lined up when we
mainly on Pepsi International, we
that is famous for craft, in terms
made a ‘mooo’, eggs made a
arrived. We just turned up with our
left with the executive creative
of things made by hand. On our
‘cluck’, tissues a sneeze, and so
portfolios under our arms, which
directors, Jean-Francois Sacco
street there are guys working with
on. But we are working on more
was pretty naïve in hindsight,
and Gilles Fichteberg, to help
brass, people making the plaster
and more international accounts,
but everything worked out in the
them and ex Publicis president
moulures that you use to jazz up
notably Thalys, the trans-
end - there are worse things than
Jean-Patrick Chiquiar launch a
your ceiling, and around the corner
European train network, and
spending the summer months
new agency, Rosapark Paris. To
there’s Hermès Atelier where
Brother International, who are
unemployed in Paris. Just as our
start a fresh agency was a huge
they’re stitching everything by
based in the UK.
savings were running out, we got
challenge, with all hands on the
hand. So the French have given us
a job at Y&R Paris. That was when
pump trying to win business and
craft, and in return we gave them
What was the agency’s first
they realised we didn’t speak
grow the agency. It’s our first gig
BBQ. One of our first acts was to
creative success?
French.
as creative directors too, and after
install one on our agency deck,
We created human emoji for our
the initial year of pitching we had
we fire it up every Thursday night.
client Innocence in Danger, which
Was it a culture shock to be
to then get the creative reputation
Lamb chops are called côtelettes
turned out to be something people
working in a French agency?
up and visible. The Brother ‘Circus’
d’agneau in French, which makes
really wanted to see - or not see,
Day to day, for sure. People
TV commercial was our first
them sound flash as.
they’re pretty hideous. They were
smoking inside, creatives pitching
experience in the creative director
up to work at 11am, kissing
chair and it’s had a great response
Are your clients mostly French?
The ‘dog fat pants’ campaign was
everyone on the cheek when
in the international shows we’ve
The majority of them are. Our
in a similar category - a simple
you walked into a meeting -
entered so far.
biggest client is a French urban
image that people loved to see and
supermarket called Monoprix
share. A great image still seems
suits, clients, even the dudes. In
widely shared around the world.
terms of working in the creative
Is Rosapark more French, or
who have won a whole lot of
to be an easy, effective way to get
department, we just kept up the
internationally minded?
design and packaging awards for
someone’s attention, including
habits we’d learnt from
We really try to have the best of
their own label products. They’re
and especially online - the surfer is
Duster at Clemenger BDDO:
both worlds. As we said, one thing
always up for creative work. Last
scrolling at 100kph and you got to
generating lots of ideas as fast
we’ve learnt from the French is a
year, for example, we changed
stop them in their tracks!
as we could, which put a bit of
strong emphasis on craft, and this
the supermarket checkout ‘beep’
pressure on other teams who were
is something that’s really valued
when Monoprix branded products
The Lampstand | 2015
Continues on page 45
IN THE NEWS
45
LOOKING RIGHT he Wellingtonian Newspaper
T
better place. He was a big pointer.
interviewed Wellington
He'd point at you and say, Your
businessman Tim Brown
job is X. That would most likely be
(1971-1975) about working for
totally different to your other roles.
Lloyd Morrison, Fringe Festival
You’d end up with lots of different
and being hit by a bus.
part-time functions that made a full-time role.
Are you Wellington born and bred?
As Wellington Airport Chairman,
Almost. I moved here from
what's your view of the runway
Christchurch when I was 12 and
extension?
went to Wellington College and
It would be a tremendously good
Victoria University. My parents
outcome for Wellington. I can't
moved on to Auckland, but I had a
think of anything else that would
What do you love about
unbelievable. It made me feel like
romantic attachment that kept me
have as big an impact. The
Wellington?
a very valued person. But I was
in Wellington, so I didn't go.
interesting part is that it's going
I don’t know anyone here who
very fortunate. I'm a naturally
to require ratepayer and taxpayer
doesn't give something back. I
inquisitive sort of person, so to
Did that pan out?
money. That creates a challenge,
was talking to the Phoenix owners
experience intensive care in the
Well, we're married and still live
because people are often
at the game on Sunday. For most
hospital was interesting in itself.
together and have three children,
suspicious about socialising
of them football isn't their first love,
So overall it was positive. You
so I think it was a good call!
cost, but privatising profit. How
such as Rob Morrison who is super
only have a few moments in your
that issue unfolds is going to be
keen on rugby.
life where things go really wrong. Often you learn more about
Was finance always your career
fascinating and the solution won't
goal?
be easy. It's something that could
So why did they get involved?
yourself and those around you in
I actually wanted to be a journalist.
stop the extension going ahead.
For Wellington. The Wellington City
those moments.
Council has also been fantastic
I did economics at Victoria. Out of the 13 in the class, twelve went
You are also involved with the
because it will embrace those
Do you still jaywalk?
to work for the Government and
Fringe Festival.
types of partnerships. Mountain·
My wife has become my crossing-
I worked in finance. I figured that
It's a great event. There's a
biking is a good example of that.
the· road policeman, so I’m not
all businesses require money, so
fascinating entrepreneurial aspect
They get funding for the tracks
admitting to anything! She was
if I learnt about finance I could
to it. The performers don't need
and other infrastructure, but do
more affected by it than me, so I
get a job at The Economist. But I
much, just help with how to sell
the work themselves through
don't risk it now and cross at the
immensely enjoyed it, so I stayed.
tickets or find a theatre and Fringe
volunteers.
lights.
gives them the template to do that. What do you enjoy about it?
There were about 1000 people
Do you mountain bike?
I'm quite a challenging sort of
involved last year, who were willing
Yes. It's one of the sports you
person and like pushing boundaries.
to have a punt and strut their stuff.
need to do with other people. I've
Finance is dominated by
Sometimes it’s truly terrible, but
recently joined a group of guys
traditional ways of doing things - it
other times you find the next Flight
who go riding most Saturday
worked yesterday so we will do
of the Conchords or (composer]
mornings. I've encountered all
the same thing today. I enjoy the
Gareth Farr.
these new tracks I didn't know existed, especially on Makara
challenge of trying to get people
French lessons learnt by NZ expats from page 44 Is it true what they say about long lunches in France? Unfortunately not! People in agencies here have as little time and as many briefs as
to look at and do things differently.
What's your favourite arts event?
Peak. There are tracks there where
I’ve been fortunate to work for
I love the opera. It’s so well done.
you can end up on the south coast.
people who have allowed me to
I admire it when people haven't
If you had your diving gear you
do that.
just said, Let's just turn up and
could just jump in and catch some
put on a show. We are little old
crayfish and five minutes later be
What was it like working for
New Zealand so it’s not going
back in the city. Where else can
Lloyd Morrison?
to be good anyway. I've seen La
you do that?
work during this time, there’s
He was a genuine visionary. What
Scala in Milan and in Wellington
was inspirational was that he really
and I thought it was way better in
In 2012, you were hit by a bus in
us.
wanted to make the world a better
Wellington. What they produce is
Willis St. How do you view that
place, whether it was symbolic, like
riveting.
now?
trying to change the flag, or other
It was a life affirming moment. The
things about making Wellington a
support of the people I know was
people in agencies elsewhere. All the stuff about the holidays is true though - Paris in August is actually a ghost town, except for a few tourists. We prefer to no one in the office to disturb
So do you speak French yet? Si señor! Oh @#$%, hang on...
The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
46
Endless possibilities for these Oxford academics
O
n page 31, there is mention
10kg but it hasn't put me off. I am
of three Class of 2005
currently rowing with the Oxford
members who achieved
University Boat Club, trying to earn
considerable academic success
a seat in the Boat Race against
– winning scholarships to study
Cambridge on the Tideway. It'll be
at Oxford University. We caught
a tough slog through winter to try
up with the three of them to see
and make the crew but I'll give it
what they are up to.
my best shot.
Edward (Ed) Stace said, it’s
The Rugby World Cup has been a
amazing to think it's been ten
great opportunity to catch up with
years since I left Wellington
some of the guys who've come
College. The photo of the three
from back home and I am certainly
of us was taken at Zappis Bike
looking forward to a trip home
Shop and Café – oddly decorated
soon to catch up with everyone.
with NZ Triathlon and Cycling Kits
Oxford Scholars (L-R): Edward Stace, Max Harris and Peter Clark
left over from the 2012 London
Max Harris was elected as an
Peter said, my work has been
journals, and also spoke at a few
Olympics. The NZ team were
Examination Fellow at All Souls
on designing and making small
conferences during his Oxford
based in Oxford and made Zappis
College, Oxford in 2014. The prize
molecule inhibitors of some
time.
their home base.
fellowship is one of the world’s
proteins implicated in cancer
most competitive and prestigious
and other diseases, towards
[I am sure we will see these three
I'm at Balliol College, just finishing
academic awards. Max, out of
boosting understanding about
in future Lampstands as their
year one of three, reading for a
Auckland University was selected
the proteins, and which hopefully
academic studies and career
DPhil in Musculoskeletal Sciences.
as a Judge’s Clerk for the Chief
leads towards new treatments for
paths develop. Editor].
Oxford has been fantastic and
Justice. He won a Rhodes
the diseases. I am starting a post-
the year has flown by with many
Scholarship to Oxford and with his
doctoral fellowship in Vancouver
adventures, conferences and trips.
2014 prize has had an incredible
in November, where I will be
The Balliol, Rhodes Scholar and
opportunity to pursue research in
doing similar work, but targeting
Oxford student communities are
any field he wished.
processes that are involved in
brilliant and I'm very lucky to be here.
both cancer and a number of The prize gives Max funding for
neurological diseases, including
up to seven years to do any kind
Alzheimers and Parkinsons.
INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADE
A
Victoria University student has won an award for research into where the
I'm working as part of a team
of writing or research - and at the
to design a surgical implant to
moment, says Max, I’m working on
I have continued playing rugby
could be accommodated
improve tendon repair rates.
a book project on New Zealand
and powerlifting from my College
after a major natural disaster.
Instead of using different chemicals
politics. Before this I did Master's
and University days, but I wasn't
and molecules to influence cell
degrees in law and public policy.
able to play rugby in Oxford as my
Master of Architecture student
behaviour, we are modifying
When time permits, I play cricket
supervisor literally would not let me
Ben Allnatt's (2004-2008)
the surface architecture at the
(at a pretty low level), and social
out to play. I had to try alternative
thesis, Plan B Hive: An outpost
nano-scale to get cells to grow
Football and social Touch Rugby.
sports that had early training slots
in the Hinterland, won the
and function more favourably
I've also debated for Oxford and
- after a year of training, I am still a
Institution category of the
for tendon regeneration. It's a
done some work for homelessness
horrific archer. Instead, for the past
2014 International Architecture
fantastic team and the facilities
charities.
three years, I have actually become
Thesis Awards.
and equipment we have are really
New Zealand Government
a Cheerleader (apparently 13 years After completing a Bachelor of
of lifting locks in the line-out and
Inspired by the 2011
Biomedical Science and an MSc
five years of powerlifting are ideal
Christchurch earthquake,
I rowed for both the Balliol College
at Victoria University, Peter Clark
training for throwing girls up to
Ben’s thesis proposes an
and Oxford University Lightweight
won a Woolf Fisher Scholarship
five-metres in the air). I also ran the
alternative government
Rowing Club against Cambridge.
and went to Oxford to study for
College Bar for a year, and made
outpost could be established
(This isn't the big race in London
a DPhil (read PhD) in Organic
the most of the Oxford social circle.
on the outskirts of Wellington.
but that's the next goal). Sadly we
Chemistry. His final exams are on
lost our race by only four feet, after
as this magazine goes to print.
world leading.
six months training and dropping The Lampstand | 2015
The Wellingtonian Peter has had a few articles published in international science
IN THE NEWSThe latest Kiwi ingenuity from Alan GibbsIN THE NEWS
B
usinessman Alan Gibbs’
The Biski is a two-wheeled
(1953-1956) company [Gibbs
motorcycle powered by a two-
Amphibians] has unveiled
cylinder 40kW engine. It can
three new amphibious concepts
hustle along at 80km/h on land
– a side-by-side off road vehicle
and, once its wheels are tucked
(ORV) and two and three-wheel
into the aluminium hull, can
road legal motorcycles. Just
reach 60km/h on water. The
like all other Gibbs’ amphibians,
company says it can cope with a
the three new concepts can
rider weighing up to 120kg.
47
transition between water and land, in seconds retracting
The road-legal Triski gets one
their wheels and switching to
more wheel, a much more
jet propulsion at the touch of a
powerful engine and a slightly
button.
bigger payload rating. Its turbocharged two-cylinder
The side-by-side Terraquad is
engine is rated at 100kW, good
160km/h Aquada sportscar of
developed two high speed
based on the earlier Quadski
enough for 135km/h on land. But
2003 and featured in previous
amphibious trucks called
platform and adds roof bars and
the three-wheeled design slows
Lampstands.
Phibian and Humdinga.
a rear load deck. At 690kg it’s
it down on water, where its limit
heavier than the Quadski but
is 65km/h.
3/12/2015
uses the same 104kW engine for
They can be seen on www. Gibbs Amphibians was founded
gibbsamphitrucks.com
The Wellingtonian Digital Edition
by Alan and pioneers high-
a top speed of 80km/h on land
Pictured right with his Quadski,
speed amphibious vehicle
Read more on Gibbs Amphibians
and 65km/h on water.
Alan’s first vehicle was the
technologies. He has also
at www.gibbsamphibians.com
ymon McQuade (1992-
A
What excites you about the
1994) was appointed to the
industry?
Executive Director role with
It's constantly evolving. There's
New Zealand Specialty Coffee
always a new coffee or people
Association. In recent years,
getting involved who are
he has been heavily involved
passionate about coffee and
with many coffee competitions
about sharing coffee with other
including the AeroPress NZ
people, like I am.
THE COFFEE EXECUTIVE
Brewers Cup, Huhtamaki NZ Barista Champs as both judge and
What's your favourite way to
competitor, and the World Barista
make coffee?
Champs in 2012 based in Vienna.
Filtered, with no milk and unadulterated. From the farmer
The Wellingtonian Newspaper
to the roaster there's a lot of work
interviewed Aymon about coffee
done to create the characteristics
bean origins serving the rich and
in a coffee, so I want to taste them.
Yes. I grew up in Plimmerton and
got massive state housing blocks
have been living in Mt Cook for
on one side and some of the most
What's the best way to ruin a
three years. Before that I lived in
opulent pieces of real estate in the
coffee? By drinking tea!
Brooklyn, then Hataitai.
country on the other. The people
Usually three or four, mostly at
Do you judge tea drinkers, then?
Where did you train as a barista?
in the same community. I've been
home. If I go a few days without
No. I actually work for Bell Tea
On the job. I stayed at Parade Cafe
to the carnival a few times. It's
one I tend to get a headache.
and Coffee company two days a
about a year, then worked as a
such a wonderful melting pot of
week. I've worked there 5 1/2 years
barista in Sydney, and at a wine
cultures expressing themselves in
Has the coffee industry changed
as a lower North Island sales rep.
bar in Melbourne. After that I went
music, food and dance.
in New Zealand?
When I'm at the company's Gravity
to London. I started working in a
In the last few years a lot of
Coffee headquarters in Auckland,
pretty crummy bar and grill. Then
Did you serve any celebrities?
companies have employed coffee
I attend cupping events where
one of the staff started working at
The Club was mostly for arts
specialists, who have to ensure the
you can sample the new teas and
Electric House, a members' club in
people - anyone from actors to
quality of coffee. There's a growing
coffees. I enjoy trying new and
Notting Hill, and she poached me.
screenwriters to casting agents. I
number of roasters going directly
interesting things, whether its beer,
That was good fun.
saw Elle Macpherson, Kate Moss,
to the source of their coffee and
wine, food or coffee.
famous at Notting Hill. How many coffees do you drink a day?
associated with each mill around
having a direct relationship with the farmers.
Are you Wellington born and bred?
Sting and Mick Jagger, but I didn't What was Notting Hill like?
fawn over them. I just gave them a
I love how eccentric it is. You've
bit of Kiwi hospitality. The Lampstand | 2015
48
IN THE NEWS
BACK on the road again for Adam
H
aving cycled from London
him in for a meal and a bed. This
to New Zealand from
great hospitality has continued.
2011 to 2013, Adam Glover
One night Adam was put up in
(1986-1989) has picked up
a hotel for free by a local radio
where he left off. Cycling out of
station. His most interesting host
Wellington in March this year, on
was when he spent a night with
what he says he expects will be
firemen in a local fire station in
another two-year adventure and
Montana.
challenge. Cycling 40,000km from Wellington to Alaska to
It didn't take long for Adam’s
Argentina while fundraising
first snow encounter. While
for the New Zealand Asthma
crossing the last mountain pass
Foundation is the intention.
into Pittsburgh, Adam made the Pittsburgh Tribune after getting
When we caught up with Adam
caught in a blizzard. The local
in September, he had just passed
reporter couldn't believe his eyes
the 10,000km mark. His travels
when he saw a cyclist coming
so far have seen him cycle from
over the top of the pass while it
Adam, alongside the Alaskan Pipeline. Not even a chilly Arctic Ocean would stop Adam from taking a dip. Clear skies in Montana ensured a smoother ride.
Wellington to Auckland, where
was snowing.
Adam has had to become very
The mud and rain were the worst
‘Bear Aware’. Especially while
part. Rather than drinking his
he then picked up a ride on a container ship that took him
Adam says his close call
camping out. His first real bear
water, he was having to use it to
across the Pacific, through the
hasn't been with traffic. It was
encounter came in the Yukon on
clean his bike, because the gears
Panama Canal and after 25 days,
in Montana where he was left
The Alaskan Highway. He had
were jamming up regularly. Snow
he arrived in Philadelphia on the
shaking and rather pale after
his trigger on his bear spray after
again found Adam as he crossed
West Coast of the USA.
accidentally coming face to face
been approached by a black bear
Antigun - the highest road pass
with a rattle snake.
on the road.
in Alaska. Despite the tough times
the end of the Dalton Highway,
Adam’s journey has created
In August, Adam made it to
landscape was out of this world
(the same road used in the TV
some interest which has led to a
Alaska and after reaching
and he said, he was travelling
programme Ice Road Truckers),
number of live radio interviews
Fairbanks, started the toughest
slow enough to see a hand full of
the most Northern public road in
and making some North
part of his trip so far, cycling
Caribou. More excitingly, Wolves,
Alaska and gateway to the Arctic
American papers and even radio
the 800km beside the Alaskan
Dall sheep, Muskoxen and lots of
Ocean at Prudhoe Bay.
news bulletins.
Pipeline on the 75% dirt
Grizzly Bears.
His first goal was to then reach
it was all worth it, said Adam. The
Dalton Highway all the way to In the States, Adam cycled out
Adam says he enjoyed crossing
through Pennsylvania, Ohio,
the States as it was like a history
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin,
lesson as he constantly passed
The hills were steep and Adam
in the very chilly sea. Having
Minnesota, North Dakota and
places of notable historical
said he spent more time pushing
reached the Arctic Ocean, Adam
Montana.
events such as Gettysburg and
his bike than ever before, fully
is now planning to head to the
the American Civil War.
laden with two weeks food. At
bottom of South America. This
one point, it was 400 km between
will see him pass through Mexico,
On his first day on the road,
Deadhorse.
To mark his arrival, Adam dipped his front wheel and then himself
Adam was invited in by some
Having crossed into Canada, his
services. After four days, Adam
Belize, Guatemala, Honduras,
locals and after dinner, learnt his
route north took him through
crossed the Arctic Circle.
Nicaragua, and Costa Rica
host was the Amish Mafia. The
British Columbia, Alberta and the
followed by Panama, Columbia,
second day, more locals invited
Yukon.
Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina over the next 18 months. You can find out more about Adam’s trip at adamglovercycling.com A link to his fundraising page for
The Lampstand | 2015
Asthma can be found here as well.
IN THE NEWS MOVE ENDS INTERNATIONAL CAREER
I
n February this year, New
Although the decision closed
Zealand allrounder James
the chapter on playing for
Franklin (1994-1998)
NZ again I know I've been
signed a two-year deal with
incredibly fortunate to
Middlesex, a move that
have spent over a decade
has ended his international
being involved playing
career.
international cricket, and
49
Talent spotting pays off
have had some of my James, a veteran of 179
greatest memories and
international appearances
experiences in cricket
for NZ, qualified as a non-
playing with the Silver Fern
overseas player courtesy of
on my cap.
Irish ancestry. Both parties have the option to extend
I'm delighted to have
the deal by another year if
secured James' services,
mutually agreed.
Middlesex's Director of Cricket, Angus Fraser
R
ugby fans can thank two
ultimately, contest the 2019 World
Old Boys, Chris Lendrum
Cup and at the same time, fending
(1994-1998) and Ben Castle
off those offers made by overseas
(also an England selector)
(1993-1997) for securing a
NZ in a Test just over two
said. At the end of the 2014
number of player contracts to
years ago. While he has not
season we sat down to
play professional rugby in New
Both have been at the forefront
played an ODI since June
analyse our shortcomings
Zealand.
of contracting the country's
2013, he was part of New
and felt that we needed to
Zealand's 30 Probables for
add quality, consistency
Head Prefect in 1998, Chris is
Rugby Teams, All Blacks Coaches
the World Cup squad. He
and nous to our squad.
New Zealand Rugby’s Player
and player agents. They remain
James will provide this. He
Services & Integrity Manager, and
confident the majority of New
permanently with his family
is fit, strong and motivated.
is responsible for managing the
Zealand’s influential young
and acknowledged the
He has a lot to offer and
employment of New Zealand’s
players will stay loyal to the
decision made has ended
continues to perform to a
professional players. He has led
black jersey. The attrition and
high level wherever he plays.
player contract negotiations for
movement offshore is a constant
the NZRU since 2010 and has
part of the game. It's an economy-
James last represented
has relocated to London
his international career.
clubs and league franchises.
elite, liaising with players, Super
He replaces Gareth Berg,
It will be a nice little
been recently joined in that role
to-scale issue and unfortunately
the allrounder whose
lifestyle change for the
by Ben as the Manager of Player
for everyone who is a fan of New
retirement through injury
whole family, to be based
Relationships.
Zealand rugby it's here to stay, said
last year left a gaping hole
in London for a couple of
in the Middlesex team.
years, James said.
Chris. The ongoing success of the Ben is a former professional rugby
All Blacks on the international
player. He began his career with
stage helps ensure that they
Having an Irish grandfather
the Bay of Plenty Steamers in
remain the most attractive
to be joining Middlesex for
has enabled James to sign
2002 and went on to represent the
proposition for young players to
the next few years, I want
for Middlesex as a local.
Chiefs and the Junior All Blacks.
aspire to.
to first take my cap off to
They will be the fifth county
Ben left offshore to continue his
While I'm very honoured
career in 2008 where he played
More recently, Chris has just
previously enjoyed
in Australia for the Western Force
returned from the Rugby World
enjoyable and
a decent stint at
and in France for Toulon. He later
Cup, having seen the efforts of the
memorable career
Gloucestershire
joined the Welsh regional team
team’s negotiation skills come to
and shorter
Newport Gwent Dragons. Ben
fruition. I would say the experience
ones at Essex,
retired from professional rugby in
there was a wonderful culmination
Glamorgan and
2012.
of four plus years of hard work
Wellington, for whom I've had a hugely
in New Zealand, James said. It's been an absolute privilege to play for
he's played for, having
for a large number of people
Nottinghamshire.
Wellington for over
As contract negotiators, Chris and
involved with the team. It was very
15 years.
Ben’s priorities are locking in the
rewarding to see the team deliver a
next generation of professional
result that is so meaningful to the
rugby players ready for the
rugby community and the country.
British and Irish Lions in 2017 and,
The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
50
Singing about Wellington
M
usician Andrew Laking
Why does Irish music appeal?
(1998-1992) talks to the
I like how it tells a story. It's a very
Wellingtonian Newspaper
organic music, and so is the music
about touring, bad Irish weather
scene in Ireland. They tend not to
and writing songs about
do music courses; they learn off
Wellington.
other people from a young age. It's passed down through generations
You lived in Ireland for ten years.
- there's history behind it.
Why did you move there? I met an Irish musician in
How did what you learned in
Wellington and when his visa
Ireland compare to your formal
ran out he said that Ireland was
music training?
quite a good spot for music, and
I was surrounded by music - totally
that maybe I should think about
absorbed by it. I wasn't studying it,
heading there. So I did. It was
but I was playing along in sessions
hotel in Amsterdam. Each day we'd
being disappointed by how mild
supposed to be for a year for a
and learnt a lot. More than
drive to a different place and the
the winter was. I was keen for a
change of scene and to see what
anything, I became very familiar
bus would back into the venue.
good solid winter. It can be pretty
it was like living in Europe, but I
with how it works and functions.
We'd perform and then get back on
miserable in winter in Ireland, but
the bus. There's really only two or
the communities have been built
three towns in Holland as I recall.
for it.
stayed for ten years. Your band, GrĂĄda, has toured Have you always been interested
extensively. In how many places
in Irish culture and music?
have you performed?
What was it like coming back to
Your latest project, The Empire
Yes, I studied at the
At least 1500 cities. We toured
New Zealand?
City, is a CD and book of
Conservatorium of Music [now
for ten years and used to tour
There's not as much music going
songs about Wellington. Why
New Zealand School of Music]
for months on end. One year we
on here as in Ireland. But overall
Wellington?
and started getting into folk music.
were on the road for 220 days.
there's a lot of creativity and music
When I moved back here I'd been
My brother lived in Scotland for a
We toured a lot in Europe and the
happening. New Zealand is a
immersed in the Irish folk scene
year and came back with lots of
United States. Also we toured in
small country though, and bands
for so long, singing songs about
interesting songs. I got to know
Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
have a shelf life. Small populations
Ireland. I turned towards writing
make it harder. There's only so
songs about where I was living. I
some people in Wellington who were involved in folk music and it
Does touring get boring?
many times people can go to
didn't set out to write the album,
evolved from there.
We toured the Netherlands once,
your concert. In Europe, we'd just
but I'd written a few songs about
and did about 30 shows. It's a tiny
pop over to Germany and the
Wellington and thought it would
country, so we stayed in the same
demographic multiplied.
be interesting to flesh it out and tell the whole story.
How does the weather compare? I remember getting back here and
www.andrewlaking.com
The Empire City traces the history of Wellington, from the middle of the 19th Century till the present day. Stories are told through song, text, paintings and photographs and offer a creative insight into the history of life in the capital city. The book includes a CD with original songs by Andrew Laking, and features a number of exceptional guest artists including Bret McKenzie (1990-1994), Riki Gooch, Toby Laing (1989-1993), Norman Meehan and Justin Firefly. The songs are given context by historical notes and illuminated through a number of previously unseen archival photos, and over 20 new paintings by Bob Kerr. 2015 marks the 150th year since Wellington became the capital of New Zealand – a fitting time to release The Empire City. The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS SURVIVOR’S BOOK IS A WORLD FIRST
E
ach year nearly 3000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in
51
One man’s account of diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer through low dose rate brachytherapy
New Zealand, and about 600 die annually. Despite these statistics, Blasted by Seeds is Tom McGrath’s story of his
diagnosis, the difficult process of selecting a treatment, first of its kind in the world to describe brachytherapy treatment and the anxiety of ‘making the right choice’.
from the patient perspective - shows that success can come out of Tom never suspected he had cancer, until a chance
adversity. blood test returned an atypical result. He soon found himself in a urologist’s surgery discussing the early
stages of the disease. Based on a personal diary and medical correspondence, Blasted by This book details the brachytherapy procedure Tom Seeds covers the period from 2007 when Tom underwent PSA tests underwent, and the long post-op period of
and a biopsy to establish theAextent the disease. He then had to medication and testing. centralof theme of story how he ‘gets on with life’ in several spite select athe form of istreatment from amongst options. of a potentially fatal disease.
Tom McGrath has had a varied career,
The story focuses oninspection, his choice low dose rate brachytherapy and including factory trade – unions, parliamentary research, and teaching. He is post-procedural challenges.
Major
a contributing author to books on employment relations and human resource management, and recently taught issues in theDiploma narrative include coping New Zealand in Business courses at a private training institute.
Blasted by SeedS • Tom mcGrath
this new book Blasted by Seeds McGrath (1966-1970) – the experience with prostate cancerby —Tom the tests, biopsies,
with unpredicted discovery
of a potentially life-threatening disease, having to make decisions
Blasted by Seeds
Tom’s recreational interests include Latin
with long-term effect mountain based on limited American dancing, biking, and knowledge, and maintaining swimming. He is married to writer Julia Millen.
patience and determination until a point is reached where doctors can confidently advise success. Tom was born and educated in Wellington. After attending Wellington College then university, he embarked on a varied career, including secondary school teaching in the mid 1970s. Following this he worked as a factory inspector, and later as a union organiser and a
Tom McGrath
parliamentary research officer during the period of the 1984-1990 Labour Government. From 1988 to 2011, he was an academic staff member at a tertiary education institution and specialised in teaching employment relations and human resource management. He currently works part-time teaching New Zealand Diploma in Business courses at a private training institute. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master of Public Policy degree from Victoria University of Wellington, and a Diploma in
Blasted by Seeds by Tom McGrath One man’s account of diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer through low dose rate brachytherapy. RRP $35.00, ISBN 978-0-9922603-4-7 Soft cover, A5, 150 pages. First published June 2015 Writes Hill Press Ltd, PO Box 23 032, Wellington. www.writeshillpress.co.nz Please email purchase orders to lynn@writeshillpress.co.nz
Business Studies from Massey University. He has written chapters in books about management and human resource management, in the course of his academic work. His recreational interests include Latin dancing, mountain biking and swimming.
Bright young things: 30 aucklanders under 30 going places NZ HERALD
THE REPORTER: TVNZ reporter Chris Chang (20002004) joined the newsroom three years ago as an intern but quickly rose through the ranks, to make his way onto the company's flagship bulletin. From sports and weather to serious news reporting, Chris has proven he can turn his hand to anything. THE FUNNY GUY: Former yellow Power Ranger Nic Sampson (2000-2004) may be best recognised from his acting roles (most recently as DC Breen in The Brokenwood Mysteries) but his real talent lies in comedy. Selling out the Basement Theatre earlier this year with his show National Treasure, the Tom McGrath, with wife Julia.
comedy writer is also behind many of the jokes on Jono and Ben, Best Bits and Funny Girls. He also appears on 7Days. The Lampstand | 2015
52
IN THE NEWS
Putting the ‘smarts’ where they are needed dam Davy (1973-1977) may
A
Over the past 25 years at
have a pretty good IQ but
BDO, Adam has looked after
he's first to admit he has the
mostly small to medium-sized
emotional intelligence of a brick.
businesses that can have up to
I have no emotional intelligence
$80m a year in turnover. They're
except enough to realise that,
owned by real people, and the
laughs the Managing Partner
biggest thing you can do for them
of Wellington accountancy firm
is get them to the stage where
BDO and head of BDO New
they can exit through succession
Zealand's Advisory.
planning. To see a client cut the
clearing houses, Databank, Adam
way backwards.
apron strings and get their nest
says one of the skills he picked
As for his IQ of 160, the clients
egg out of it, to see them succeed
up at school was more about
He studied for an accounting
who know him well describe him
while the business continues on is
footwork than figures. He says
degree while he worked at the
more as ‘densa’ rather than
the greatest part of all.
because he thought differently,
company that is now BDO but
at school it was all about survival.
failed five papers, simply because
high IQ society]. It's a fine line
As managing partner of BDO
You either got bullied or you had
he never finished the first chapter
- it doesn't indicate anything
Wellington, decision making
to run fast. Luckily I learned to
of any textbook. He says he got
rationally, it just means I'm
and problem solving are part of
run fast! Adam never studied
bored. So he wound up finishing
somebody who thinks differently.
everyday life. Adam says all his
accounting at school.
his degree extramurally, becoming
‘Mensa’ [the world's largest
a qualified chartered accountant
problem solving begins at the end. As a result, his clients are often
I don't start with the process. I start
I went to Victoria University not
on the receiving end of what he
with the outcome and work my way
knowing what I wanted to do, then
thinks is good but sometimes
back - I do the same with a maze
I got engaged and I had to get a
But knowledge still matters to
‘blunt’ advice. I don't sugar-coat
puzzle. Some people may fear that
job. I saw a notice on the board
him. The irony is, our motto at
anything. It's got to be real, the 'if
I'm a loose cannon because I've
for a tax consultant. I thought
Wellington College was Lumen
you don't do this then you'll be out
gone straight to the answer. I don't
everyone hates auditing so it had
Accipe Et Imperti, which means
of business in five years' time' type
do it consciously, I can't articulate
to be a goer and I'd done my own
receive the light and pass it on.
stuff. But my clients who know me
the inner why, but it's a principle I've
tax return before.
At the time I knew what it meant
and get me, appreciate that. And
applied throughout my working life,
those who don't just shouldn't work
and it works for me. So whenever
I remember my first day at work.
meaning, it's about having that
with me!
a client has a problem, I just pick it
The partner asked me to do
knowledge and passing it on to
up and solve it quickly, and it's that
journal entries and I said 'what's a
the people around you, and that's
Behind his bluntness and his
buzz of being able to help a client
journal’? But true to form, Adam
exactly what I'm doing.
self-confessed lack of emotion
that spins my wheels.
quickly found his feet, starting
that drives him, and it's as strong
Adam was recently named as
today as it was when her first
Xero's Most Valued Partner of the
entered the world of accounting
Year 2015. He knows his accolade
35 years ago. It's about helping
is to do with BDOs around the
the client achieve what they want
world following his lead on cloud
to do. It's not about bookkeeping.
accounting but he says the award
You're helping to solve people's
isn't about him.
problems, you've got their backs. Most of my clients are the owner of
I want the clients to get what
the business, as opposed to being
they deserve, so I want our BDO
a shareholder in a big business, so
partners to realise this is what the
it's real to them. I know their kids,
way of the future is, and then the
I know their families ... It's still all
clients to be better off for it, that's
about the financial relationship,
the true accolade.
but I take it personally because I want them to succeed, and I get
The son of a banker who was one
huge satisfaction from that.
of the five founding managers of the world's first overnight cheque
The Lampstand | 2015
literally but now I know its true
with the answer and working his
though, Adam says it is passion
with ‘five Ds’ to his name.
The Dominion Post
CAN YOU HELP?
T
he Wellington College Careers and Transition Department is keen to make contact with Old Boys who might be willing to give a lunchtime presentation (12.30pm to 1.30pm) to interested students about their career or business including: Small Business Owners and Retailers, Financial Planners, Accountants, Bankers and Share Brokers, Advertising and Marketing, Engineers, Architects and Designers, Hotel and Event Management, Property Developers, Foreign Exchange Dealers, Professional Sportsmen, State Services, Foreign Affairs, Journalism, Television, Radio, Media, Health Professionals: Doctors, Specialists, Dentists, Vets, Physiotherapists, Optometrists, Computers (using and maintaining/developing software/ web design), Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Joinery, Automotive, Forensics, Researchers, Food Service Industry: Chefs, Bakers, Butchers, Lawyers, Police, Fire and Rescue Services, Agriculture to name a few. Any further suggestions or inquiries, please contact: Ernie Rosenthal, (1957-1960). Wellington College Careers’ Adviser Tel: 04 802 2536 • Mob: 021 124 9439 Email: e.rosenthal@wc.school.nz
IN THE NEWS
53
Honour bestowed on Wellington college’s proposed memorial hall architect he New Zealand Institute of
T
residential and commercial
them and the landscape, whether
Architects has conferred its
projects of all scales, first
urban, rural or natural, that
premier individual honour,
made a name for himself in the
surrounds them.
the Gold Medal for career
early 1990s with the significant
achievement, on Stuart Gardyne
conversion of Wellington
Stuart and his company
(1970-1974), a director of the
Public Library into City Gallery
'architecture+' were awarded
Wellington firm 'architecture+'.
Wellington. He would return to
the contract to design the new
the Gallery in 2006 to design a
Wellington College Memorial
The Gold Medal is the highest
distinctive extension. Clad in a
Hall and Performing Arts centre
level of professional recognition a
‘rusted’ metal skin, the extension
and are looking forward to the
New Zealand architect can attain.
respects the proportions of the
culmination of his design at the
For Stuart, it acknowledges an
original building while meeting the
proposed opening in 2017.
accomplished career during which
requirements of a modern public
he has achieved consistently high
art gallery. In the coming years,
standards for and with his clients.
Stuart will begin a third stage of work that will better integrate the
In awarding the Gold Medal,
building with Civic Square.
the Institute of Architects noted Stuart’s generosity – to
A born and bred Wellingtonian,
architecture as a profession as
Stuart through his architecture
well as the wider public realm.
has helped shape the city and its surrounds for close to four
Stuart has become an architectural leader as well as an excellent
decades. Significant projects include the Pataka-Porirua
All in a day’s work hen Chiefs Assistant Coach
W
equipment for the unit including
Andrew Strawbridge
a computer, syringe pumps,
travelled to Samoa as
an echo machine, airways equipment, a dialysis machine,
designer, and the profession he so
Museum of Arts and Culture,
Manu Samoa’s Technical
admirably represents has benefitted
Morrison’s Bush Cabin and
Adviser for their test against
a vital signs transport monitor,
Ponatahi House in the Wairarapa,
the All Blacks, he contracted a
and a portable oximeter.
the Hutt City administration
life-threatening eye infection
building, the acclaimed
and it was thanks to Old Boy,
David was formerly Principal
Conservation House and Spark
Dr David Galler (1968-1972)
Medical Advisor to the Minister
Central in the city and, on the
who saved his life. David has
of Health and Clinical Director
waterfront, the Te Wharewaka o
been on a sabbatical from
of Acute Care at Middlemore
Pōneke-Te Raukura.
Middlemore Hospital and has
Hospital. He then moved to
aspirations and his knowledge
been at Samoa’s Moto'otua
Samoa with his new passion
of commercial realities, his
Stuart grew up in a suburb
National Hospital, heading their
– advancing intensive care in
willingness to test a brief and his
populated with architecturally
Intensive Care Unit.
Samoa, working as a volunteer.
eagerness to challenge himself.
designed houses – Wilton, in
enormously from his collegiality, intelligence and integrity. He has become a place maker, and his city is profitting from his understanding of its people and its patterns, his sympathy for cultural
His expertise has made so
Wellington, and knew he wanted
Andrew’s family subsequently
much improvement in the
to be an architect from the time
set a Givealittle appeal for
emergency needs of the ICU.
architecture critic and
he started at Wellington College.
specific medical equipment
commentator, described Stuart
His first job out of Architecture
for the hospital's intensive care
He has worked well with
as a thoughtful and astute
School was with the architecture
unit, saying that by supporting
the nursing staff who have
firm Structon Group, where he
Dr Galler and his 'wonderful’
admitted to being exposed
quickly rose through the ranks to
ICU team it would
of Wellington. I’ve always found
become a director after just five
make it much easier to
Stuart to be an extremely generous
years.
continue their amazing,
the emergency attention
compassionate work.
given to Manu Samoa, said
Tommy Honey, New Zealand
architect who has made a significant contribution to the city
person… his commitment to the city – to Wellington is extraordinary. I think the City Gallery is an example
established the practice
of him giving his architecture to the
'architecture+', where he
raised (around
continues to make a name
$64,000) will
for himself with buildings that
help to buy
respect the people who occupy
medical
Stuart, whose work spans
experience especially with
National Health Services,
In the late 1980s, Stuart The money
people of Wellington.
to a whole new range of
Chief Executive Officer, Leota Laki Sio.
The Lampstand | 2015
54
IN THE NEWS
he Wellingtonian Newspaper
T
At the start. The exciting work was
interviewed Radio New
when you were responsible for
Zealand's Spectrum
recording the symphony concert
presenter, Jack Perkins (1954-
at the Town Hall. But there was
1958) in March.
no news or spoken report. It was music and it had to be a
Was radio your first career choice?
specific kind so you didn’t ruffle
No. When I left Wellington College
the feathers of people straight
I was a trainee draughtsman in
out of bed having their breakfast.
the Ministry of Works. They built
Gradually I became dissatisfied
drains and roads. I was in the civil
working in the sound desk, so
design part, building big concrete
I went to Victoria University
structures. I was bloody awful at it.
and studied Political Science and Philosophy. I came back
So you left?
and ended up in the spoken
Yes. A friend of mine worked in
programmes.
radio and knew I was a classical pianist. He suggested I could be
How did Spectrum start?
a music programmer for the New
In 1972, I helped Alwyn Owen set
reappeared somewhere on the
I've written a cricket book and I've
Zealand Broadcasting Service.
up the programme. He retired
other side. It had got a shock, gone
written a bit of poetry, too.
We called it record shuffling. It
in the mid-1990s but I'm still
away and sulked. Later on we
would've been one of the few
here. I’ve been able to travel all
found there were a whole lot more
Do you think about retirement?
places to be involved with music in
around the country and overseas.
birds on Stewart Island, but that
All the time, but I do very little
1959. I thought I'd give it a year and
It's essentially a human interest
was the most miserable 20 minutes
about it. I'm 75 in September. I only
I'm still here after 66 years.
programme, portraying life and
I ever encountered on Spectrum.
work five hours a day in the week and might make a recording in the
humans in New Zealand. I never What was it like working in radio
applied for a job after 1972. Before
How do you find your stories?
weekend. I don't travel as much as
in the 1950s?
that I was applying for radio jobs
Murder, blackmail and arm
I used to because three of us cover
It was like joining the priesthood.
every week.
twisting. No, not really. There's no
the country. I do the lower North
one source. I read newspapers and
Island. I can't keep going forever,
people send in ideas.
but am still on top of the game -
You were joining a club of people who were misfits in a way. Some
Any particularly memorable
were amazingly talented, but
stories from Spectrum?
they didn't fit in as bank tellers,
In 1974, I was doing a programme
Why have you stayed with
insurance agents or shopkeepers.
in Fiordland with Don Merton, a
Spectrum so long?
We followed up with Jack,
Some were a bit eccentric, but
leading activist in saving rare birds.
I felt I was contributing something
after this was published to get
good fun to be around. Radio
His team thought the last kakapo
valuable to the history of New
an update. Jack responds,
was something of a haven for
in the wild was in Sinbad Valley.
Zealand. It's not about hard news,
I’ve retired from RNZ since the
gay people. Somebody said to
They wanted to catch the bird
current affairs or controversy.
interview, completing 56 years
me, 'You're going to work in that
and transport it to Maud Island,
That's covered by Morning Report.
in radio and 43 with Spectrum. I
queer outfit! It wasn't something
which is pest-free. We found the
We're at the other end of the
was afraid that I would pine for
a straight teenage cricket player
bird, then Don suggested I feed it a
spectrum. We're about the oddball,
work after all those years but I’m
should do.
piece of cabbage. I pulled myself
the unusual, colourful people and
delighted to report that I don’t miss
up to the hide (a wooden structure
quirky personalities. We welcome
it one bit. I love sleeping in and
What did your parents think?
from which to view the bird). On
the person with strong opinions
doing little of great consequence, I
My father was a coal miner who
one side was a drop of about
and strong personalities.
recommend it.
came out from England in 1950,
3000 feet - frightening! As I put the
when I was 10. He had the typical
cabbage on top of the hide, the
Do you count yourself as an
Thinking back, it was a similar
attitude of many of his era. When
bird went for it, but bit my hand,
oddball?
story when I gave up cricket after
l said I'd be playing around with
so I pulled it down. There was a
No, I'm a pretty average kind of
playing over 40 years, I had no
records, he said Lad, that's not
squawk and a flutter, then dead
person. I live in suburbia in Karori
trouble filling my weekends.
a proper job. In those days work
silence. I had visions of this last
and enjoy watching a bit of rugby
It’s strange how habit can prevent
had to be dangerous, dirty and
kakapo in the world splattered on
and cricket.
us embracing change. 'I’ve done
unpleasant. Otherwise it wasn't
the rocks below.
even though I'm sounding a bit old.
this many times before' seems You used to play cricket?
preferable to 'I’ll try something
What did you do?
That's right. I played senior cricket
different'.
Did you enjoy creating the
I sat there feeling utterly miserable
for 30 years, and was a medium
programmes?
for 20 minutes. Then the bird
paced bowler. I still love cricket.
proper work.
The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
55
Hanging up his lab coat after 50 years
P
iecing together dozens of
he says ranged from the sublime
skeletons, helping to design
to the ridiculous.
and build the Coastal Ecology
Laboratory, rounding up 15,000
It was a very different era when
rogue bees - Alan Hoverd’s
Alan arrived at Victoria as a
(1962-1965) 50 years with
16-year-old in 1965. He walked
Victoria University could never
out of Wellington College
be described as ordinary.
straight into Victoria’s Zoology Department as the University’s
The University’s Coastal Ecology
first technical trainee.
Laboratory was practically Alan's second home, where he kept
From his second day, when he
marine specimens, maintained
found the laboratory’s human
equipment and conducted his
skeleton sitting in his chair
fish, rats and other animals for
The animal skeletons he has
own research.
wearing his lab coat, it was
class dissections.
worked on - sharks, orang-
apparent that this was no average
utans and rodents among them,
But after five decades he’s ready
working environment. The
As the ‘general dogsbody’, he also
are testament to some of his
to hang up his lab coat and
young Alan kept undergraduate
made coffee for the technicians’
many skills. Armed with surgical
farewell the university that gave
laboratories in top condition,
morning tea. This meant boiling
instruments and taxidermy books,
him many skills, experiences,
looked after the two tuatara and
water in the billy that rested on
Alan pieced skeletons together,
friends, memories and tasks that
in-house rodents and prepared
an asbestos mat over a Bunsen
bone by bone, for research and
burner. He always washed the
teaching. One time, an iguana
billy thoroughly beforehand, as
skeleton arrived in a shoe box from
it was likely he’d boiled items
Australia, in hundreds of pieces.
like cats’ heads in it earlier, while
Needless to say it was a challenge
It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home
W
estpac's new CEO, David
and previously headed up
preparing teaching specimens.
to get that accurate … and to this
McLean (1971-1973) was
the bank's New Zealand
Alan had always shown an artistic
day I have no idea if the vertebrae
drawn home from the
institutional, private and wealth
talent, and in an age where
are entirely in the right sequence.
management businesses.
publications relied on hand-drawn
bright lights of New York City by the allure of his ‘dream
images, his skills were soon put
As a founding member of the
job’ back in New Zealand.
While based in New York
to good use. He drew and painted
University’s civil defence team,
Unusually for the leader of an
heading up Westpac's
illustrations that were used as
he was involved in setting up a
Australian-owned bank, David
institutional Americas division,
teaching aids, and many others
flying fox for a training exercise
is a New Zealander.
he said he had kept close tabs
were published in local and
in 1979, which whizzed from the
on the bank's local operations
international books and journals.
Easterfield building rooftop to the
Since graduating from Victoria
and on New Zealand in
University, David started as a
general. When you're overseas,
Early in his career, Alan was
lawyer in private practice, then
you get together with other
afforded extra training opportunities
His ability to find unusual tasks
worked as in-house counsel at
Kiwis for a drink pretty regularly,
in glassblowing, metalwork and
has not waned in his later years.
a bank, before morphing into a
find all the bars that have the
histology, as well as time to study
In January this year, he was a
banker, specialising in the debt
rugby on TV, and stay in touch
at Wellington Polytechnic, and
key player in rounding up and
capital markets. So far, the
with the news, he said.
highlight has been his current
Rankine Brown building.
then London University College
relocating 15,000 bees that had
on a Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship,
found a home in the walls of a University building.
role as CEO of Westpac New
Coming home was not a difficult
while working at the Central
Zealand. It is a big job, with
decision, said David. New York
Veterinary Centre in Surrey.
an organisation and people
was an amazing place to live. I
he knows well, and with
think it did change me in
Despite this, Alan feels he is now He rose through the ranks,
ready to step back from Victoria.
the potential to make
some ways. But there's
becoming a Technical Team
I’ll miss the students and my
a positive difference
nothing like coming
Leader who manages staff
colleagues and all the interesting
to the New Zealand
home to New Zealand,
servicing undergraduate teaching
and highly qualified individuals, but
economy.
even just arriving at
laboratories and coordinates the
I think 50 years is a good innings.
the airport. The light is
technical side of things, to keep
David has been with Westpac for 15 years,
brighter, the grass is greener.
things running smoothly. He has
Victorious Magazine
also been involved with a few
Victoria University
University committees. The Lampstand | 2015
56
Operatic opportunities on offer enor Jonathan Abernethy
T
felt I'd get into it and find out
(2000-2004), learned late
what area I wanted to jump into. I
last year that he had won the
thought there'd be another degree
Australian 2014 Opera Awards. He
down the line and I'd upskill in that
scored the A$4500 Armstrong-
area. Singing was always a bit
Martin Scholarship along with
of a passion and a hobby, never
the A$30,000 Youth Music
a serious career. I decided to go
Foundation of Australia Award.
down the IT line and see where I found myself.
It came with such a big shock, a good shock, he said. It's an
He graduated in early 2011 and
industry award, such a big sort
took a job, doing admin, a bit of
of thing, I thought, kind of right
web stuff, being a general intern,
up there. It's given me such a
and getting to grips with having to
confidence boost in that what I'm
do it every day.
doing is really right. It will open up more doors and help push me to
Intermittently, for love of it, he
the next level.
took singing lessons with local teacher Lesley Graham. It was
He will travel overseas and will
there that the classical thing
contemplate summer schools
started. It was still a hobby. I liked
in several countries, including
doing it but I wasn't doing it every
Germany and Italy. I'm trying to
day. It was the old sing-in-the-
splash. I was getting over the whole
In retrospect, his first year started
figure out what's best for me.
shower and turn up.
awesome experience of being in
quite small but in my mind it was
the Opera House and meeting
massive. They gently built things
people I'd only heard about.
up. There's always been help and
At the time of his win, Jonathan
In a ‘pretty casual’ way, in an early
had just finished singing the role
break from his first year in the
of Fenton in Opera Australia's
working world, he took himself
They included the show's
Melbourne season of Falstaff.
off, with Graham's blessing, to
artistic director, who came over
Such a great production, he said.
the NZ Singing School in Napier,
and said, 'just wondering when
His mum and dad - a Wellington
Fenton is the real deal.
a residential school held every
you can start'. He could hardly
interventional cardiologist -
two years and with Dame Kiri
believe what he was hearing,
travelled to Melbourne to see
Jonathan has travelled a long
Te Kanawa - who later met
but a year later he was living in
him perform as Fenton alongside
way, musically, from primary
and helped him - as one of the
Sydney and in Opera Australia's
Warwick Fyfe as Falstaff. His
years in the St Mark's Church
patrons.
Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist
parents, he says, are stoked" by
Programme.
his far-from-IT turn of career.
School Choir and teenage years
support - and being thrown in the deep end would have been horrific.
at Wellington College. There, as
We decided on the singing school
he puts it: I had a sort of turbulent
rather than the Whanganui Opera
As soon as they made the offer I
Singing, he says has been
relationship with the Music
School, which might have been
thought they're not going to ask
amazing as a hobby, but it's even
Department. I'd get caught up with
too much, and especially with my
twice. It's a good time to do it.
better now. I just love it. I was
rowing and wouldn't be around. I
attitude. It was great fun. Most
I'm young, I can come back to IT;
missing out a lot when it was just
always treated the musical thing
of the singing I'd done in New
that stuff doesn't change. I was,
a hobby.
as a hobby. I wanted to keep
Zealand was at the singing school.
like, 'this is a good time and an incredible opportunity'. I just have
"Opera Australia has been
a subject I might not enjoy any
There were prizes. He won an
to go as hard as I can for as long
phenomenal. Now, with the
more. If I felt like doing it today, I'd
Opera Australia award that
as I can and get as far as I can.
award, I've got the opportunity
do it today. I was an irritant in the
allowed him to travel to Sydney
music department.
and watch a rehearsal in the
In his two years with Opera
a really high standard, step back
Sydney Opera House. It was
Australia, he has played Don
and take stock of what areas I can
Dutifully, at the end of his school
pretty exciting, my first time in
Ottavio in Oz Opera's Don
improve on and know how I want
career, he put his love of music
the Opera House. On the last day
Giovanni, Ruiz in Il Trovatore,
to go forward as a singer."
on the back-burner and settled
the company called me up and
Normanno in Lucia di
down at Victoria University to
asked if they could hear me sing.
Lammermoor and been a soloist
finish a BCom ready for an IT
I thought I might get on the radio
in Opera Australia's Greatest Hits
career. I liked computers and
but I wouldn't make much of a
at the Sydney Opera House.
music as something I enjoyed, not
The Lampstand | 2015
to go away and focus on getting
The Dominion Post
It's all about yachting
G
IN THE NEWS
57
eoff Stagg’s (1961-1965)
set his sights on distance racing
driving man. Wrote Blake,
Russell Bowler. Not too long
resumé includes wins in
in a bigger yacht. The keel yacht
'Staggy’ was an automatic choice
after the Ceramco New Zealand
the Sydney Hobart race
dream became an obsession!
(for one of two watch captains),
adventure, Geoff packed his
who would be responsible for
bags and headed to Annapolis,
(three times), the Kings Cup in Spain, Japan Cup, One Ton
In 1974, a short film was made –
the performance of the boat, 24
Maryland, USA to join the Farr
Cup in Belgium, Kenwood
The Hum – on the sailing legend
hours of every day because of his
Yacht Design organisation. He
Cup in Hawaii, line honours in
and his yacht Whispers. Directed
nature, ability and track record.
rapidly became President of Farr
The Fastnet and many more
by Tony Williams and written by
He was one of New Zealand’s
International, the sales arm of
including watch captain in the
Martyn Sanderson, the doco was
best known skippers in his own
Farr Yacht Design for 23 years.
late Sir Peter Blake’s Whitbread
a paean to the lure of sailing,
right, with boats such as the
Round the World racer Ceramco.
focusing on Geoff’s colourful
Spencer designs Whispers II and
In mid-2005, Geoff purchased Farr International, changing
Geoff grew up in Eastbourne.
the name to Stagg Yachts Inc.,
The Stagg family home was just
running the class management
a short sprint from the Muritai
of the Farr 40, Mumm 30 and
Yacht Club and where the young
Farr 395 programmes. Stagg
Geoff began to make a name
Yachts also run the sales and
for himself as a young man in a
marketing of the Farr Yacht
hurry. He raced to win and took
Design boat products Mumm
no prisoners. Fair, but tough!
30, Farr 36, Farr 395 and Farr 40 and the boat brokerage and
After progressing through the very junior classes, Geoff found success in New Zealand and
ABOVE: The Glory Days - Geoff Stagg drives Ceramco with the rest of his watch back in the Members Stand. BELOW: Geoff (2015).
project management services for which the company has become famous.
Australia in the Cherub Class, a hard chine, 12 foot plywood
Geoff told us recently, that his
dinghy, a class originally
time is still spent managing the
designed by the then rapidly
F40 Class as well as running
emerging Auckland designer
top regattas for the owners - in
John Spencer who, throughout
particular, the Rolex 40 World
the 1960s and ‘70s promoted
Championships.
hard chine, plywood yacht He reckons he is up for one more
design and construction.
One Design project (body willing) and still has a number of ideas to
Geoff raced his yacht Whispers,
put forward.
at a time when the Cherub
personality, and his veteran
Whispers of Wellington and then
Class was at its peak and was
ocean-racing crew, as they took
the Farr design Granny Apple.
attracting many of the top young
on the Wellington to
He’d won the 1973 Auckland
I still manage to visit New
sailors in New Zealand. It was
Kapiti Island and down to the
– Suva race in Whispers II. He
Zealand, at least one a year, said
a fine training ground for the
Sounds race. Fortunately for the
might have a bit of trouble fitting
Geoff. It's such a great country
young sailor from the eastern
film they delivered on reputation.
in under me, but I was sure that
and the recent All Blacks victory
bays of Wellington.
Dolphins, Strait squalls,
could be overcome.
received fantastic international and prime-time coverage - all
streaking, ciggies, and some This was all happening during
fierce 70s moustaches were all in
Peter Blake was correct. Geoff
the late 1960s, about the same
a weekend’s sailing.
Stagg was all he had hoped he
time that Chris Bouzaid took
good publicity for our country.
would be as a watch captain and
It’s been quite a journey all
exceptional helmsman.
the way from Wellington, New
New Zealand sailing skills to
In the book, Blake's Odyssey
Heligoland and demonstrated
by Peter Blake and Alan Sefton
to the world in general that
(about the round the world race
Geoff’s ability to set a boat
United States of America for the
Kiwis can sail! Geoff was typical
with Ceramco New Zealand),
up for racing, as well as his
wavy-haired lad who left a very
of many young New Zealand
Geoff, (who was then 33) was
helming and winning attitude to
full chapter of sailing history in
yachtsmen who were inspired
described by Peter Blake as a
anything he undertook, caught
New Zealand.
by Bouzaid’s success and he too,
proven performer and a hard-
the attention of Bruce Farr and
Zealand to Annapolis in the
The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
58
KARATE KUDOS
W
ith over 30 years of martial
those less fortunate. This year
arts training, Kyoshi Tony
alone, $15,000 was donated to
Gaeta (1981-1985) has
the Wellington Children’s Hospital
become one of New Zealand’s
with whom South Wellington
leading exponents and teachers
Seido Karate now has a long term
in Seido Karate. Having trained
relationship.
under Grandmaster Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura (the founder
Seido Karate not only offers a
of Seido Karate) numerous times
balance of fighting techniques
over the years, Kyoshi Tony has
along with a confidence building
brought a wealth of knowledge
mindset but also complements
and ability to his dojo and its
any other sports in which
students.
students might be involved.
Having trained in Seido Karate
Kyoshi Tony has passed on his
while also studying at Wellington
teaching skills to many over the
College made Tony [pictured
years from current All Blacks and
right] a prime example of how
Hurricane players to top football,
Seido Karate would help shape
hockey, and netball players to
student’s future health and well-
even Joe Ulberg (seven-time
being for the better.
Mr New Zealand bodybuilding champion). Kyoshi Tony has also
Kyoshi Tony started his training in
spent time providing his skills
1982 and obtained his Shodan (1st
with the Indonesian Army (in
Dan black belt) in July 1989.
Indonesia) along with overseas and local private security
Since leaving College, Kyoshi
companies.
Tony spent close to 15 years overseas as a professional
The Wellington College
musician, giving him the
programme falls under the South
opportunity to continue his
Wellington Seido Karate dojo. All
journey in the martial arts
students who start the college
while touring. South East Asia
programme will be allowed to
(Indonesia, Malaysia, China,
train at the main dojo free of
Singapore, Thailand, Korea, and
charge. The dojo is located at
Japan) and the Middle East (The
469 Adelaide Rd, Berhampore.
Kingdom of Bahrain, Abu Dhabi
Visit www.southwellingtonseido.
and Dubai) became a familiar
co.nz for more information. Tony
home over the years.
also runs lunchtime classes for Wellington College students and
Kyoshi Tony Gaeta was promoted
the classes are well attended.
to a 5th Dan in the World Seido Organisation in July 2010.
Just recently, South Wellington Seido Karate took out one of the
Although Kyoshi has won many
top awards at the Wellington
tournaments both overseas and
Airport Community awards
throughout New Zealand, he
which were hosted by the Mayor.
feels his biggest achievement
They were selected from over
in the martial arts apart from
600 nominations and took
opening his own school, has
out the 'Highly Commended'
been and continues to be the
award for Sports and Leisure for
donations given through fund
outstanding contribution to the
raising efforts which his dojo has
community.
done over the last nine years, with close to $100,000 given away to The Lampstand | 2015
GAME DESIGNER LOOTS THE MUSEUM
N
ew Zealand–born, Malta-based video game designer and writer Pippin Barr (1992-1996) has created an ongoing series of lo-fi, quirky,
web-based games, which comment on the art world’s intriguing, often absurd insularity. With his latest piece, The Stolen Art Gallery, Pippin investigates the idea of the museum. Except instead of preserving images of art that is no longer publicly available owing to thieves, his virtual museum only displays empty walls, with wall text suggesting what’s missing. It’s a sly commentary not only on the nature of museums as centres of art preservation but the impact of digital technology and the internet on art’s accessibility. The empty museum holds its own lessons. Why is this indie developer so invested in the art world? Pippin started out young. My parents are contemporary art collectors in New Zealand, so my childhood was one in which artists were constantly staying with us, or around for dinner, or installing work, he says. I’m fascinated and engaged by art, and have ended up, somewhat helplessly, making it myself in my own way. Since 2013, Pippin has taught game design, experience design, prototyping, and criticism at the Institute of Digital Games at the University of Malta.
IN THE NEWS
59
PUTTING HIMSELF IN ANOTHER PADDOCK passion for science over 34
A
vegetable and animal tissue to
years has seen scientist Peter
satisfy the demands of the MAF
Lorentz (1964-1968) continue
Agricultural Compounds Unit for
seamlessly as his industry has
product registration. Customers
moved from a ‘practitioner's art
included the likes of Bayer,
to a factory’.
Monsanto, Nufarm, Rhom and Hass and Ciba Geigy. It also did
He's not being negative about that
fats and oil analysis for major
change - he's a self- proclaimed
shareholder NZ Portside Storage.
‘techie’ at heart who loves his
It was a tough start and the
‘toys’ (while still adhering to the
company made a loss for the first
six-digit seriousness of the value
few years, but one short stretch of
of his company's equipment).
seasonal work in 1985 turned the
There's nothing better than taking
business around.
possession of a new toy that is capable of so much more than its
The northern hemisphere market,
the majority shareholder. In
That scale of work has allowed us
predecessors, he says.
which was mainly the US, put a nil
1989, Peter sold his shares to
to invest heavily in state-of-the-
chlorpyriphos residue requirement
Ravensdown, which began a
art equipment, automation and
We have had a local automation
on kiwifruit. We were the only
joint-venture with AgResearch.
mature IT systems.
company design us a prototype
people set up at the time to do the
The following decade was a rapid
for folding filter papers. It sounds
work. The NZ Kiwifruit Authority
growth phase for the company
Since 2003, ARL has been a fully
simple but that's us dipping our
(as it was then) didn't have the
with total annual revenue
owned subsidiary of Ravensdown
toes in the water of automation.
infrastructure to separate the
increasing from less than half
and more recently (2014) it has
We've asked the same company
fruit destined for America so we
a million dollars to $1.8 million.
become a business unit within
to explore options for automating
tested every orchard's fruit. It was
Once we had momentum, things
the cooperative - stepping away
our soil preparation, because
a frantic five or six weeks work but
started to fall into place. Through
from its historic ties with pesticide
this part of our operation is very
it was hugely profitable and turned
the early 90s our workload and
residue work and also the food
ergonomically unfriendly for our
us around. It meant we could buy
profitability continued to increase
and beverage sector, and into
staff. Technology makes everything
a couple of new pieces of scientific
dramatically. We had outgrown
a seamless high throughput
we do so much quicker and
equipment to plug a couple
our Lawn Road premises and
analytical system.
easier and yet we've gone from
of holes and from then on the
financing a shift to here [Awatoto]
employing just three people in
business just picked up steam.
was a no brainer. We were doing
It has been very satisfying setting
8500 soil tests at Lawn Road out
up methodology and taking
of a potential 36,000 to 40,000.
advantage of new business
1981 to 33 permanent staff in 2014. Scanning technology will be next,
There was steady food and
but I'll be watching that from the
beverage work from Hawke's
outside.
Bay companies such as Wattie's
When Rodney Green took over as
opportunities that made us grow.
and Grower Canneries (McCain's)
Ravensdown's CEO he asked me
After 34 years, Peter says he's
Peter retires from full-time
as well as a growing number of
to do a five-year strategic plan and
putting himself in another paddock
employment at the end of
wineries. That work was more
I incorporated all of Ravensdown's
by reinventing himself as an
November after working for
aligned to ARL than the work
soils into the mix. The economies
agrology consultant, providing
Analytical Research Laboratories
from NZ Portside Storage which
of scale of incorporating all
nutrient budgets and farm
(ARL) in Napier for 34 years.
was not a good fit with the overall
Ravensdown's soil work allowed
nutrient management plans.
He was one of three founding
business.
expansion to a greenfields site and a purpose- built facility. The
But with a bach in Mahia and
It didn't have a very good fit with
capital expenditure brief was for
a love of fly fishing, hunting,
His official job titles have ranged
the business and we weren't
under a million dollars. Pretty
painting, woodwork and cycling,
from Senior Analyst (1981-1989),
making a lot of money from it.
much $999,999 later this building
he says he doesn't want to be time
General Manager (1989-2000),
The business had been heading
was conceived. We went ahead
poor anymore.
Business Development and
down a more agricultural pathway
and haven't looked back. We
Technical Manager (2000-
and after some due diligence,
became the biggest soil lab in the
2003) to Technical Director
East Coast Fertiliser became the
country.
(2003-November 2014).
majority shareholder.
In the early days, ARL analysed
Shortly after that (after a
at Awatoto in 1999. We'll be doing
agricultural residues in fruit,
merger) Ravensdown became
about 70,000 soil tests this year.
principals and shareholders.
Stuff.co.nz
The new laboratory was opened
The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
60
What makes Wellingtonians laugh?
C
omedian Raybon Kan (1980-
they didn't expect it to be hot, so
1984) is Wellingtonian to the
there was no air conditioning. It
core, but that doesn't mean
was so unpleasant I wouldn't even
he doesn't have a few issues
think about it romantically.
with the place. How would you describe your He is an alumnus of St Mark's
comedy?
Church School, Wellington
I was into debating at Wellington
College, and Victoria University,
College, so my thing has always
and his first job was at The
been disagreeing with stuff.
Dominion, as it then was. He has
Looking for something that's wrong
been named best comedian
with a system and dwelling on it.
twice in both North & South and
It's not necessarily a constructive
Metro magazines. He has toured
approach, but it's how I'm wired:
Europe, Canada, and Australia
the glass-half-empty approach.
multiple times, but was back in Wellington recently to provide
What is wrong with NZ systems?
laughs to his audience.
Take, for example, everyone starting work at the same time.
Where is your favourite city to
That's the whole reason there's
perform?
traffic. The cars are all lemmings.
Montreal, because it is a comedy
They are just doing it because
Back: Michael Heron, George Laking, Mr Martin Vaughan
city and the people there know
someone else is doing it, even
Front: Andrew Howman, Anatoly Frusin, Raybon Kan
how to look after comedians. I am
though the result is the opposite
always treated very special there,
of getting anywhere. Think how
What would you change about
treasures right next to the water,
like an upstairs person.
smooth everything would be if
Wellington?
on a fault line!
Senior Premier A Debating Team 1984
we all just started at different
My first thought was Chinese
And your least favourite?
times. And why do we do it? Just
food. But no, the weather is just
What makes a Wellingtonian
By contrast, I have been treated
because. I really think no-one gets
unforgivable. The solution to
audience laugh?
like a downstairs person every
more than three hours' work done
Wellington would be a dome – a
The Wellington I experience is a
time I have been to the Edinburgh
a day anyway. After the coffee,
perspex dome with occasional
very progressive, good-hearted,
Festival Fringe. Last time I was
after reading the paper, after all
openings for planes. Then
conscientious, liberal, educated
there, everything went wrong. My
the wandering around, that's all
Wellington would be habitable,
population. To get Wellingtonians
venue fell over and suddenly all
anyone is really doing. So people
lush, and the trees would be
to laugh at something cruel can be
my publicity was wrong, and I
could just fit that in. I think a lot of
straight. I also think it's weird with
hard. It always takes a few steps.
got foot problems because of the
it is attendance and being there to
Te Papa that you would have
cobblestones. It was so hot, but
meet people.
a storehouse of irreplaceable
O
ld Boys’ University (OBU) is one of New Zealand’s largest senior rugby clubs.
Jubilee cup ‘comes home’
The Dominion Post
Dave ‘Trapper’ Loveridge, dave. loveridge@rugbyroad.co.nz and get your 2016 rugby in motion now.
With first class facilities including our artificial training surface at Boyd-Wilson Park, expert
OBU survived a dramatic Marist
coaching and the best social
St Pats comeback before winning
spirit in Wellington rugby, there is
a tense Wellington Club final
something for everyone keen on
30-27 at Porirua Park. The win
enjoying their rugby. WCOBRFC
ended a Jubilee Cup drought
was founded in 1897 and teamed
that stretched back to 1966 when
up with VUWRFC in 1991, creating
University lifted the Trophy, and
a strong, vibrant, club rugby
Premier Reserve Champions and
environment.
has eleven Old Boys in its Premier
OBU is the current Premier and The Lampstand | 2015
four NZ U20 team players in 2015.
erased the heartbreak of the merged club's only other finals
team with many more involved
To find out more, email the Club
appearance in 2002 when they
with the Club. We also boasted
Rugby Development Officer,
lost to MSP.
IN THE NEWS
61
Artistic director wins award
N
ew Zealand dancer,
bringing his latest aerial
Haka group; and when he was six he trained
choreographer and
theatre production, Tiki
in classical ballet. At 18, he went on to study at
artistic director,
Taane Mahuta, to live
the NZ School of Dance and during that time
stage.
he trained both in ballet and contemporary
Tanemahuta Gray (1988-
dance.
1992) was the winner of the AMP People’s Choice
Tiki Taane Mahuta,
Scholarship.
follows his first aerial
He says a highlight of his dancing career
production, Māui - One
was when he auditioned to be a part of the
Around 32,000 New
Man Against the Gods,
Argentine theatrical troupe, De La Guarda,
Zealanders voted
which was showcased in
which is one of the world’s best aerial theatre
during the three-
Christchurch in 2006.
companies. Tanemahuta was selected as one of the 14 performers from 1800 applicants,
week voting application on Facebook with 2,200 applicants applying and the top five
The show is a blend of strong narratives, a
and he performed in the London season of
applicants competing for the $10,000 prize
fusion of Māori martial arts, contemporary
the shows.
and scholarship title.
dance, hip-hop, aerial theatre and soundtracks from Tiki Taane’s album, Past,
He spent five years working with De La Guarda
This year, the public were behind Tanemahuta
Present, Future and In The World of Light. In Tiki
on four different continents and he says it was
and his vision for Tiki Taane Mahuta. I think
Taane Mahuta.
there that he learnt the necessary skills of aerial theatre. Tanemahuta currently lives in
it gives confidence just to know that the community felt that it was a really worthwhile
Tanemahuta is a seasoned arts performer,
Waikanae with his wife, Yumiko Olliver-Gray
social wellbeing kaupapa.
dancing for 36 years. From the age of four, he
and their three tamariki.
and his siblings were immersed in kapa haka This brings Tanemahuta a step closer to
and they belonged to the Ngāti Pōneke Kapa
Wellington poet's tribute to netball greats
W
Sandra Edge, you stole
atching netball on the small
my mother away
kitchen television with his mother
with each neat pass
is a stand-out memory of Mark
after dinner.
Pirie's (1987-1991) childhood. After the success of his cricket and
The poem by Bill Sutton was sent to The
rugby poetry collections, Mark has gone
Wellingtonian as a reply to Mark's poem
back to his roots with a collection of
about Maria Tutaia, published the week
netball poems, titled 12 Netball Poems.
before.
Sports-mad, Mark has many hats. He
Though sports poetry might sound
works as a poet, writer, literary critic,
strange to some, Mark said it was a way
publisher, anthologist and editor. I used
to entertain people and acknowledge
to watch netball with my mum a lot. She
the hard work of sports people.
was really into sport, so I got the sports
Mark wanted to celebrate the game and paint
bug from her as well as my grandfather, Mark
a portrait of some players with his collection.
The poetry is a way of bringing out small attributes of the game that people might not
said. Netball was a good sport to write poems about
have seen before in that context.
His grandfather, Tommy Lawn, played rugby
because the movement of the game was like
Hopefully they think it's an interesting way of
for Sydenham Football Club and Technical
a dance, he said. Netball is like ballet in that
seeing something.
Old Boys in Christchurch and College Rifles in
there's a lot of balance involved and a lot of
Auckland.
skill with the athletes moving around the court.
Mark is working on a full-length biography on
It's a hard game to play and I tried to bring that
his grandfather, Tommy Lawn, telling the story
out in the poems.
of his rugby and business career.
about Irene van Dyk written by Bill Sutton that
His poem about former Silver Fern Sandra
12 Netball Poems is available from
was published in The Wellingtonian.
Edge stands out to Mark because he talks
www.markpirie.com
The netball poetry collection features twelve poems, eleven written by Mark, and a poem
about his mother watching the game: The Lampstand | 2015
62
IN THE NEWS
organ-ised playing
Living the dream
J
erram Hill (2006-2009) wrote to us from the USA, espousing the opportunities
and experiences for young New Zealanders contemplating living there. I was attending Auckland University (Bachelor of Health Studies) and managed to qualify for a Study Programme abroad
2
4-year-old Thomas Gaynor
under Douglas Mews. He is
(2008-2009) from Wellington
currently pursuing his Doctorate
has won first prize in a
of Musical Arts under David
prestigious International Organ
Higgs at the Eastman School of
Competition in Germany.
Music in Rochester, New York.
The third Bach Liszt Organ
He is the winner of the Sydney
competition was held in Erfurt,
International Organ Competition
Weimar over twelve days
and the Fort Wayne National
in October. Fifteen young
Organ Playing Competition,
competitors from around the
second prize winner of the
world were reduced to four
Miami International Organ
finalists throughout three
Competition, and a prize winner
rounds.
at the St Albans international Organ Competition.
Over the course of the competition, competitors
Thomas’s playing has been
played on six historically
heard in recitals throughout
significant organs before a panel
Australasia and the USA. Recent
of internationally renowned
engagements include the
judges.
Kennedy Centre, Washington DC; St. Thomas Church, Fifth
Organs included the instrument
Avenue, New York; and the
in the famous Bachkirche in
Auckland Town Hall. Thomas
Arnstadt where JS Bach served
is currently Assistant Director
as organist for five years. To
of Music at Christ Episcopal
conclude the competition,
Church in Pittsford, New York.
Thomas gave a Laureate recital
His studies have been
in both Weimar and Erfurt.
generously supported by many scholarships, most recently
First Prize is 12,000 Euro
the Kiwi Music Scholarship,
($19,700 NZ), which Thomas will
Dame Malvina Arts Excellence
use to support his study in the
Award, and Creative NZ. There
USA.
is also a trust that manages contributions from some 60
Thomas completed his
supporters to provide financial
undergraduate study at the
help for his studies.
NZSM at Victoria University The Lampstand | 2015
– ending up at the University
was pretty difficult to find any
of California, Irvine - a great
suitable work. The majority of
school located in Orange County,
antipodeans come over here just
California. I lived off-campus on
on a visa to experience living and
Newport Beach and spent the
working abroad but don't tend
majority of the year playing for
to work in professional or career
the UCI rugby team – an amazing
jobs. For the first six months all
experience. The team really
I could find was working at a
became the focal point of my
health food store.
free time, which included training almost every day, lots of social
However, things fell into place
events, and even holidays to lake
and I was fortunate to secure
houses and even a trip to Las
a great job with a tech startup
Vegas. It was like I was living in a
company called RFSpot, Inc. We
movie!
work on indoor mapping and other radio frequency-related
One way to describe the
services using robotics. Thanks to
standard of rugby in America is
a bit of networking with a fellow
'developing'. Even though some
Touch Rugby team member I met
of the oldest university clubs
the previous year, he ended up
in America are rugby clubs,
employing me into his company.
the majority of players are not
In due course, I am hoping that
brought up playing rugby or
the company will sponsor me for
throwing a ball around like New
a long-term visa.
Zealanders are. Consequently, the natural flair and ease of play
I can certainly recommend
is hard to find here and players
the opportunity for fellow and
almost have to 'force' how they
younger alumni to investigate
play, if that makes sense.
the opportunity to take up further study and/or work
I returned to New Zealand
abroad after graduating in New
and completed a one-
Zealand. This is one of the
year Postgraduate Study
best experiences I have had
(Postgraduate Diploma, Public
to date. The opportunity has
Health, graduating with Merit)
opened up many doors for me,
then headed back to California
and notwithstanding, including
to work. All New Zealand
playing for the USA in the Touch
and Australian graduates of
Rugby World Cup earlier this year
Universities can spend a year
in Australia.
working in the United States in the year immediately following graduation, which is what I am doing at the moment. Initially it
IN THE NEWS LOOKING AFTER THE BEST INTERESTS OF STUDENTS
P
aul Hunt (2004-2008) has been elected as the 2015 President of the Otago University Students’ Association. His previous role
with OUSA was their Financial Officer. He has
63
His kick at the Olympic Stadium four minutes from time, meant victory was out of England's reach and the series would go down to the final test in Wigan at the time of going to print.
Best foot forward for long arm of law
served on the executives of both the Otago University Debating Society and the Society of Otago Law Students. Paul completed his LLB/BA(Hons) degree in 2014. Paul’s responsibilities include making the important decisions that govern OUSA as well as the Executive. His primary focus is toward the bigger picture as far as OUSA and university students are concerned – involving issues like media inquiries, dealing with national issues that confront students, being the Student Representative on the University Council and similar committees, and setting the direction of OUSA for the year. The President serves an important leadership role in chairing meetings, meeting with important stakeholders (Police, DCC, University, Fire Department, etc.), and deciding what areas to focus on each year.
W
ellington police are welcoming a world taekwondo gold medallist to the ranks, but he plans to keep his high kicks to himself when it comes to catching criminals.
The President’s position is the only full-time post on the Executive and as a result tend to be the first point of contact for any issues that arise.
Constable Richard Lavin (1997-2001) was among the 76 recruits who graduated from the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua
NZ selection makes up for nrl loss
T
earlier this year, and has joined the Wellington police.
he pain of losing such a
The 31-year-old was working at the Wellington City Council in
dramatic ARL grand final is
the building consents department when he had a career-change
something Jordan Kahu (2006-
epiphany. He said was inspired by footage of the emergency
2007) is struggling to overcome.
response to Hurricane Sandy, the 2012 super-storm that ripped through the north-eastern United States.
As a rookie selection, Jordan Kahu was thankful that the tour
I had been watching it on YouTube - the facade fell off a building and
to England with the New Zealand
all these police officers, fire engines and ambulances came flowing in
League Team (the Kiwis) helped
and I thought it would be kind of cool to be in that job.
him move on from the Broncos' heart-breaking loss in the NRL grand final.
Richard has competed in the Korean martial art form taekwondo at national and international level, as part of national, Oceania,
Jordan played on the wing in that dramatic 17-16 defeat to the
and Asian tournaments. He has been studying the martial art for
Cowboys a few weeks ago and he said it's something he may never
18 years and first began competing at a national level while at
move on from. However, he feels getting to play footy again might
Wellington College.
help. It's probably going to haunt me for the rest of my life, he said. He is currently ranked a fourth dan black belt - the highest title is Jordan played on the wing or at centre for the Broncos this season,
ninth dan - and said he would continue his training, which was on
featuring in 22 games and scoring nine tries and has been lined up as
the backburner while he was at the Police College.
Justin Hodges' replacement on the right edge. He attended the 2005, 2007 and 2009 World Championships, Jordan, who had two serious knee injuries in 2011 and 2012 says
and was awarded a Gold Medal in 2009 in the special techniques
physically he's feeling fine and good to go.
category - using jumping and flying techniques to break boards with different parts of his body.
Field goals don't come around often for Jordan Kahu, but when they do they're usually of significance. In the second test against England,
But his first task with Wellington police will be staffing the booze
he kicked a field goal to confirm the Kiwis' win over England and the
buses. He did not think his superiors would be expecting him to
24-year-old said the last one he did was when he was a youngster.
use his martial-arts skills in the course of his duties: Only in extreme
I think the last one I took was at the end of College, Jordan said.
situations, but not really - they have their own techniques they taught us.
The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
64
Time to hang up his boots
W
Dion was born in California to a Samoan mother and American father, but moved with his mother to Wellington at the age of seven
ynnum Manly Seagulls Captain and two-time premiership
eventually attending Wellington College before returning to the US to
forward, Tim Natusch (2000-2004) announced his retirement
play College basketball. He came back to New Zealand in 2011 as a
with the elimination final against the Easts Tigers his last game,
Breakers development player and Wellington Saint.
hanging up his boots at the end of the Intrust Super Cup season. He had a lacklustre 2012 season with the Southland Sharks, played for Hawke's Bay in 2013, before returning to the Saints a year later with mixed results. It wasn't until this year that he made his biggest step up in play, averaging a career-best 14.5 points per game on 53 per cent shooting as the Saints made the NBL final. That form has seen ANBL clubs courting his services even before he was named on Saturday in the Tall Blacks squad to tour Europe. Dion said this year had been a turning point in his career. I'll be 26 next year, so I'm starting to creep up into my prime years and this is a pivotal point of my career where I can really propel myself and play at a really high level. I'm making those steps and being a part of this campaign The 29-year-old joined the Seagulls in 2010 and played a significant
means you're playing with the elite of New Zealand basketball.
role in the Club’s back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2012. He captained the side for the past two years, leading them to the finals
Dion’s hard work paid off, being snapped up by the Sydney Kings to
each season and a preliminary final in 2014.
complete their roster for the upcoming Australian NBL (ANBL) season.
But the prop has decided to step away from playing due to work
How a Wellington criminal lawyer became a reality star
commitments. It was a pretty hard decision to make, Tim said. I’ve been involved heavily in sport since I was five and played football professionally since I was 17. It was something I was sort of tossing and turning over for the past couple of months but I just think I couldn’t commit to playing. I’m one of those players that if I was late for training or whatever, I feel bad so I just can’t do it. The 184cm, 107kg enforcer was born in Papua New Guinea but grew up in Wellington, attending Wellington College and playing for the 1st XV. Alongside his career at the Seagulls, Tim played three NRL games for the Newcastle Knights in 2009.
Solid NBL season capped off with NZ selection
D
ion Prewster (2004-2006) is finally reaching his potential. Touted as one of New Zealand's brightest
W
ellington criminal lawyer Patrick Rosevear (20011-2005) took time out three years ago to go travelling in China, and to study Mandarin. But after appearing on a Chinese TV dating show, and
basketball talents during his teenage
translating a Flight Of The Conchords song on national television, he
years, the 25-year-old's career had
found himself cast in a travel show with a film crew of 120.
stagnated over the past few seasons. Now the former Wellington College and Victoria University student But a strong season with the Wellington
is hoping to use his unexpected celebrity to make a show promoting
Saints in the National Basketball League
New Zealand tourism to Chinese tourists. It's quite a novel life over here,
(NBL) has earned the 1.95-metre
he said. I guess I'm sort of used to it now, but it was quite strange to see
swingman selection for the Tall Blacks
myself on television at first.
for the first time and has Australian NBL teams calling. Patrick moved to Shanghai after visiting on a whim in 2012, falling in I had a feeling I was going to get a [Tall Blacks] trial but I didn't know,
love with the city, and deciding he wanted to learn Mandarin. I had that
in terms of selection, where I fitted in the picture," he said. "So I guess
instinct like so many other New Zealanders that I needed to get into the
this is a surprise but then again I had the opportunity to be successful
world and challenge myself and learn about other people, so I went to
individually and in a team this year, so that has some kind of merit
Shanghai for a short holiday and sort of fell in love with the city.
towards getting selected. The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS Happy to be home
He immersed himself in the culture, living with Chinese flatmates and taking two-hour Mandarin lessons seven days a week. His break in TV came after he returned to China after doing a short stint at an Auckland law firm that works with many Chinese clients. His
65
P
roud and exhausted after winning rugby's holy grail, Dane Coles (2004) is happy to
be back home.
Auckland boss suggested he go on the Chinese dating show Fei Cheng Wu Rao, known in English as If You Are the One, which has up to 50
He said it was ‘a great honour’ to
million viewers an episode.
represent his country at a world I didn't go on it to find a girlfriend ... It's powerful in terms of marketing
cup, and it felt like a dream when
effects, so we decided we'd try and go on and market our law firm in
he was out on the field after the
China, I thought it would be funny and silly.
final.
Despite being ‘very nervous’ about his Chinese language skills on the
The Hooker with the fastest feet
show, he regaled the girls with a guitar song and Chinese conversation,
played a key role in New Zealand's history making defence of the
and ended up winning a date. From there he was asked to be on a chat
Webb Ellis Cup in England. He started in all but one game and
panel of foreigners, where he busted out a Chinese translation of the
was a crucial part of the All Black's near perfect lineout, as well as
Flight of the Conchords song Jenny, about a case of mistaken identity,
proving dangerous with ball in hand.
on national television. After celebrating their victory, the team flew back to New Zealand That led him to be shoulder-tapped for a government-funded travel
to front three victory parades in three cities. We had a bit of a
show that took foreigners all around China and filmed their reactions,
celebration as well and we hadn't had much sleep before those
which he has just completed. It has given him the idea of doing
parades. But seeing everyone's reaction actually got us through
something similar with Chinese tourists in New Zealand.
I reckon. Seeing what it means to other people, it was awesome. Especially the Wellington one, just to see the turnout there was pretty humbling.
I'd love to do a travel show so we can introduce New Zealand to Chinese people in Chinese language. New Zealand and China have so much more to offer each other outside of trade. I hope more New Zealanders
The feeling of being a world champion was still sinking in. When
get over here and get more involved with China. I feel like there is so
you're over there you don't really think about it too much, you just get
much more to gain than going somewhere comfortable like London.
on with doing the job. But to have a few days to reflect, it was pretty
The Dominion Post
special to be there with an All Black team over the world cup, and to get the job done was just awesome.
Steps to success
B
With a history making world cup title to his name, the big question is what now? Going into Hurricanes season, hopefully we can be
orn in Invercargill, ballet dancer,
successful there.
Harry Skinner (2001-2002) trained under Paula Hunt in
Wellington and at the Australian Ballet School. He performed in the Australian Ballet’s productions of Don Quixote and Destiny. He joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2008 and his early roles included Peter’s Shadow in Peter Pan (2009) and Fritz in The Nutcracker (2010).
Victoria university’s sportsman of the year
T
hree Old Boys were part of the 56 Victoria University students honoured for excellence in the sporting arena at the 2015 Wellington Blues Awards.
Presented in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA),
2011 saw him feature in Verdi Variations and The Sleeping Beauty.
the Blues Awards are the highest sporting
Favourite roles in 2012 included 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini
accolade the University can give to students
and Balanchine’s Who Cares? and he caught critics’ eyes in Giselle at
who have brought credit to the institution
the end of 2012, with Theatreview reporting that ‘Maree White and
through their sporting achievements or contribution to sport.
Harry Skinner establish wonderful characters during the female and male ensembles.’ Recent roles include Mr Fezziwig in A Christmas
Science and commerce student James Blackwell (2008-2013) was
Carol (2014), Lorenzo in Don Quixote, Johan Kobborg’s Salute and
named the 2015 Victoria Sportsperson of the Year. In the past year,
Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a role which he performed at
James has represented New Zealand in the U20 Rugby team which
the world première in August 2015. Harry is studying extramurally
won the Junior Rugby World Cup in Italy and the Oceania U20 Rugby
for a degree in political science at Massey University.
Championship beating Japan, Australia and Samoa. He is currently a member of the Wellington Lions provincial rugby team. The Lampstand | 2015
66
IN THE NEWS
Also honoured were Liam Albery (2013) for Swimming, Felix Boyce (2009-2013) for Fencing, Oliver Logan (2010-2012) for Hockey, Tristan O’Neale (2007-2011) for Underwater Hockey and Brook Walker (20082012) for Rowing. James also won the Al Keown Memorial Cup, awarded to the best performed player in the 2015 Wellington Rugby Academy at the Wellington Rugby Union Awards. Former 1st XV team-mate, Northern United and Wellington Lions hooker Leni Apisai (2013), who collected James’s award last year, won the Most Promising Player of the Year Award at the awards. Leni made eight starts and one off the bench for the Lions this year
Pure Food founders Maia Royal, Sam Bridgewater and George Bridgewater aim to make food parcels tasty as well as nutritious.
and impressed with his high work-rate, abrasive play and developing
He was ill, and he needed quality nutrition but he was resorting to eating
ball playing skills. With a big future ahead of him, Leni is still available
scrambled eggs every night. He really needed a wide and varied diet,
for the New Zealand U20s in 2016.
said Sam, a former manager at Lloyds Banking Group.
Fencer out to make a point
Adds George: It was a big shock to our mum as she was thrust into a
A
caregiver role . . . She was spending up to 30 minutes extra just trying to
t the recent Commonwealth
prepare the meals for him, which often weren’t great. We thought, there
Fencing Junior and Cadet
has to be a solution, but, unfortunately, when we needed it the most,
Championships held in Cape
there was nothing available.
Town the team had the best results of any Junior Commonwealth event
Consultations with health services clinicians and aged care industry
NZ has attended.
representatives revealed that the family’s experiences were not unique. There are tens of thousands of New Zealanders affected by eating
Victoria University Blues recipient,
difficulties including stroke patients, people suffering from serious
Felix Boyce (2009-2013), the recipient
illnesses and a growing number of elderly, Sam said.
of three Bronze Medals, had a spectacular result, the best any
The Auckland-based firm’s meals come in flavours such as roast lamb
individual NZ fencer has had at a Commonwealth Junior event.
ragu, fish pie and roast chicken - designed to be like normal food, only blended and easily heated. The pouch meals were developed over an
Felix, seeded 19 after poules, placed 3rd= in Men’s Foil going out in a
18-month period, in part at the Food Innovation Network’s Food Bowl
hard fought semi-final against Kamal Minott (ENG) losing 15-9 . He then
facility near Auckland Airport.
got on the piste in the Men’s Epee and aced his poule, seeding third and reaching the semi-final to face Tomas Curran Jones (ENG) going
Pretty early in the piece we figured out it isn’t as easy as blending the
down in a close 15-12 defeat. Thirdly, as one of the anchors of the Men’s
meal, Sam said. One of the key things for us to ensure was that the
Foil Team, Felix helped the team effort to secure the Bronze Medal.
consistency was really safe. We had to ensure there were no lumps -
Smooth food operators
T
he rowing course on Lake Karapiro and the corporate finance sector are worlds away from the aged care industry.
But the plight of a sick family member pushed Olympic rowing Bronze medallist George Bridgewater (1996-2000) and his brother Sam (19982002) to launch a venture beyond their traditional skill-sets. The brothers and their business partner Maia Royal have founded the Pure Food Co, an enterprise producing fresh, preservative-free, soft and blended meals for people who have issues swallowing and eating. The idea is close to the Bridgewaters’ hearts - the pair had a frustrating experience watching their stepfather struggle with blended food during a serious illness.
which can be a choking hazard - and that there was no water splitting out from food. So we consulted with dietitians and speech language therapists who are specialists in swallowing difficulties. Creating nutritious, yet tasty food is an area of particular interest to George, who is currently in training for the 2016 Rio Games after a long break from rowing. As an athlete, I know how important good food is to helping people strive, but it has to taste great too - as much as I try to see food only as fuel, he said. The Pure Food Co sells direct through its online store, couriering its meals to their customers’ homes. As many of its clients are unable to drive, the business has put its energy into developing quick dispatch and delivery processes, rather than finding retail stockists. We were out there trialling it with people in their homes and they kept wanting more and more. It seemed pretty unfair to show something as an option and then say: ‘Sorry; it’s only a sample’.
The Lampstand | 2015
IN THE NEWS
67
Cutting edge research earns honour
The Pure Food Co is also in talks with aged care facilities about supplying multi-serve portions direct. Allan Sargeant, chief executive of Ambridge Rose Manor private hospital in east Auckland, is considering ordering from the Pure Food Co. Around 40 per cent of his residents are on soft diets. There was a gap in the market that these guys are ready to exploit, and it’s a good thing from my point of view, Sargeant said. A lot of our residents come to us at an end-of-life stage and they need some nutrition to keep them healthy. But blending food is really difficult, we have problems with lumps and you can never accurately tell what their calorie or protein intake is. The extensive development and trial period has been financially taxing on The Pure Food Co. In the early stages, received around $20,000 of “lifeblood” funding from Callaghan Innovation. The new business has fielded inquiries from customers in Australia and the United States, but it is concentrating on the New Zealand market for the time being. Although Sam and Maia run the day-to-day operations while George, who is based in Cambridge, focuses on his training, the athlete’s
T
he 2014 cohort of the Mechanical Engineering Honours programme
at Canterbury University’s Mechanical Engineering Department, held their graduation ceremony in April. Last year, as part of the final year programme, they completed cutting-edge research and development projects, sponsored by some of New Zealand’s most interesting companies. Among the Wellington College Class of 2014 was Tom Green (2006-2010). Tom’s research and development project involved analysing porous materials and fluid dynamics, using computer modelling and laboratory experiments. This work was part of an international
competitive spirit is pushing the company forward. George is great because he wants the very best, and that’s helped a lot with driving the
collaboration with the Technical University of Hamburg.
development, Sam said.
The University of Canterbury congratulated Tom for his outstanding
Rugby world cup - our OLD BOYS who played a part IN IT
research contributions, as well as for his hard work during the challenging four-year Mechanical Engineering Honours programme.
Kane Thompson
Will Helu
Dane Coles
TJ Ioane
Paula Kinikinilau
Samoa
Tonga
New Zealand
Samoa
Romania
Otago student part of winning team
A
n Otago University Business School team tasted
global success early in the year at the 26th Scotiabank International Business Case Competition hosted by Ivey
Business School at Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Share your news Wellington College Old Boys’ Association PO Box 16073, Wellington 6242 Tel: 04 802 2537 Email: oldboys@wc.school.nz
Otago tied for first place with National University of Singapore – the current world champions. Congratulations to team members Jeremy O’Connor, George Lill, Tim Saunders (20072011) and Chris Sadler (Medicine). Tim Saunders (Back Right) The Lampstand | 2015
68
IN THE NEWS
Near-death experience inspiration
S
even years after New Zealander
taken to hospital where scans confirmed a broken back. He was not paralysed, though he still suffers pain and upper body mobility has been impaired.
Mark Major (2000-2004), fell down a 9m-deep hole in Beijing
Rather than wallow in pity, Mark decided he would profit from his
and broke his back, he has turned
accident, and through his start-up company Broken Back Games
his near-death experience into a
produced a game.
tongue-in-cheek mobile game called, Plummet Free Fall, which has
In making the game, Mark wanted to inspire others to not
this month became the No 1 free
only overcome the twists of fate but also to realise their own
game in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
entrepreneurial ambitions.
Plummet Free Fall is now officially the favourite app in Belarus,
It is not hard in today’s world to build something like this, Mark said. All
bettering Facebook, Whatsapp, VK and Twitter.
you need is inspiration, vision and tenacity.
Mark explained his accident: I was interning in Beijing [in 2007]. One
Mark, an avid gamer, modelled his game on the successes of titles
night, I was walking to my local 7-Eleven and all of a sudden I found
such as Flappy Bird and Temple Run, with their sole objective of
myself free falling. About 7 metres down I crashed through a plank, which
achieving high scores. Plummet lets users assume a cartoon version
slowed me down. I believe to this day that the plank saved my life.
of Mark as he 'plummets' down an endless shaft, tilting the phone left and right to avoid obstacles and continue falling.
He was eventually hoisted out by firefighters and passersby, and
NZ Edge
Thanks, old boys
I
wish to thank the WCOBA for sponsoring me for a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity aboard the
Spirit of Adventure. Not only did this trip allow me to complete my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, it has also enabled me to see and experience things I never thought I would be able to do. I will admit, I’m not the best at leading, but I often found myself taking control of certain activities. For example, with our morning ritual of waking up at 6.00am, running around the ship, warming up on deck then finally swimming. I found myself in a unique position where I took control of the whole ship, and led a warm up routine. This was no ordinary routine
The whole idea of being on a large
as on the ship I was nick-named
vessel for ten days with nobody I
Panda. I ended up embracing this to create a Panda-themed warm
knew was something I never saw
up. Not only did this help break the ice, it also cheered up the people
myself doing. However it became one of the most enjoyable parts of
creating a sense of enjoyment for something usually frowned upon in
the voyage. I made many friends from all over the country with whom I
the early hours of the morning.
still actively communicate via social media.
I will always remember the numerous activities which I experienced
The whole trip was something never to forget, and I am left with
with my watch (Port B) - the most memorable being the ability to
incredible memories and friendships. I challenged my limits in areas
sail around in lugers which are small single sail boats. These boats
such as public speaking, leadership and physically trying new things. In
required co-operation from my whole watch, and after a few minutes
fact, I enjoyed it so much, that I look forward to going back as a leading
on our own we were able to sail around the glassy waters surrounding
hand to help aid the new trainees on board and make a journey for
the ship.
them to never forget. Logan Wiffen (Y13)
The Lampstand | 2015
WELLINGTON COLLEGE MEMORABILIA
69
e
Wellington Colleg
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COLLEG
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Wellington College BBQ Aprons: Great for the Summer BBQ's and Indoor Cooking
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Wellington College Boxer Shorts for the discerning male: Small/Medium/Large
$13.00
Wellington College Key Ring
$11.00
Wellington College Golf Towel
$15.00
Wellington College Scarf: Show your support along the sidelines.
$35.00
Wellington College Old Boys' Tie
$30.00
ORDERS CAN BE MADE ON THE ACCOMPANYING FEEDBACK FORM
YOUNG Wellington PILOT who MADE AUSTRALIAN AVIATION HISTORY
F
or a brief period in the 1900s, New Zealander Joseph Joel Hammond (1899) gave a small Australian suburb in Melbourne a significant place in the annals of aviation history.
Hammond, a young man with a passion for flying machines, came to the then rural Altona in 1911 with his Bristol Boxkite biplane, as the base for a series of thrilling airborne endeavours. In his first feat, in February 1911, Hammond took off from Altona, and landed in Geelong 55 minutes later. In doing so, he completed the first town-to-town flight in Australia. Three days later, the 20-year-old adventurer, described in a newspaper article at the time as a tall, clean-shaven, athletic-looking man, with fearless eyes, undertook the first powered passenger flight in Australia, taking his ever-obliging wife on a 12-minute journey in the skies above Melbourne – three years after the Wright brothers completed the same feat. Originally a farmer before the flying bug took hold, Hammond kept his biplane 'under a tent' in Pier St and legend has it his
promotional tour in Indianapolis, September 1918. No family ever came
first flight was delayed after the plane hit a cow during takeoff.
forward to collect his remains, which in a compassionate gesture were interred in the family plot of local businessman and co-founder of the
Joseph Joel 'Joe' Hammond was born in New Zealand in 1886 and flew
Indianapolis Speedway, Carl Fisher. It seems a sad but fitting grave for
with the RFC in WWI. Sadly this remarkable, yet often forgotten, New
this pioneer and adventurer.
Zealand aviator was killed when his plane crashed during a war bonds The Lampstand | 2015
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Obituaries
Class of 1931 Bade, David Laurence (Laurie) 1912-2014 of Kapiti Wellington College 1927-1929 WWII RNZAF, AFC Class of 1932 Wood, Robert McGregor (Bob) 1914-2015 of NSW, Australia Wellington College 1928-1930 WWII, Major, POW Class of 1935 McArthur, James William (Jim) 1918-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1931-1935 WWII RNZAF Class of 1936 Barber, Ian Alfred Bloomfield 1916-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1932-1934 WWII 2NZEF Coad, Allan Oliver 1919-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1932-1936 Class of 1937 Schirner-Bade, Lincoln Alfred 1920-2014 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1933-1935 Nees, Hugh 1920-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1933-1935 Parker, Keith Frederick 1920-2015 of Marlborough Wellington College 1933-1936 WWII Class of 1938 Mears, Ronald Ashton 1920-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1934-1936 Class of 1939 Bourne, Peter Edward 1922-2015 of Canterbury Wellington College 1935-1937 Craig, Lewis Thorne 1922-2015 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1935-1938 WWII S/LT, RNZN Crocket, Alexander McIntyre 1920-2014 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1937-1938 McCabe, Eric Desmond OBE 1922-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1935-1938 OBE (Military), WWII Sqn Leader RNZAF, Co#2 Squad Class of 1940 Alcorn, Armer Morris 1923-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1936-1940 Gray, David Randolph Chapman 1921-2014 of Wellington Wellington College 1936-1938 Healy, Eric Stanley 1923-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1936-1938 Luke, George MacDonald 1922-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1936-1939 Styles, Maxwell Roy 1922-2015 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1936-1937 W/O Class II, NZ Army The Lampstand | 2015
It is with deep regret that we record the passing of the following Old Boys and Staff. The Wellington College community extends their sympathy to their families. ď § = A full obituary is included on the following pages. Class of 1941 Bond, Stanley Frank 1923-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1937-1939 WWII Sgt. 20 Armoured Reg. NZEF Brown, Eric Hamblett 1923-2014 of Wellington Wellington College 1937-1938 Coulter, William Thomas (Bill) 1923-2012 of Horowhenua Wellington College 1937-1941 Evison, Henry Charles (Harry) 1924-2014 of Canterbury Wellington College 1937-1938 Heraud, Clifford Brian, QSM 1923-2015 of Waikato Wellington College 1937-1940 WWII Sime, William (Bill) Hutchison 1922-2015 of VIC, Australia Wellington College 1937-1938 Class of 1942 Barber, Richard Trevor 1925-2015 of Canterbury Wellington College 1938-1941 Firth House, 1st XI Cricket, 1st XV Matheson, Ian 1924-2015 of Waikato Wellington College 1938 McRobie, Bruce Marshall 1924-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1938-1941 WWII RNZN Pinel, Ian Francis 1924-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1939-1941 WWII RNZN Stratton, Alfred Edward (Ted) 1925-2015 of Taihape Wellington College 1938-1941 WWII RNZAF Sutton-Smith, Brian [Professor] 1924 -2015 of Vermont, USA Wellington College 1938-1940 Thornton, Royd Hale 1925-2015 of Nelson Wellington College 1938-1942 Class of 1943 Dasent, Wilfred Effingham (Bunt) 1926-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1939-1941 Jenkins, Bruce Grove 1926-2015 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1939-1942 MacDonald, Malcolm Charles PhD, BA, MCom 1927-2014 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1939-1943 Patterson, Alexander Whitelaw 1925-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1939-1943 1st XV 1943 Streeter, Geoffrey Rowland 1925-2015 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1939-1943 Class of 1944 Barr, Roy Oliver 1924-2015 of Horowhenua Wellington College 1940-1941 Doreen, Henri Laurance 1926-2015 of Horowhenua Wellington College 1940-1943
Gair, George Frederick CMG QSO 1926-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1940-1941 Gilchrist, Peter James Hayes 1927-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1940-1944 Hastings, Harold Edward 1927-2015 of Manawatu Wellington College 1940 WWII NZEF, J Force Josephson, Peter Andrew 1926-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1940-1943 1st XV 1942 WWII 16th Field Regiment Kernohan, Ronald Cameron 1926-2014 of Northland Wellington College 1940-1942 Class of 1945 Aburn, Gerald Stephen 1929-2014 of Kapiti Wellington College 1941-1945 1st XI Hockey Craig, John David 1927-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1940-1945 Prefect 1944, Head Prefect 1945 Murray, Colin Bruce 1948-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1941-1942 Class of 1946 Gapes, Donald Charles 1928-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1942-1946 Howe, John Clinton 1928-2014 of Wellington Wellington College 1942-1944 Pope, Rangi Herbert 1928-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1942-1946 1st XV 1946 Sherring, Erle John 1928-2015 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1942-1946 Young, Brian Oliver 1930-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1942-1946 Class of 1947 Cryer, Austin Hugh 1930-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1943-1947 1st XI Hockey Milburn, Philip Hastwell 1930-2014 of Canterbury Wellington College 1943-1947 Rich, John Charles 1919-2014 of Waikato Wellington College 1945 Tierney, Peter Edward 1930-2014 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1943-1947 1st XV 1947 Weston, Murray Geddis 1929-2015 of Calgary, Canada Wellington College 1943-1946 Class of 1948 Bruce, Allan William 1930-2015 of Queensland Wellington College 1944-1947 Dutton, Gilbert Walter 1930-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1944-1946
Ede, John Bernard, OBE 1931-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1944-1948 Fyfe, Peter McCoy 1931-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1944-1948 Griffiths, John Alexander 1930-2014 of Waikato Wellington College 1946-1947 1st XV 1947 Hammington, Colin Milton 1930-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1944-1946 Hunt, Warren Alfred, AE, JP, BE(Hons) 1931-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1944-1948 WWII Group Captain, RNZAF Macnab, Robert Lawrence (Bob) 1930-2014 of Wanganui Wellington College 1944-1947 Slater, William (Bill) McCarthy 1931-2015 of Toronto, Canada Wellington College 1944-1948 Townsley, Graeme Clifford 1931-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1944-1946 Class of 1949 Eastwood, Harry Roy 1931-2015 of Manawatu Wellington College 1945-1947 Jobson, Peter Joseph 1932-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1945-1949 1st XV 1949 Palmer, Arnold Edwin 1931-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1945-1946 Class of 1950 Beaglehole, Timothy Holmes 1933-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1946-1950 Prefect 1950 Burrell, Ian William 1932-2014 of Nelson Wellington College 1946-1950 Day, Nicholas Arthur (Nick) 1933-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1946-1947 Johnson, Joseph Frederick MNZM 1932-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1946-1950 Magner, Robert 1930-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1946-1947 Shepherd, John Leslie 1932-2015 of Taupo Wellington College 1946-1947 Young, William Graeme 1933-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1946-1948 Class of 1951 Clare, Barry Charles Ronald 1934-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1947-1952 Drysdale, Keith Woodward 1933-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1947-1950 Stuart, Alistair McGregor 1933-2015 of Wairarapa Wellington College
If you find we have missed a death and/or an obituary, please let us know and feel free to submit any recollections you may have. Turner, Terence Stephen 1933-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1947-1950 Firth House Wilson, Ian Thomas 1933-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1947 Class of 1952 Hill, Cyril Allan 1933-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1948 Korea: Sgt 16th Field Regiment Lockhart, Simon Grant, QC 1934-2015 of Auckland Wellington College: 1949-1952 Prefect/Firth House Prefect, 1st XV 1951-52 Poynter, James Benjamin Roberts 1934-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1948-1951 Class of 1953 Craig, Peter Earle 1934-2015 of Horowhenua Wellington College 1949-1952 Dunn, Murray Lawrence MPS 1934-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1949-1953 Prefect 1954 NZ Table Tennis Rep Marple, David Rex 1934-2015 of Poverty Bay Wellington College 1949-1952 Reynolds, Richard Allen 1936-2014 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1949-1953 Watchman, Keith John 1934-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1949-1952 Firth House Class of 1954 Davies, Cuthbert Malcolm 1935-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1950-1953 Hoare, Graham Owen 1937-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1950-1952 Firth House MacLeod, Kenneth Donald 1936-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1950-1952 Class of 1955 Amoore, Ian Norman 1939-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1951-1954 Arthurs, Terrence (Terry) 1938-2015 of Wairarapa Wellington College 1951-1954 RNZN Commander Henare, David Wynyard (Maui) 1937-2014 of Wellington Wellington College 1951-1954 1st XI Football Oliver, Kenneth Charles 1937-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1951-1953 RNZAF/RAF Thomas, David Clemens 1937-3015 of Wellington Wellington College 1951-1955
Class of 1956 Beyer, Colin Andrew 1931-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1952-1955 Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland Bryant, Leonard James 1939-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1952-1954 Gault, Thomas Munro KNZM, QC, Right Hon. 1938-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1952-1955 Class of 1957 Hughes, Trevor William 1938-2014 of Wanganui Wellington College 1953-1954 Class of 1958 Allan, James Alexander (Jim) 1940-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1954-1957 Dudfield, Harry William 1939-2015 of NSW, Australia Wellington College 1954-1957 Ellison, Ross Garner 1941-2015 of Bay of Plenty Wellington College 1954-1956 Kearsley, Michael Joseph 1939-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1954-1956 Mahon, Peter Stewart 1940-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1954-1958 Prefect, 1st XV 1958 Tukaroa, Taura Atua O Te Maka 1939-2105 of Horowhenua Wellington College 1954-1957 Uttley, Ian Neill 1941-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1954-1959 1st XV 1958-1959, HP 1959, All Black 1963 Wilson, Robert Alexander John (Bob) 1941-2014 of Wairarapa Wellington College 1956-1957 Class of 1959 Baker, Edric Sargisson (Dr) 1941-2015 of Bangladesh Wellington College 1955-1959 Wylie, Graeme Dallas (Squid) 1939-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1955-1956 Class of 1960 McGregor, Peter Stewart 1942-2014 of NSW, Australia Wellington College 1956-1959 Wilson, Keith Stuart 1943-2014 of Wellington Wellington College 1956-1960 Class of 1961 Hudson, Alan Robert 1943-2014 of Auckland Wellington College 1957-1958 Class of 1962 Atkins, Francis John 1944-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1958-1961 Firth House
Bell, John Culford 1945-2015 of Wairarapa Wellington College 1958-1962 Halley, Douglas Jock 1944-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1958-1962 1st XV 1961-1962, Prefect MacLeod, Peter Murray 1944-2015 of Canterbury Wellington College 1958-1959 Class of 1963 Jaynes, John Charles 1945-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1959-1960 Wilton, John Robert 1945-2015 of Queensland Wellington College 1959-1963 Class of 1964 Brabin, Lloyd Graham 1946-2015 of Canterbury Wellington College 1960-1963 Horsley, John Mervyn 1946-2015 of NSW, Australia Wellington College 1960-1964 Marshall, John Livingston CNZM 1946-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1960-1964 Head Prefect 1964 Perry, Geoffrey Huntley Gordon 1947-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1960-1964 Class of 1965 August, Graham Allen 1947-2015 of Horowhenua Wellington College 1961-1962 Class of 1966 Faye, Daniel Guthrie 1948-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1962 Hough, Colin John (Huffy) 1948-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1962-1965 Morrison, Bruce Arnott (Chips) 1948-2015 of Hawke's Bay Wellington College 1962-1966 Firth House Prefect. 1st XV Class of 1967 Spackman, William Rodney 1949-2015 of Otago Wellington College 1963-1966 Class of 1970 King, Alexander Stuart (Sandy) 1952-2015 of Hong Kong Wellington College 1966-1970 Class of 1971 Conway, Peter Lindsay 1953-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1970-1971 Class of 1973 Elmes, Gary James 1956-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1969-1971 Class of 1975 Walter, Erin John 1958-2015 of Kapiti Wellington College 1971-1975
Obituaries
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Class of 1977 Hennessy, Sean Patrick 1959-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1973 Meek, Stephen Eric 1960-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1973-1975 Class of 1978 Drakeford, Mark Peter 1960-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1974-1978 Jenkins, Christopher Edward 1960-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1974-1978 Class of 1982 Coldham, Geoffrey James MB, ChB, FRACS 1964-2015 of Auckland Wellington College 1978-1982 Deputy Head Prefect 1st XI Hockey & 1st XI Cricket Class of 1983 Launder, Timothy Ian 1966-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1979-1983 Class of 1986 Pearce, Matthew John Webster 1968-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1982-1986 Class of 1988 Salesa, John Teve Utufiti 1971-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1984-1989 Class of 1994 Moananu, Misiluni 1977-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1990-1995 1st XV 1994/95, Prefect 1994/95 Class of 1998 Atack, Samuel Alexander 1980-2015 of Wellington Wellington College 1998 Staff Buchanan, Hugh Duncan Wellington College 1979-1982 Craig, John David Wellington College 1957-1958 and 1962-1968 Greenlees, William Francis Wellington College 1964-1965 Hunter, Roger Herbert Ingram Wellington College 1958-1959 MacGillivray, Ian Wellington College 1969-1972 Murphy, David James (Dave) Wellington College 1987-2000 Thomas, Graham Edwin Wellington College 1964-1978 Obituaries and tributes have been compiled by classmates; while others originate from published obituaries. Where possible, an obituary's authorship or source of previous publication is noted. If you wish to add an obituary or tribute to someone deceased, please contact oldboys@ wc.school.nz The Lampstand | 2015
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Obituaries
IAN AMOORE Wellington College: 1951-1954
I
an Amoore was born and educated in Wellington, although his family had links with Taranaki. He moved to Australia for vet training then went into the Vet Service, in Helensville in 1970. Ian and his wife Jan had three sons. The family moved to Ohirangi in 1980 and Ian set up in private practice. He worked with the deer industry locally, nationally and internationally in a practical and advisory role, travelling as far afield as Malaysia, Indonesia and Canada. Ian was involved in community affairs. He had been Assistant District Commissioner of Scouts, before moving to Helensville. In Helensville, he belonged to the Presbyterian Church, the Lions Club and the Historical Society. He also served on the Borough Council. Ian was a dedicated Lion, holding various offices, including President in 1971-72, and was later presented with a prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Ian played a key role in the Historical Society, in the transfer of the Museum to the River Reserve. Ian served as President from 2002-07. Ian and Jan moved to Green Bay in 2010, but remained as interested members. Gardening was a passion for both Jan and Ian, and they built a beautiful and productive garden and orchard at Ohirangi. Fishing and boating were also major recreations for the family and their friends. LAURIE BADE Wellington College: 1927-1929 The 2013 Lampstand featured Laurie Bade who earlier that year, celebrated his 100th birthday. Just five days short of his 102nd birthday, Laurie passed away. The following are excerpts from that story.
W
hen Laurie Bade celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends in January 2013, he must have remembered the dramatic moments in March, 1945 when he cheated death. Flight Lieutenant Bade, who joined the RNZAF as a mature pilot, spent many hours flying Douglas transport aircraft between New Zealand and the Solomon Islands and was also a flight instructor at Whenuapai, training the later echelons of young pilots for combat The Lampstand | 2015
in the final stages of WWII. On the day in question, for some reason unresolved even by a Board of Inquiry, the C-47 Douglas Dakota NZ3501 was in collision mid-air with a Ventura NZ4518, shearing off half the port wing, about 14 feet of it. Laurie managed to bring the crippled plane and all its five crewmen safely back, landing at Whenuapai in Auckland. The pilot of the Ventura unfortunately perished with his plane but he had kept it aloft long enough for all his crew to parachute to safety.
EDRIC BAKER Wellington College: 1955-1959 The 2012 Lampstand featured a story on Dr Edric Baker – New Zealand’s own Mother Theresa. Sadly, in September this year, Edric passed away.
E
dric Baker was an inspirational New Zealand medical doctor who worked in an isolated rural area in northern Bangladesh for 35 years.
Laurie was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1945. The citation reads 'Flight Lieutenant Bade] is an outstanding captain of transport aircraft who had a sound reputation as an extremely steady, devoted and reliable pilot'. But that was before the accident, Laurie remarked.
His vision of ‘health care for the poor by the poor’ led him to set up of the Kailakuri Health Centre. The centre provided care for the poor free of charge, regardless of creed or race. His colleagues and friends at the Kailakuri Health Care Project in Bangladesh provided the following obituary.
Of the three boys and three girls in the Bade family, all but one survived into their 90s. Laurie had three children, Ian (1955-1959), Keith and Catherine and five grand-children and two great-grand-children.
As Edric slipped away from us, he was surrounded by people he loved and who loved him. Over the last few days he had been having a rough time with breathing but none of us here expected his passing so soon.
Laurie (we believe at his death) was the oldest member of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association. When he attended Wellington College, he proved himself on the sports field as a ‘good all-round athlete’, said Laurie’s nephew, Roger Booth (1958-1962), Deputy Mayor of Kapiti Coast District Council. Asked what he thought contributed to making him a centenarian, Laurie replied old age.
Late last year, he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, an incurable illness. Right up until the last hour he was giving orders and making phone calls. That was just like Dr Bai (Dr Brother). The word ‘retire’ was not in his vocabulary. Within half an hour of his passing, his room became full of caring people who he had helped over the years. As we started to make calls around, not only Bangladesh but the world, the news spread and more and more people filled our compound and telephoned promising to be on the next bus to come and pay their respects.
Laurie was born in Berhampore, went to Berhampore then Island Bay schools - from the latter gaining a matriculation to Wellington College which he attended from 1927-1929. He then went to work for Hope Gibbons (bicycle importers) in Taranaki Street until early 1940 when he went into the RNZAF. Laurie returned to Hope Gibbons after the war, then shortly shifted to MacDuffs (later to become Woolworths) before setting up his own importing/wholesale business in the early 1950s which he ran until he was about 80. Laurie was a representative sportsman, representing Wellington in Athletics, Hockey and Harriers. He also played representative Rugby and Basketball in the Airforce. Laurie and his wife built a house in Tawa in 1949 and lived there until a few years ago, Mrs Bade passed away in 1996.
It is hard to explain how he was loved and respected. Local Mandi women sang songs, people read from the Koran, others wept, and others stood silently keeping a vigil. Up until his burial, he was still surrounded by those he loved and who loved him. People came from all over Bangladesh. Some arrived in the night and most refused beds offered to them for rest but preferred to tell stories of their time with Edric late into the night. Even in death, he managed to bring different communities and cultures together. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, rich, poor, Bangladeshi and Badashees (foreigner) all who worked side by side to fulfil his final wishes. By the evening, he was laid out on a table in our waiting room. Hundreds of people came to give their goodbyes and show their
appreciation. By the morning, many visitors and staff had not slept but no one minded and work began early. By 10.00am, the whole compound was full of people. He was laid in his coffin and carried to the church (which doubles as a school) beside our Hospital. As the service was progressing, hundreds waited outside and then followed his casket back to his house. He had made it clear to the staff he wanted to be buried out the back of his house underneath his veranda. As Edric was being laid to rest, two lines of people formed surrounding his house and extended all the way out to the road. Slowly everybody gave their final farewells and each person sprinkled earth over his grave. At the end of the day, the staff were happy that they were able to fulfil two out of three of Edric’s final wishes. His first wish was to take his last breath at Kailakuri. His second wish was that he be buried here at the Kailakuri Health Care Centre. His third wish was that the hospital continue to stay open and operational long into the future. His last wish will never be completed without the help of you. May Dr Edric Baker rest in peace and rise in glory. From all of us here at Kailakuri. TREVOR BARBER Wellington College:1938-1941
T
revor Barber, the New Zealand batsman who played one Test match at the Basin Reserve in 1956, died in Christchurch at the age of 90. Trevor had been New Zealand's oldest living test cricketer. The oldest now is his former Wellington team-mate and the man who captained Trevor in his only Test match, the 87-year-old John Reid. A dashing batsman who liked playing his shots, Trevor was called up for the third Test against West Indies in 1956 when Bert Sutcliffe was unavailable due to ill-health. West Indies batted first and Trevor had the distinction of catching out Garry Sobers while fielding at gully, in what was the first wicket of the match. It was going past and I threw my hands up - I was a bit of a show-off, Trevor told ESPNcricinfo. John Reid was bowling and he said that's a nice way to start your career. However, with the bat he was
Obituaries unable to have a great enough impact to retain his place in the side, and was out to Sonny Ramadhin in both innings, for 12 and then 5. Trevor's attacking approach to batting would perhaps have suited the modern game, but against West Indies it brought his downfall in both innings of his Test match.
After his playing career ended, Trevor worked with the Shell Oil Company and was responsible for its sponsorship of sporting events including the New Zealand Golf Open and the domestic cricket competition, which became known as the Shell Trophy. It continued a lifelong love he had for cricket.
TIMOTHY BEAGLEHOLE Wellington College: 1946-1950
Today I might have got away with it, Trevor said. But I went for sweeps to the leg side off short balls in both innings. My understanding as a Captain and also as a batsman was that the first thing you'd do when you go out there is dominate the bowlers. Don't let the bowlers get on top of you. Get behind the line of flight, bat straight, and when they bowl one off the wicket, give it a go. I did that and I got bloody caught at square leg.
I still follow it with interest, Trevor said earlier in 2015. It's just amazing how much the game has changed from my time. We only played Test cricket and Plunket Shield. Now there's T20 and 50-over, it's bash and slash. It might have suited me. When you see blokes like McCullum and Williamson doing so well, it's marvellous.
His connection to Victoria University was long and deep; it began as a young student, continued through his academic career, and finished with a spell as Chancellor, a figurehead of the institution.
Fellow Old Boy, Trevor MacKay (1954-1957) also offered his memories of Trevor.
His best-known work was perhaps his 2006 biography of his father, John Cawte Beaglehole (1914-1917), entitled A life of JC Beaglehole: New Zealand Scholar. The elder Beaglehole was lauded internationally for his work on the journals and life of Captain Cook; father and son spent six years as colleagues in Victoria's History Department.
Trevor was 30 at the time of his Test appearance, and was Captain of Wellington in the Plunket Shield competition. His first-class career began in 1945-46 and finished in 1959-60, but it brought him only one century, and 2002 runs at an average of 23.01. Contemporary reports describe him as ‘a swashbuckler’ who, especially early in his career, was more concerned with the joy of batsmanship than playing long innings. Trevor captained Wellington to the Plunket Shield title in 1956-57 and also led Central Districts later in his career. A part-time wicket-keeper who enjoyed assessing a batsman's weaknesses, Trevor said captaincy was one of the parts of the game he found most satisfying. It's lovely to have some control of the game, and also the players, he said. I used to have quite a number of discussions with the players before we'd go out and play. I'd say this player has a weakness here, I want you Bob Blair to bowl on a length just outside his leg stumps, and I reckon we can get him. I always remember on one occasion down at Dunedin, I said to John Reid, who was bowling to Sutcliffe, I said 'I think he's got a weakness on the leg glance, I'm going to field at leg gully and you bowl down leg'. We got him for a duck! It's those little things that bring satisfaction. Born in Otaki in 1925, Trevor was raised on a dairy farm and learnt the game from his father. At Wellington College, Trevor was a boarder in Firth House, and was a Prefect in his final year. His 1941 1st XI Cricket statistics saw him produce 269 runs. His highest score was 56 n.o. His average run-rate was 19 from 15 innings. Over winter, Trevor also played rugby and was a member of the 1st XV in his final year.
A recent issue of The Lampstand brought back pleasant memories of a talented sportsman and popular leader who has since passed on. Trevor also appeared as a member of the tennis team at the College, emphasising his all-round qualities as a sportsman. He was also a rugby player. Trevor Barber was ‘Mr Barber’ when I met him as a new neighbour in Ngaio. He was a kindly man, happy to discuss and to develop my interest in cricket. He played cricket in our backyard, took me to Plunket Shield games and, on a memorable day at Eden Park, while I was on holiday, introduced me to the Wellington team before the start of play in a Shield Match, by which time I was an undistinguished student at the College. Mr Barber excelled in both innings in that match in the course of a strong batting season and that double could have put him in line for national selection.
T
im Beaglehole was an historian, university administrator and scion of a famous New Zealand family of scholars.
He made a particular mark on Victoria with his intensive efforts to develop its art collection.
Tim was born on the banks of the Hutt River, into a happy home with a small vegetable plot and limited means. With the country deep in depression, his father flirted with communist ideas – and joked to a friend that Timothy Norman Lenin Marx John Sebastian for the boy's name, he told a friend. In fact, he was named 'Timothy Holmes'. Shortly afterwards, the Beagleholes moved to Messines Rd, Karori, a house that would become the family's enduring centre of gravity. After JC Beaglehole died in 1971, Tim and his wife Helen moved in and lived there decades longer. It remains the family home.
Trevor played some matchwinning hands as a Wellington and Wellington College Old Boys’ Skipper. He scored 250-plus in one club innings and there was a gamechanging second innings of 86 not out against a strong Hutt Valley side, when that team had players such as John Reid and Bob Blair.
As a boy, Tim was much influenced by this environment – with its piles of books and Bach preludes in the mornings, its Japanese prints lining the walls, and the generous hospitality his parents showered upon a revolving cast of visitors. He took up all of these strands in his own life.
Trevor’s qualities as a leader meant that, when he transferred to Napier with the oil company, he also led Central Districts in first class cricket, in which he was also an effective close fieldsman and, if required, able to keep wickets.
After attending Karori Normal School and Wellington College, Tim followed his father into studying history at Victoria, graduating with a BA in 1965 and an MA two years later. He then went to Cambridge University, where he wrote his doctorate on Thomas Munro, a British governor in colonial India. (Published as a book in 1966, and reissued by Cambridge University Press in 2010, it remains a classic work in Indian history).
In his last first class innings, against an Otago attack led by Frank Cameron, Trevor signed off in typical fashion. He opened the batting and his 50 included 10 fours and a six.
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Back at Victoria from 1960, he taught Indian and New Zealand history, and later, when his father died, saw his near-finished Cook biography through to publication. JC Beaglehole was not the only other academic in the family; Tim's uncle Ernest (1920-1923) was the first Professor of Psychology in New Zealand and his cousin David (19511954) a Physics Professor at Victoria. In 1964, Tim took a role as warden at Weir House, where he was charged with sorting out the allmale student hall after a string of drunken incidents. (The tabloid Truth had described the hostel as a den of iniquity, a hotbed of squalor, vandalism, drunkenness and naked women in the showers. Rather than taking a disciplinarian approach, friend David Mackay remembers, Tim let the students do what they liked 'as long as they were reasonably civilised about it'. The problems settled down. Around the same time, he met his future wife Helen, after befriending her brother at the hostel. She is the woman I'm going to marry, he told a friend. He was 33 and she was 19. While he enjoyed teaching, he published two books and many journal articles during his scholarly career, Tim left an equal mark on Victoria in other ways. The university's significant art holdings owe more to him than to anyone else. He helped grow a modest staff-funded arrangement into a major collection. His eye for paintings led him to such works as Colin McCahon's monumental Gate III, well-known to any student at Victoria's Kelburn campus. Tim’s colleagues and family remember him wandering the university with hammer in hand, or perched on precarious angles, rehanging the paintings. And he was passionate in the collection's defence. In 1997, when Education Minister Wyatt Creech suggested that Victoria sell it, Tim responded that he would hate to think the Minister is a philistine or barbarian, but that's what his comment suggests. Tim's other major contribution at Victoria was to the university's administration. Beginning in the 1980s, he had something of a crisis of confidence about the finer distinctions of grading student work, his wife Helen recalls. Instead, he took on a sequence of management roles. As well as chairing the History Department, he was a Dean of the Arts Faculty and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria. He believed deeply in the university The Lampstand | 2015
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Obituaries
and had a talent for running things: for moving meetings along, and listening to a wide range of people. He was made an Emeritus Professor in 1995 after his retirement - but he was more proud of the lifetime membership granted to him by Victoria's Student Association. More recently, the University named a new courtyard after him. Even in his final role as University Chancellor, he saw something of the students; the job meant passing fee increases, which often attracted rowdy protests. Tim regretted the hikes but saw no other option, with government funding tight. Every year the university council is caught in an intolerable position, he said in 2006. Tim held other public roles too. He was chairman of the Historic Places Trust from 1990 to 1996, and earlier served on the boards of the National Art Gallery and Volunteer Service Abroad. More recently, he was a member of the Press Council, which rules on complaints about the print media. Privately, Tim had many passions. He was a physical man who loved sailing the family yacht Cape Resolution, and once built a dinghy by hand in his backyard. He was a fine runner in his youth and a keen tramper. He was just as much a bon vivant too - a lover of wine, fine food and lively dinner parties. Some of his Christmas dinners featured as many as ten courses, each with a matching wine. He leaned Left politically, and took pleasure in putting a Labour Party placard up on Messines Road, not one of the most liberal of streets, as his wife Helen notes. And he made sure to stuff two of any leaflet he was delivering into the nearby letterbox of Finance Minister, Hon. Bill English. Tim spent much of his retirement on two books about his father – the 2006 biography, which was published to acclaim and nominated for the New Zealand Book Awards, and a follow-up compilation of JC Beaglehole's letters. He called his father's work on Cook one of the great achievements of twentieth-century historical scholarship, praised his extraordinary capacity for concentration, and recalled his own straightforward, if slightly remote, relationship with him. The younger Beaglehole had the same passion for detail, whether in getting the grammar of a sentence The Lampstand | 2015
right or working a piece of wood. He loved people and gossip. He read trashy books as well as intellectual works. (His daughter recalled him poring over Andrew Morton's biography of Princess Diana). His family describe him as a devoted husband and father who approached life with tolerance, good humour and gusto. The Dominion Post JOHN BELL Wellington College: 1958-1962
J
ohn Bell was born in Wellington in 1945 and attended Wadestown Primary School, then Wellington College where he achieved UE in 1961 and University Bursary in 1962. Excelling in Mathematics, he won an Edward Espy Martin Prize for Mathematics and a Stanley Hutchen Prize for Sixth Form Science and for Additional Mathematics in 1961. After an Engineering Intermediate year at Victoria University, John attended Canterbury University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honours in 1966, and, after a remarkably short period of about two and a half years, a PhD. His PhD thesis was on the post-elastic analysis of thin concrete shells (curved, often in two directions, and used as a roof) with allowance for cracking. This required John to develop what was in those days very sophisticated software on very large computers. John then joined IBM as a Marketing Representative in Dunedin and was subsequently promoted to roles in Wellington and then to Auckland as Auckland Branch Manager. John left IBM in the early 1980s, and, after a brief period, helped with the development and use of technology in corporate and financial controls of consulting engineers BECA, John took a position as Managing Director of Fujitsu NZ Ltd. He had become an intelligent and respected business manager who maintained a considerate and friendly approach to everyone at all times. John joined Telecom (NZ) Ltd in 1996 as General Manager Business Development, reporting directly to Chief Executive Roderick Deane. He led a small team of business development specialists who evaluated the expansion into business activities
beyond the scope of traditional telecommunications, including tackling the Australian market and increasing the skill sets of Telecom through strategic acquisitions and partnerships with IT and media providers. The objective was to create shareholder value at a time when the convergence of telecommunications, information technology and the entertainment sectors was becoming apparent. During this period Telecom was growing its internet business through Xtra which and entered the cable TV business for a short time with First Media. John was deeply involved in the acquisition of AAPT in Australia, the winning of a contract with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to manage its telecommunication and IT needs, the acquisition of a shareholding in EDS NZ Ltd and the formation of the partnership to build and own the Southern Cross Cable. John was also involved in the management of a number of noncore businesses such as Telecom Directories and Pacific Star based in Brisbane. John married Robyn Fox in 1967 and their two children Jimmy and Pamela now live in Wellington with their spouses and young families. Jimmy followed his father’s footsteps to Wellington College, attending there from 1988 to 1992. John and Robyn developed a love of skiing while at Canterbury University, joining the University Ski Club and making great use of the facilities through their undergraduate and graduate years. Once old enough, the rest of the family caught the ski bug and the Bells maximised their time at their ski house in Rangataua (Ohakune) and subsequently in NZ summers at northern hemisphere ski resorts including Solitude and Brighton in Salt Lake City, Utah. When snowboarding was introduced to the country, they were early adopters. Pamela went on to represent NZ in snowboarding at a Giant Slalom at the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. In the 1990s, John bought a block of land in Martinborough, and in his spare time he developed a vineyard, enjoying working in the weekends and in any other 'spare' time. The love of this lifestyle grew and before long John and his second wife, Kaye McAulay, whom he married in 1996, had developed an organic and biodynamic vineyard producing their own label quality wines, 'Vynfields' As in his business life, John applied his intellect to the challenge, in this case the research
and development of organic wine, contributing greatly to the organic foods national body, BioGro, and the bio-dynamic equivalent, Demeter, as well as to the wine community in Martinborough. John’s executive and governance skills were in demand in the Wairarapa, where he was appointed Chairman of Destination Wairarapa, which he restructured, improved governance and put on a stronger financial footing. As Chairman of The Wairarapa Winegrowers, he brought improved governance to the organisation as well. John retired from Telecom in 2002 and worked full-time in the vineyard and winery, travelling internationally at first to establish the brand as a reliable quality wine. The Vynfields platters and wine sales became a famous quality experience in Martinborough with John and Kaye as excellent hosts. John always enjoyed a broad intellectual interest and studied diverse subjects such as philosophy, Japanese culture, Buddhism and other religions, classical guitar music, chamber music and Bob Dylan. He attended the Class of ‘1962 50 Years On Reunion at the College in 2012. Unfortunately after John had battled cancer for some years, his condition deteriorated and he and Kaye sold the vineyard in 2013 and moved into the township of Martinborough. John was always one of nature’s gentlemen - from his school days through his illustrious business career and as an active participant in Martinborough’s wine community. A glass or two of quality pinot would be a fitting tribute in remembrance! Written by Ian Fraser (1959-1962), with help from John’s family and friends COLIN BEYER Wellington College: 1952-1955
C
olin Beyer was a prominent lawyer who was a senior partner then consultant with Simpson Grierson in Wellington. He was a businessman with many governance positions. Colin was born in New Zealand in 1938 to Danish parents, Knud and Carla Beyer. His father worked on the wharves in Wellington and his mother worked for the Agriculture Department. Together with his older brother Trevor [1950-1953] and his sister Olga, they lived in Island Bay.
Obituaries Both brothers attended Wellington College. As Trevor recently said, Colin and he weren't just brothers, they were also the best of friends.
Colin leaves behind his wife Faith. He had four children and four step children [from three marriages], four of whom are College alumni.
Colin went on to Victoria University of Wellington. He graduated with LL.B. and was admitted to the bar in 1962. He was one of the first legal graduates to establish his own practice, rather than join a large firm – his early clients included fellow Old Boy, Sir Ron Brierley and Sir Robert Jones. Colin was also an inaugural director with Brierley Investments Limited when Sir Ron established his company.
ALLAN BRUCE Wellington College: 1944-1947
As Colin’s practice expanded, the company became Beyer Christie and Co and in due course, merged with Simpson Grierson. His specialities were corporate law and mining law and with his wise counsel and sage advice, he was fondly known as the patriarch of the company. Colin also had considerable governance experience. He was made a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors in 2006. He was Chairman of the Accident Compensation Corporation, Government Property Services Ltd., Capital Properties New Zealand Ltd, Tower Ltd and Summit Resources Ltd, and a director of Capital Power Ltd and TrustPower Ltd. He was also a ministerial appointee on the Wellington Area Health Board and the Wellington Polytechnic Board. Colin was also Chairman of the Tower Corporation from 1990 until his resignation in 2003. He was appointed to the Securities Commission in February 2001 for a four-year term. In early 2005, he was reappointed for a second fiveyear term by the then Commerce Minister, Pete Hodgson and retired in 2010. In the 1970s, while living in Camborne, Colin spent some time on the Porirua City Council first as an independent and later as a Labour Party representative. He was also the Campaign Manager for Margaret Shields when she ran for the Kapiti electorate in the early 1980s. During his time as a Porirua City Councillor, he was widely respected for his sound judgement and a broad knowledge and understanding of the complex range of issues the City was dealing with and was a champion of those less fortunate. He was the Honorary ConsulGeneral of Finland from 1993 and by 2006, the Dean of the Consular Corps in Wellington.
F
ormer Chief Fire Officer [South Auckland] Allan Bruce and his wife Anne passed away following a road accident at Palmview on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in March 2015. Allan and Anne lived in retirement at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Alan joined the Wellington Fire Brigade, New Zealand, in 1947, before joining the London Fire Brigade in 1954. In 1957 he returned to New Zealand to take up the role of Senior Instructor at the National Fire Training School. He then shifted to Auckland, rising to become Auckland Region Fire Force Commander in 1977. In 1982 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer/Chief Fire Officer of South Australia's Metropolitan Fire Services until retiring from active service in 1989. His 2009 book Into The Line of Fire is regarded as the textbook of New Zealand Fire Brigades history between the tumultuous years of 1947 to 2009. Alan was also one of NZs first global sporting exports - as a pioneering basketballer. He was a founding member and Captain of the international squad formed in the 1950s, [now known as the Tall Blacks]. He played from 1949-1953 and captained the team in 1957 and 1958; retiring in 1959. Allan also played for the English Basketball team in 1954 - 1956. He played 16 internationals which included the 1955 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary and was the Captain in 1956. Allan spent several weeks in New Zealand last year visiting old basketball friends as part of his research for a book he was writing about the early years of the 'Tall Blacks'. He was a much respected man in the basketball and fire service community and will be dearly missed. GEOFFREY COLDHAM Wellington College: 1978-1982
G
eoff Coldham was born in Western Samoa, the youngest child of Richard and Mary Coldham. Geoff
attended Ngaio Primary School, Raroa Intermediate and Wellington College where he was Deputy Head Prefect in his final year. He enjoyed school and particularly sport which included Athletics, Badminton and Golf but also saw his selection into the College Hockey 1st XI as a 3rd former and the Cricket 1st XI. He later represented Auckland and played Hockey for the NZ University Team in Australia. His school years at Wellington College set the foundation for a successful and rewarding medical career. Geoff achieved excellence as an all-rounder in his academic and sporting pursuits and his name can be seen on the Honours Board at the College. Geoff was always keen to recognise the College for giving him a great start in life and thus contributed to the College’s Annual Giving programme. After leaving Wellington College, Geoff commenced a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at the University of Auckland before being accepted into Auckland Medical School. Geoff completed his house surgeon years in Hamilton and Auckland before being accepted into the orthopaedic training scheme in 1993. Spinal surgery was Geoff’s passion and he was well suited to this. Along with his enthusiasm, organisational skills, attention to detail, and sharp intellect, combined with the coordination and great hands one would expect from a skilled sportsman meant he was truly the complete surgeon. He spent the last 25 years at Middlemore Hospital, 15 of those as a very dedicated surgeon, developing highly specialised skills in spinal surgery. Geoff was a leader not just by example but also by being very inclusive, engendering great loyalty and becoming a vital part of everyone’s life. He was a keen member of the NZ Orthopaedic Association Education Committee and was heavily involved in the selection and nurturing of younger surgical talent. Geoff was a foundation member of the NZ Spine Society, filling the roles of Secretary and President. He is recognised internationally as a skilled and experienced surgeon in complex spinal surgery and has bridged the world’s geographical distances, successfully bringing the international spinal community closer. He was responsible for creating the inaugural joint meeting of the NZ, Australian and Canadian spine societies. Geoff achieved much in a life that was too short. He will be remembered for his practical,
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enthusiastic, empathetic and committed approach on so many fronts. Geoff is survived by his wife Diana and children Hunter and Madison. He touched the lives of so many and will be fondly remembered by all. Scott Arrell (1978-1982) PETER CONWAY Wellington College: 1970-1971
P
eter Conway, who died in June after a 14-month battle with a serious depressive illness, said he was soft on people, hard on issues and that is how he led his life. During a lifetime devoted to workers' rights, the Labour movement and such organisations as Young Christian Students, Youthline, Beneficiaries Union, Nicaragua Must Survive, Oxfam and UnionAid, he was at the coalface of many major battles. He protested against the Vietnam War and the 1981 Springbok tour. He was a member of the Clothing Workers Union, the Distribution Workers Federation (later the Northern Distribution Union) and, from 1999, the Council of Trade Unions (CTU). Unlike some unionists, he remained on relatively good terms with those he was negotiating with. His calm, common sense logic and gentle manner, plus his intellectual ability (he gained an MA in Economics in 1999), made him a formidable opponent. Peter had three years at Christchurch Boys' High School, and then attended Wellington College, where he was a Prefect. Soon after leaving College, he met Liz Riddiford, daughter of Dan Riddiford, a Cabinet Minister in the Holyoake National Government. It was an interesting mix, the left-wing young man with strong convictions (wearing an Amnesty bracelet engraved with 'Free all Viet Cong prisoners') and the conservative Catholic family. Peter was an unusual mixture. He had a lifelong love of music, being an accomplished guitarist, but with a special affinity for the mandolin. He belonged to several bands at different times, including traditional folk group Jade, Red Gumboot and union band Not The Day Job. In his earlier days, Peter's bands played at prisons, on demonstrations The Lampstand | 2015
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and marches, and at folk festivals, appeared on television and produced their own albums. Besides his music, Peter closely followed sport. Because Peter's father was in the Forest Service (and ended his career as Director-General of Forestry), the family made several moves around New Zealand. He spent his first ten years in Auckland, and then there were periods in Kaingaroa Village near Murupara, Christchurch and Wellington. At his funeral, Peter's sister, Linda, told a story about when Peter was about eleven and they were living in Kaingaroa. He and some mates were walking along a quiet road one day when a chauffeured car carrying Cabinet Minister Duncan McIntyre beeped at them as it tried to pass. The boys offered a less than friendly hand signal in response. When young Peter got home, he found McIntyre in his sitting room. His father introduced Peter to the Cabinet Minister. McIntyre responded: I believe we have already met. Peter was already well qualified, after having completed a BCom at Victoria University in the early 1970s, when he decided to expand his horizons. He spent eight months working at Todd Motors as a 'door fixer' and later had a six-month stint working on a farm in southern Hawke's Bay. His first union job was as an organiser (and then Assistant Secretary) of the South Island Clothing Workers Union, where he worked for six years. Then he and Liz did some overseas travelling. While in Britain, he landed a job at the Hounslow Trade Union Support Centre and became busy organising support for miners and their families. He and Liz were involved in huge marches against Margaret Thatcher's policies, including the dismantling of the Greater London Council and apartheid. Back in New Zealand he worked for the Northern Distribution Union. Andrew Little, now Labour Party leader but previously Secretary of the Engineers Union, recalled him as an excellent union advocate. Peter was very firm in his convictions, but was personable, Little said. It was telling that at his funeral [National Party Deputy Leader] Bill The Lampstand | 2015
English attended and another very senior National Party MP would also have been there but for a schedule conflict. His political opponents might not have agreed with him, but they listened to him and knew he was a fine person. English described Peter as a strong advocate for the people who depended on him. His advocacy was all the more influential because he didn't allow disagreement to undermine the respect and warmth he always showed. Despite our many disagreements, in his illness and death, I lost a valued friend. Along the same lines, Phil O'Reilly, the Chief Executive of Business New Zealand, said Peter was a constructive advocate in employment relations and highly respected by all who worked with him. Peter rose to national attention when he joined the CTU as its economist. In 2008, he was persuaded to take on the onerous role of CTU secretary. It was a tough time – the National Government was in power and Peter often found himself battling strong political forces. Did his job wear him down and lead to the depression that enveloped him? No-one could say for sure, but those close to him felt it took a toll. In an interview with The Wellingtonian in 2009, he was asked if he had ever thought of using his qualifications to go after a highpaying job in the commercial world. I'm not anti-business, he said, but it's not where I want to devote my energy. With me, the union element of the job comes first. That's my passion. At various times, he was a Director of the Yellow Bus Company, which provided Auckland Bus services, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, but he was always clear about where his loyalties lay. Long-time friend Owen Harvey said Peter's over-developed sense of duty and pride in and commitment to maintaining the highest standards had accumulated into a weight of responsibility that no human being could sustain. He was, said Harvey, a natural introvert, a sensitive musician who had steeled himself to meet all these responsibilities for decades, to never let anyone down. He was slowly worn down and his reserves of resilience dissipated. Peter and Liz were friends and then husband and wife for more than four decades. They had three children, Maddy, Sean [2002-2006] and Rosa.
Peter had no previous experience of depression before it struck, and those close to him knew the terrible battle he waged. He told Liz it was the hardest struggle of his life. There was general understanding and sympathy at his funeral in June. The 800 who attended included politicians from across the spectrum, musicians, journalists and business leaders. The turnout was a tribute to the sort of person Peter was and how he touched people in so many parts of society.
and they practised a lot. We first met in 1953 when we were playing in the NZ Junior Tennis Championships in Hamilton and we decided to play together the following season. That did not happen because Murray was selected for the NZ Table Tennis team to play in the World Championships in London. In 1961, he played in the World Championships in Beijing. This was the first time that China opened up to the outside world. The term ‘ping pong’ diplomacy was coined there.
The Dominion Post HARRY DUDFIELD Wellington College: 1954-1957
H
arry attended Brooklyn School prior to starting at Wellington College in 1954. He was a dedicated rugby player and was selected for the 1st XV in 1957, playing in the first five matches as a lock until injury side-lined him for much of the remainder of the season. A highlight for Harry was attending a reunion of the 1957 team in 2007. Harry excelled in Art and on leaving College, he became a commercial artist. In 1966, Harry and his wife Ruth moved to Sydney and Harry worked in various advertising agencies until his retirement. Prior to moving to Sydney, Harry was a Scout Leader in Brooklyn and Ruth a Guide Leader in Johnsonville. Harry continued his interest in Scouting in Sydney and became the Willoughby District Commissioner for over 20 years. Harry was always a keen rugby supporter and followed the Super 15 and NZ Provincial competitions with great interest. He had a most likeable personality and will be sadly missed by his wife, his three children and three grandchildren as well as his many friends both here in New Zealand and Australia. Bob Slade and Bruce Heather (1954-1958) MURRAY DUNN Wellington College: 1949-1953
M
urray was an outstanding Table Tennis, Tennis and Squash player and excelled in all three sports.
Murray’s father played an important part in his sporting development. He began teaching him ball skills from when he was about seven,
In 1967, he played in the World Championships in Stockholm where he reached the round of 32. This was the best ever performance by a New Zealand player. Murray was NZ Table Tennis Champion in 1960, 61, 62, and 63. He was inducted into the New Zealand Table Tennis Hall of Fame. Murray also went to Australia as a member of the NZ Junior Tennis team. While there he played Table Tennis against Lew Hoad. He represented Wellington at Tennis on many occasions and was ranked in the top ten tennis players in New Zealand. Murray was a member of the International Lawn Tennis Club of NZ. We played and travelled together to Paris, London, Birmingham, Dublin and Prague. In Prague, Murray was pick pocketed twice in two days. Jeannette who was there said that it happened because he and Jane looked so distinguished and prosperous! A very juicy target for the pick pockets. Murray very ably represented the NZ International Club several times at the AGM of the world body held during Wimbledon. He loved being at Wimbledon in the International Box. In 1957, Murray played in the semifinals of the doubles in the NZ Championships at Stanley Street, Auckland. He and his partner, Bon Howe won, 31-29, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The match lasted six and a half hours, there were three changes of umpires and 12 sets of balls were used. When it was 20 all, one of Murray’s Table Tennis mates called out from the stand, This is not table tennis you are playing Murray. It was the longest set ever played in NZ, and the second longest ever played internationally at that time. Much later in life he took up Golf. He loved the game, the environment and the company. And he wished that he had started earlier.
Obituaries Some of his happiest times were when eight of us played Tennis, Golf and Bowls over two days at Graham Vivian’s property at Simpsons Beach. He loved the camaraderie and the competitive thrust of those games. I played doubles with Murray at noon at Remuera every Tuesday and Thursday for many, many years. He was a great partner with a big forehand and he never gave up. He really enjoyed the banter in the dressing rooms before and after the games. He often had a strong point of view on topical issues, usually fairly right wing. He had a great sense of humour and he laughed a lot. As a former pharmacist, Murray was remembered with respect for his innovation. He was one of the ten founding directors of Life Pharmacy in New Zealand. Murray first started as a pharmacist in Pakuranga in 1965, then moved to Manukau in 1970. At that time, Manukau was an underdeveloped area and very different to what it is today. He was the first person to bring Clinique to the country and the second to introduce Estee Lauder. Murray helped form Life Pharmacy in 1995. The company listed on the NZX in 2005 and merged with Pharmacybrands in 2009, creating the company now known as Green Cross Health. Des Shaw ROSS ELLISON Wellington College: 1954-1956
R
oss Ellison began at Wellington College in 1954. He came from Khandallah Primary School where he had excelled as a young Tennis player. In 1954, he won the College U14 Tennis Championship and the following year teamed up with his friend Rodney Callender (1954-1958) to win the U16 Doubles title. At this stage he was Number 6 in the Wellington Secondary School rankings. A people person, Ross had the happy knack of getting on with other folk from all walks of life and from all ages. He had a keen sense of humour as many of his old classmates will remember. He left Wellington College at the end of 1956 to join his uncle at Garner's Department Store in Palmerston North. He began at the bottom, sweeping the floor and learning product and people skills, the start of a long and successful
career until his retirement in 1990. During his time in Palmerston North, he continued with competitive teams and took up golf, a sport that his parents had excelled while living in Wellington. He belonged to the Hokowhitu Club and played off a 3 handicap.
students to work at whatever level they were capable of. This idea was at odds with those of Clarence Beeby who, as Director of Education, introduced the system of 'age classification' whereby pupils are classed according to age regardless of ability or achievement.
In the early 1960s, Ross met his wife Helen who was nursing at Palmerston North Hospital. He also became an active member of Jaycees and Lions before he was transferred to Takapuna. By now, Garners had become Smith & Brown. He was appointed Marketing Manager and his family settled on the North Shore. Fishing, duck shooting and gardening became his new hobbies as well as family duties with his two sons.
In 1937, Harry’s family moved to Wellington and he attended Wellington College. In 1939, when WWII began, Harry enlisted as a deck cadet on the liner Niagara, but it was sunk in 1940 before he was due to embark. He then enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He trained in radar, and was with 10 Servicing Unit, north of New Guinea when the war ended with the Japanese surrender in August 1945. A week later, an air crew Harry had flown with were killed on a test flight when their plane (a Ventura) crashed into Seeadler Harbour.
When Ross retired in 1990, he and Helen moved down to a lifestyle block in Te Puna, north of Tauranga. A tennis court was quickly refurbished with astro turf. His retirement programme was drawn up: Tuesday Golf, Wednesday Tennis, Thursday Golf and Friday more Tennis. Then in 1992, Ross came out of retirement to become Executive Director of COMTOOL then AET (Auto Electrical,) based in Tauranga but with responsibilities nationwide for bulk buying, advertising, conferences etc. until he fully retired in 2008. Ross was known as the life and soul of any gathering but there was also a special calmness and quiet presence about him. He recently faced the challenges of ill health but never complained. There was a huge crowd at his funeral at Tauranga Park. He is survived by his wife Helen, his sons Phil and Richard and their families. Ross also has a twin sister Prue who is living in Tauranga and older sister Sue of Paraparaumu. Bruce Heather (1954-1958) HARRY EVISON Wellington College: 1937-1938
H
arry Evison was born in 1924 at Beckenham, Christchurch, the third son of Sidney Harry, a London-born newspaper publisher, and Beatrice (née Foster), a Lytteltonborn school teacher. From his parents, Harry gained an abiding interest in music, history and writing, and learned racial tolerance. He started school at Beckenham, but at the age of ten, moved to West Christchurch District High School where the Headmaster, LF de Berry, believed in getting
In October 1945, at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, Harry helped to organise the first successful RNZAF airmen’s strike. This was not a ‘beer strike’ as stated by Bryan Cox in his Pacific Scrapbook (1997). It was a strike for fresh vegetables, in protest against the diet of Spam and dehydrated vegetables that airmen at Jacquinot were being fed two months after the war’s end. In 1946, Harry enrolled at Wellington Teachers’ College, where he was active in drama and student publications. Influenced by the war and by his reading of history, Harry was now a Marxist, a point of view he maintained for the rest of his life. While at Teachers College, Harry studied part-time at Victoria University and was active in student politics. He was elected Secretary of the Socialist Club, Chief Guide of the Tramping Club, and Secretary of the Students’ Association. In 1949, he was prominent in Wellington as an opponent of the Fraser Labour government’s compulsory military training scheme. Harry disagreed with the Communist Party theory (derived from Engels) that ranked human societies in terms of their technological development, with hunter-gatherer societies lowest in the scale as 'savages'. Harry regarded social cooperation as a better yardstick of human progress than technical achievement. He also disagreed with the idea of 'intellectuals' as a distinct 'class'. Socalled 'intellectuals', he said, should try using a pick and shovel alongside workmen skilled at the job, and they would find that manual work also needs intelligence. In 1950, while completing his MA
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papers at Canterbury University College, Harry was elected Chairman of the CUC Socialist Club. In 1952, while teaching at Cromwell, Harry completed his MA from Otago University with his thesis on Canterbury Ngai Tahu, the first Marxist study of the effects of colonialism on New Zealand Māori. The prevailing theory then was 'Culture Clash', which sees history in terms of 'superior' cultures replacing 'inferior' ones. This was promoted by Professor Ivan Sutherland of CUC in his book The Māori Situation (1935), and by Sutherland’s student, Roger Duff, in his 1943 MA thesis on Canterbury Māori. They argued that Māori had collapsed psychologically during European colonisation because they could not cope with civilisation. Harry’s thesis showed that the Māori collapse was economic, not psychological. Canterbury Māori coped well with early European contact and 'collapsed' only when the colonial authorities deprived them of their economic resources. Harry said that for 35 years no one took any notice of his thesis. Harry taught in country schools from 1951 to 1959, chiefly at Cromwell and Reefton. These he regarded as his best teaching years. There were no people unemployed, no rich or poor, and all students received the same opportunities. During this time he met his wife Hillary, and their three children were born. In 1960, Harry transferred to Christchurch as Head of History at Linwood High School, where he also directed stage productions. In 1964, he joined the secondary department of Christchurch Teachers’ College as Senior Lecturer in History and Social Studies. He ran refresher courses for history teachers, and initiated the first college courses in drama and mountain recreation. As Canterbury President of the PostPrimary Teachers Association, he campaigned for better funding for District High Schools. In the 1960s, Harry served on the committee of the NZ Monthly Review, and on the Canterbury Mountain Safety Committee. From 1967 to 1972 he was honorary warden of the Alpine Club’s Aspiring Hut in the West Matukituki, where he spent summer vacations with his family. He said he made more new friends in six weeks at Aspiring Hut than during the rest of the year in town. For many years, Harry and his family lived at Sumner above the Whitewash Head cliff. As an honorary wildlife ranger, he campaigned for better protection The Lampstand | 2015
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for the spectacular spotted shag colony there. He wrote environmental submissions on the subject to the City Council, but with little success. He was dismayed when later on the colony virtually collapsed. As a Principal Lecturer at Christchurch Teachers’ College, Harry advocated school-based training for graduate trainees as an alternative to the collegebased system. He believed that ideas about teaching could best be gained in the classroom, with practical teaching experience preceding college lectures. His scheme provided for exchanges of staff between teachers’ colleges and schools. To vindicate this idea he took leave from the College in 1973 and taught for a year as Head of English at Queen’s High School in Dunedin, the first college lecturer to make such a move. His scheme was supported by secondary schools and by trainees who volunteered for it. But the Education Department failed to authorise a trial of schoolbased training, and Harry resigned from the College. In Dunedin in 1973, Harry was elected to the Dunedin City Council Committee for Recreation and Sport. This led to his appointment in 1975 as Activities Officer at the University of Otago. There he persuaded the Students’ Association (OUSA) to spend its’ building fund on a new, purposebuilt multi-storeyed building with facilities for student clubs and societies, and function as a community centre. Harry wrote the architectural brief for the building, and in 1980 it opened as the OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre with himself as Manager. This was the era of 'user pays', but Harry instead successfully ran the Centre on the principle 'user cleans up'. When he retired in 1983, the OUSA made him a life member and named the Centre’s main lounge after him. Between 1975 and 1984, Harry lectured in Dunedin for the Diploma in Recreation and Sport and wrote a teachers’ correspondence course in outdoor recreation for the Education Department. He also represented Otago University on the Otago Mountain Safety Committee. In Dunedin he was President of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and of the United Nations Association, and helped establish an Otago Council for Civil Liberties. In 1977, with Hone Tuwhare, Harry organised a campaign against the Muldoon government’s SIS Amendment Bill, culminating in a protest march and The Lampstand | 2015
rally in the Octagon of more than 2,000 people. In 1981, Harry helped Larry Ross launch the Nuclear Free New Zealand campaign, and afterwards joined its Committee. In 1977, with Professors Alan Mark and John Child, he organised a campaign to establish a Scenic Reserve at Trotters Gorge in North Otago. His Trotters Gorge Field Guide was published in 1978, and the Trotters Gorge Scenic Reserve was gazetted in 1979. He enjoyed tramping in the Otago ranges, and in 1982 with his wife Hillary, he submitted a Protected Natural Area proposal for the Rock and Pillar summit ridge. In 1983, Harry left Otago University to concentrate on writing, and he edited the New Zealand Monthly Review for two years. In 1986, to support a Ngai Tahu claim to the high country Crown lease lands, he wrote a 72-page booklet, Ngai Tahu Land Rights And The Crown Pastoral Leases In The South Island Of New Zealand. At a Christchurch public meeting on the claim, the Canterbury high country farmers’ Chairman, said to Harry: Mao wrote the ‘Little Red Book’, and now you’ve written the ‘Little Brown Book'. From 1987 to 1990, Harry assisted Ngai Tahu with their historic Waitangi Tribunal Claim. His evidence to the Tribunal reiterated his 1952 thesis argument that Ngai Tahu’s impoverishment and dispersal had been caused by the Crown’s appropriation of their land. Harry thought the high country farmers’ reaction to his Little Brown Book influenced the National government to settle the Ngai Tahu claim favourably, while leaving the high country leases untouched. Harry welcomed Ngai Tahu’s huge claim settlement, but regretted the corporate business structure that was set up to administer it. Harry strongly supported Dr WB Sutch’s (1920-1923) views on economic independence for New Zealand. He was disgusted when the Lange government signed the country into the so-called global 'free market' system, with its extremes of wealth and poverty, erosion of public services, and relentless plundering of natural resources for private profit. Harry regarded 'free market' politicians as traitors for destroying the social services that had been built up by preceding generations. In 1989, Harry received the Queen’s Service Medal for public services. In 1994, he was awarded the New Zealand Book Award for Non-Fiction for his book Te Wai Pounamu, The Greenstone Island, and in 1996, he received the
honorary degree Doctor of Letters from the University of Canterbury. In later years, Harry suffered from two debilitating kinds of cancer but he read the proofs of his 2006 book The Ngai Tahu Deeds while in a hospital emergency ward. In 2010, he published his book New Zealand Racism In The Making: The Life & Times of Walter Mantell. Harry is survived by his wife Hillary and their three adult children. GEORGE GAIR Wellington College: 1940-1941
T
he death at 88 years of British New Zealand Business Association patron, Hon. George Gair brings to a very definable end a political era.
In successive National governments, he served as Minister of Health and Minister of Social Welfare. He also served as Minister of Housing, Minister of Energy, Minister of Transport, and Minister of Railways. He was also National's Deputy Leader. His long tenure in Parliament was characterised by his adherence to a liberal-conservative line and one which sought to eschew the politics of personality. He was emphatic that the issues facing the country should take precedence over the inevitable and distracting hurly-burly of party politics and personalities. In the late 1970s, George opposed measures by his own party to restrict abortion, which was a divisive part of a Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Bill. A royal commission recommended a panel be established to approve any abortion, but George objected, saying that would intimidate already-distressed women, and a compromise position was eventually reached. He saw too the divisive nature of Parliament's periodic focus on moral issues which he similarly saw as dangerous distractions from the crucial issues of the day which then as now tended to be of an economic nature. He served a term as New Zealand's High Commissioner in London and the always suave yet sincere face that he presented to officials in London did much to enhance the trading relationship with the EU bloc as a whole. George was born in Dunedin. He subsequently attended Wellington College from 1940-1941, then Victoria and Auckland Universities. It was then that he embarked upon
a career as a journalist, followed by a tour in the then quite new vocation of public relations. Much impressed by the National Party's Keith Holyoake, it was now that he set his sights on entering Parliament, briefly serving on Holyoake's staff. He entered Parliament in his own right in 1966, representing the North Shore, an electorate which in one capacity or other he was to serve diligently for the rest of his life. He became Deputy Leader of the National Party under Jim Bolger. After retiring from Parliament, George was appointed New Zealand's High Commissioner in London from 1991 to 1994 and then served one term as North Shore city Mayor from 1995 to 1998. George campaigned with local residents for 20 years - from 1967 to 1987, to open a hospital on the North Shore. He became the first patient to have a major operation at the hospital after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. George became Patron of the British New Zealand Business Association following his role as High Commissioner in London 1991-1994. It was an office he took on with his customary blend of energy, diligence, and enthusiasm, making a point of attending the association's major meetings and events, volunteering as required his finely-honed and well-seasoned opinions and judgement on the issues of the day. He retained a youthful vigour and curiosity until the end of his days. Prime Minister John Key acknowledged the passing of George. I am saddened to learn of George Gair’s passing, Mr Key said. George made a significant contribution to the National Party, to Parliament and to the community. He was well-known for his competent and well-mannered approach and was highly regarded by his colleagues. George was a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for his dedication to public services and was a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He decided to further his study in 2006 after being encouraged by a former political colleague, AUT Professor Marilyn Waring. He was accepted in mid-2007, but his study had to be postponed while he had heart surgery. He graduated in 2010
Obituaries with a master's degree. Married to his wife, Fay, for 64 years, they had three children, five grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. THOMAS GAULT Wellington College: 1952-1955
S
ir Thomas Gault died in Auckland in May 2015 aged 76. His contribution to New Zealand’s legal system was significant. A successful career as a prominent legal practitioner with expertise in commercial and competition law and intellectual property was followed by nearly two decades as a highly respected member of the judiciary. This culminated in his appointment as one of the establishment members of the Supreme Court.
Year’s Honours, for services as a judge of the Court of Appeal. Legal historian Peter Spiller says Sir Thomas was respected as a scrupulous and independent-minded judge. He showed a fine analytical mind keen to discern the logic of the submissions presented to him. His logical insight enabled him to see artificialities and contradictions in argument and to cut through at times extensive argument to the precise issues at stake, he writes in New Zealand Court of Appeal 1958 to 1996: A History (Brookers Ltd, Wellington, 2002, page 189). Dr Spiller says that in the hearing of cases Sir Thomas was a courteous judge, open to persuasion. However, he was not averse to speaking his mind on matters of which he disapproved in the conduct of litigants and counsel.
Sir Thomas was born in Wellington in 1938. His parents were Thomas Gordon and Evelyn Jane (nee Paulmeir) Gault. His father was a mechanical engineer and Tom, as he was known, had three older siblings. His father died when Tom was aged two.
Sir Thomas believed that a judge was expected to bring to any decision a full understanding of the relevant law and its practical application distilled from adversarial presentation, a degree of detachment, a logical approach, and reasoning with intellectual honesty, Dr Spiller says (at page 190).
He attended Paraparaumu Primary School and Wellington College before going to Victoria University in 1956 to study law. While at university, he worked as a clerk at the Land Transfer Office. Sir Thomas was active in student affairs and sports, particularly golf.
In 2003, Sir Thomas was one of the judges appointed to the newlyestablished Supreme Court. The court began sitting in 2004 and he was a member of the court until his retirement in 2006, although he continued to sit occasionally as a temporary Judge.
Graduating LLB in 1961, Sir Thomas was admitted to the bar in 1962. He continued to study, and completed an LLM in 1963. That year he also sat and passed his exams to become a registered Patent Attorney. He joined the intellectual property firm AJ Park & Son in 1961, becoming a partner shortly after. His work at the firm gave him a strong background in competition and commercial law as well as intellectual property.
His expertise and standing in the field of commercial law was recognised with his role as Consulting Editor of the legal text Gault on Commercial Law (published by Thomson Reuters).
He married Barbara Stewart in 1963 and the couple had one son. Sir Thomas went into practice as a sole barrister in 1981 and he was appointed Queen’s Counsel on 14 June 1984. His judicial career began in December 1987 when he was appointed a Judge of the High Court. In February 1991, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal and he became President in 2002, succeeding Sir Ivor Richardson. He was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2001 New
Outside the law, Sir Thomas was known for his love of golf. He won the New Zealand Universities Championship in 1958 and was awarded Golf Blues by Victoria University and the University of New Zealand. From 1987 to 1996 he was President of the New Zealand Golf Association. Sir Thomas joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1994 and became the first New Zealander to be Club Captain in September 2005 for the 20052006 year. A member of the Royal Auckland Golf Club, he was made a Life Member of New Zealand Golf. Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson says he was saddened by the death of Sir Thomas. Sir Thomas was one of the great leaders of the New Zealand legal profession. He was a distinguished member of the
judiciary and a highly respected practitioner, particularly in the areas of intellectual property and competition law, Mr Finlayson says. One can look back at the life and career of Sir Thomas and see that his contribution to this country in a number of fields was outstanding. On behalf of the Government, I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Barbara, his son Ian and other members of his family. New Zealand Law Society CLIFF HERAUD Wellington College: 1937-1940
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he Coromandel farewelled Kauri 2000 founder Cliff Heraud in early November at a special ceremony in Kuaotunu.
Cliff died after a short illness and was remembered as one of the Coromandel's champions of conservation. He was 92-years-old. In 1999, Cliff set the goal of planting 2000 trees to greet the new millennium and to replenish the peninsulas kauri population destroyed by the saw milling industry. Sixteen years later, his vision has resulted in the planting of over 45,000 kauri trees throughout the Coromandel Peninsula from below Waihi to Waikawau Bay and from Kauri Point to Cathedral Cove on the East Coast. Cliff was born in 1923, in Palmerston North, but grew up in Eastbourne, Wellington, where he went to Wellington College. During WWII, he was conscripted initially into the NZ Army then went to Devonport in England where he did an officers course. He served as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy, on a minesweeper, in the Mediterranean for 18 months until the war ended. On his return back home, Cliff trained as an Accountant, worked for ICI and had several business interests before he left city life in 1957 to become a farmer. He worked on two farms in the Central Plateau before purchasing a farm in Waimiha in the King Country through the WWII rehabilitation scheme. In 1952, he married Julie Hutchison of Petone, Wellington. In 1983, at the age of 60, Cliff retired from farming and bought their property in Kuaotunu. His son
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Richard said his father understood that all work depended on the quality of the social relations of those he collaborated with. I think he will be remembered as somebody who, along with Vivienne McLean, established the building blocks for the ongoing development of Kauri 2000, he said. Furthermore, I think he should be recognised for advocating for the development of the educational aspect of this project, said Richard. Ultimately my father thought in the long term. He was someone who saw the majesty of the kauri. In 2004, Cliff was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for Community Service by Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright. NZ Herald COLIN HOUGH Wellington College: 1962-1965
A
very well-known and dearly loved Old Boy, Colin Hough passed away recently. He died instantly after falling off the platform into the path of a northbound freight train at Paraparaumu Station. ‘Houghie’ was certainly a character, a very popular, charming, gregarious and generous Wellingtonian, an instantly recognisable man about town who cut a very fashionable and unmistakeable figure on his constant walks across his beloved city. He was always ready to lend a hand and give support, encouragement and advice to all he came across, regardless of their background and circumstances. He gave his time and resources to others constantly, unreservedly, generously and completely, never with any expectation of receiving anything in return. To him it was all about giving. He never forgot anybody once he had made their acquaintance and had the utmost respect, tolerance and understanding for all those he encountered. Colin was a Northland boy and attended Primary School in that suburb. He was at College from 1962 - 1965 and was one of the top scholars in his year. A very sensitive soul, it is probable that much of the general, quite macho ethos that prevailed in school in those days did not sit very well with him. Significantly though there were present at his funeral, a number of high profile and successful Old Boys of his era, many very like Houghie, individual souls, colourful characters who have largely carved The Lampstand | 2015
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their own way in life. Houghie, keen to leave school after his lower sixth form year, became one of the youngest students at Victoria University, and one of the first to take the new BCA degree. I was a year ahead of Houghie at school, certainly very aware of him as a charismatic character and a bit different, but did not know him that well. I was a boarder. He was a day boy. That also set us apart, the way things were in those days. Doing the same degree though and in the same year at Victoria we became very firm friends. His intelligence, outlook and demeanour and especially his grace and non judgemental attitude towards everybody, made a very serious impression on me. We shared a passion for riding surfboards. ‘The Corner’ at Lyall Bay was our second home but we also travelled more extensively looking for waves. Houghie was a very diligent student, studied much more seriously than me, and when he was engrossed in the Library and the waves were running, he would very generously and without question loan me his car, a great little Morris Minor convertible, so I could head out to the bay and chase the waves. Houghie completed his degree a year before me. He was just about 20 years old but was the top graduating BCA student in this year, 1968. We went our separate ways after university, but always stayed in touch. In the early 1970s, we saw quite a bit of one another in London when he was one of those larger than life characters, driving buses for Continental Camping Tours and in his inimitable style entertaining Kiwis and Aussies on their OE and travelling through Europe. Colin had qualified as an accountant, but he wasn’t a typical practitioner. I don’t believe he ever worked in public practice. As an independent, with significant and often lateral insight into matters of finance, he was always in demand to work on various projects. He gave advice to many serious figures in the financial world, at various times was himself a significant investor in Wellington property, was involved, on the finance side, with Saatchi and Saatchi. Prominent in the movie world, he was accountant for a number of major New Zealand productions. At one time he operated a movie theatre in Otaki.
investor in NZ and Australian shares. He was a great believer in gold as the ultimate currency. Again we shared interests and enjoyed many long discussions of the potential of this or that industry or particular stock; as well as speculating about when it would be that gold would again have its day in the sun. History, current affairs, religion, other philosophical matters; Houghie’s views were always enlightening, intelligent and informed. We dined regularly together, in one if his Oriental Bay apartments, sometimes nearby aboard my sailboat in Chaffers Marina. With Houghie though there was always something in the background I couldn’t quite put my finger on. He drank a lot from his early 20s, acknowledged this as a problem later in life, and with typical strength gave alcohol away completely. There must have still been dark places for him though. He suffered from depression but managed a variety of successes in spite of this. A few years ago, after an attempted suicide, he became paraplegic. He continued to battle this serious setback, and all his demons, with a huge strength, determined to get fit and active again, but then that black dog, depression, returned. This time he managed to take his life ....... a huge loss for us all, and a huge gap now in the lives of all those close to him. Rest in peace, dear man, it was a huge pleasure and honour to know you and have you as a friend, a major influence in my life and truly a soul brother. At Colin’s funeral in Raumati, the church was full, not a seat, nor a dry eye in the place. He received a great send off. The huge regard he was held in by his family and friends from all walks of life was there for all to see. A great and loving man has left us and there is a place in all our hearts that is now empty. Houghie, dear man, God bless as he would always say, we hope your dear soul is now at rest.
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While at College, he also learned to fly. He was a fine trumpet and cornet player both in the Orchestra and in the Cadet Bugle Band in which he was bugle sergeant. The Wellingtonian of 1948 records in its musical notes, that the College’s public concert held in the Wellington Town Hall featured Handel’s Messiah including the inspiring aria, the Trumpet Shall Sound, a difficult trumpet solo which was played excellently by W.A. Hunt. At his funeral service, Warren’s son Brett recalled that Dad would take his trumpet and cornet to any function he knew there would be a jazz band playing and join in a few songs. Looking back, Warren was already exhibiting those characteristic of orderliness and attention to detail which were to lead him to a top position in industry. After leaving College, he became a student at Victoria University and at the School of Engineering at Canterbury College, graduating with B.E [Mech]. At Canterbury University, he played rugby in the senior grade as a loose forward, and participated in athletics and boxing. After graduation, Warren joined the RNZAF and had the distinction of graduating not only with his ‘wings’ but also the ‘Sword of Honour’ from his training class. He decided against a career in the RNZAF and in the 1950s, joined General Motors in Trentham. It was not long before his management potential was recognised and the company sent him to Chicago for three years for management training. Retuning home, he married Pat, settling in Silverstream where he built his first home and where their three children, Michelle and the twins Anna and Brett were born.
John Wedde (1961-1965) WARREN HUNT Wellington College 1944-1948
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arren Hunt was born in Auckland, the family later moving to Wellington, where Warren was educated at Kilbirnie School and Wellington College from
1944-48. The stock market was a serious interest and he was an active
immaculately dressed school boys, hair in place, socks at regulation height and neatly pressed shirt and shorts. He was one of the few senior boys who rode a motorcycle to school, it too, immaculate with an engine which purred in tune with Warren’s perfect maintenance.
Warren was always one of the more
It was time for a move in the 1960s. Warren saw and applied for a new position, with operation research and work study, at NZ Forest Products Limited, based at the Head Office at Penrose. Computerisation was developing and Warren had a key role in introducing this new technology into the company's centres of operation including pulp and paper at Kinleith, board manufacture at Whakatane, paper bags at Penrose and fine papers at Mataura.
With time, Warren moved from a technical role into management, first at Penrose Industries, then at Kinleith and finally at Head Office as Managing Director in the early 1980s. This was a period of volatility in New Zealand Industry with take overs and mergers, some friendly, some hostile. Warren barely had time to reorganise the company into five divisions, forestry, pulp and paper, sawmilling, merchant supplies and technical, before the crash of 1987 occurred and the overseas predators swooped on the Company. The outcome was that Warren took early retirement in the late 1950s, and was appointed to the Boards of a number of Companies and took up his other passion, flying. He was often a guest speaker at the RNZAF’s Whenuapai Base and was deeply involved in establishing the Air Force Museum at Wigram, becoming a member of the Museum’s Trust Board. For his support of the RNZAF, Warren was promoted to Group Captain [Hon.], an honour in which he took great pride. His other retirement passion was boating with a Vindex 375, 42 footer, he sailed around the inner and outer Auckland harbour with family and friends. Appropriately he named the Vindex, Mustang, after the plane in which he earned his wings. As Brett said, He allowed us children to take Mustang out, but just as he did, we had to sit and pass the Coast guard boatmasters,16 week course plus a three hour exam which we all did with flying colours. Dad was a good and knowledgeable fisherman and over the years of cruising had many good fishing and scallop ‘spots’. Warren was appointed to many committees and Councils including being Chairman, National Productivity Council, Chairman, Alpine Task force Hillary Commission, Chairman, Management Services Council of NZ, Member Experts Committee on pulp and paper [FAO, UN], Member, Naval Advisory Board and RNZN Dockyard Facilities Management Project Steering Committee Member, Fisher Gallery Board, and Member of the Salvation Army Board. He was also a Justice of the Peace. His wife Patricia died in 1991. He was survived by three children Michele, Anna and Brett until his death this year. Bill Glass (1944-1948)
Obituaries BRUCE JENKINS Wellington College 1939-1942
B
ruce Jenkins was born in 1926 in Auckland while his parents were living there temporarily, his father having been transferred from the Wellington to the Auckland branch of the Valuation Department. They returned when Bruce was just six months old and he began his life-long residency in our beautiful capital city. His early schooling was at Northland Primary School, but his education became disrupted when his mother was diagnosed with TB when he was six. In Bruce’s own words from his memoirs Mother was confined to bed and isolated in her bedroom. It was considered that children were at great risk of being infected if they were near anyone with TB so we were not allowed to enter her room. We could talk to her from the doorway and we could see her, usually sitting up in bed by the big dormer window but that was the closest we were allowed to be with her. She was subsequently admitted to Otaki Sanatorium and the little family of Bruce, his two sisters and their Dad was split up and lived separately over the next few years, but remained in regular contact. During this time Bruce attended Te Aro and Island Bay Schools. His memoirs describe a happy life at Island Bay, living with his grandparents and sisters. He did well at school and made many friends who also went to Wellington College. But sadly Bruce’s mother died in 1937 when he was only eleven years old. At Island Bay School, Bruce showed an interest and capability in Chemistry and the sciences. He had what he called 'a laboratory' in the basement of his grandparents’ home in Waikato Street, where various experiments were carried out with test tubes and chemicals he bought with his pocket money. In 1939, his college years began, which he enjoyed and made some lifelong friends. He was placed in 'B' forms and managed most subjects without difficulty, doing quite well in English and French. But he admitted to struggling with Latin and was pleased he could drop it in the fifth form. Many decades later, on his first visit to France, he was able to recall enough schoolboy French to purchase tickets at railway stations! But Science was his best subject
and he managed to come top of the class in Magnetism and Electricity in the end of term exam in the 5th form. He passed the School Certificate and University Entrance exams and (because he had taken Trigonometry as a UE subject), he qualified for the Engineering Preliminary Certificate. During his college years, he became keen on outdoor activities such as Tramping and CrossCountry running. Harriers became his winter sport and in 1941, he joined the Scottish Harrier and AA Club (special dispensation had to be obtained from Wellington College for participation in this heretical non-rugby activity!). Bruce was a lifelong enthusiastic member of Scottish Harriers, running on every Saturday during the season for years in a row without fail. He won many races, ran many marathons, and was a stalwart supporter of the Club in every possible way, including the holding of high office for several years. At his memorial service in Wellington I was struck by the number of people who told me your father introduced me to running with Scottish. In 1943, Bruce joined Collier & Beale Ltd, a radio and engineering company, at that time heavily involved in making military radio and other electronic equipment. His secondary school qualifications earned him a place in the prestigious Special Apparatus Department rather than the assembly lines in the main factory. The Special Apparatus Department worked on semisecret, mostly one-off gear, for the NZ Government, the US Army and Navy and for the RAF in England. Collier & Beale gave him the chance of taking unpaid time off work to attend university, so he enrolled at Victoria University as a BSc student taking Mathematics and Physics. The hassle of getting to and from lectures and then making up the time at work on Saturdays was hard enough, but war commitments meant that they worked a lot of overtime and his studies began to suffer. To make matters worse, fellow employees were studying for the Trade Exams, a qualification much more aligned with Bruce’s work and it seemed he might be left behind if he didn't sit these exams. So he gritted his teeth, left University, sat the Trade Exams over the next three or four years and became qualified in the Electrical Trade and in Radio and Electronics.
Bruce’s father, John William Jenkins attended Wellington College from 1912-1913 as did his four sons John (1966-1969), Alan (1964-1968), Graham (1966-1970) and David (12968-1972). I (John), had the pleasure of having some of Dad’s teachers as my own, including Mr (Bernie) Paetz for French and Mr (Inky) Dighton for Latin. Bruce married Elisabeth Baucke at Ward Memorial Church, Northland, in 1947. They set up home in Chamberlain Road, Karori, and raised their family of four boys there. He started business at 236 Karori Road, Karori as a radio and electrical shop. The enterprise was duly registered as Jenkins Electronics Ltd in 1956. When TV came to New Zealand in the 1960s, the sale, installation and repair of television sets became an important part of the shop’s activities. Bernie Paetz was a Karori resident and one of Bruce’s regular customers. Other customers included ships in the harbour having problems with their radar equipment. The ships varied in size from fishing trawlers to American warships. Bruce became an active member of the Karori Businessmen’s Association and was connected with many of their charitable activities. I believe he was involved with a campaign to raise funds for the building of the hall at Karori School. After retiring from the radio/TV business he became a tutor at the Technical Correspondence Institute (the predecessor of the Open Polytechnic). Bruce and Elisabeth spent their married life of nearly 65 years together resident at Chamberlain Road. Over that time, they subdivided their land and built two more houses there. Elisabeth had a stroke in 2013 and spent some time in a nursing home before she died in July of that year. Bruce gradually became unwell after she died and eventually wanted to move into a retirement home. He spent Christmas 2014 at Malvina Major in Khandallah, but shortly afterwards moved to Tauranga. He died peacefully at Tauranga Hospital in 2015, and his funeral was held in Tauranga after which he was cremated, according to his wishes. His ashes were taken to Wellington where there was a memorial service a few days later. Both services were well attended, notably the Wellington one where a number of harriers were present.
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Bruce is survived by his four sons John, Alan, Graham and David; his ten grandchildren and twelve greatgrandchildren. John Jenkins (1966-1969) PETER JOBSON Wellington College: 1945-1949 Barry Jobson, Peter’s youngest brother spoke on behalf of the 'cousins', and the Wellington Branch of the Jobson family about Peter’s early life in Wellington at Peter’s Funeral in February.
T
he family originally lived with our maternal grandparents - the Newmans, in Willis Street in Wellington, so you can certainly call us Wellingtonians. All three brothers and our sister Mary went to St Mark’s Church School by the Basin Reserve. In 1952, we moved to Linden, Tawa and it was during that time that Peter and Wendy were married in Old St Paul’s in Wellington. My earliest memory of Peter was at Wanganui in 1949. Peter was in the Wellington College 1st XV as the hooker, and he played in the Quadrangular Tournament held at Wanganui Collegiate that year. As a family we stayed at the Aramoho Camping ground. After Wellington College, Peter worked for ICI (NZ) Ltd on the Terrace in Wellington. He did his Accountancy and BCom at Victoria University simultaneously - fulltime accounting study was virtually unheard of in those days. As it turned out all three boys became qualified Accountants. Peter got me a job during the school holidays as the office boy at ICI, so technically that was my first job. Eventually, the three Jobson brothers used to get a bit of cheek over their career choices, as we had the three vices covered. Peter as an Accountant at ICI worked with drugs, Ken as an accountant, at WD&HO Wills, worked in cigarettes, and I, the younger accountant worked for Lion Breweries! So we covered drugs, cigarettes and beer! In the 1940s in Wellington, our maternal grandparents Joe and Mary Newman had a bach at Plimmerton on the coast where we spent just about every weekend during the summer. And about 400m from the bach was the Plimmerton Boating Club where many of the friends and relatives including the Jobsons, Newmans, The Lampstand | 2015
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Dodsons and Caseys sailed. Peter originally started in P Class sailing P.53 Dondu, and then into the Z Class Z4 Torment skippering at various times with our other siblings Mary, Casey or Ken as crew. He also represented the Club at the Cornwell Cup National Z or Takapuna Class Championship. I recall Peter was allowed to drive the family Vauxhall through to Auckland when under-age. He must have been about 15. The Desert Road and main highway were unsealed then so it was a dusty trip through the central North Island. We were driving through to the Z Class Championships at the Takapuna Boating Club in Auckland. He was a mature boy and well able to carry the responsibility. During the period of Compulsory Military Training, commonly called CMT, Pete was in the Scottish Regiment in Wellington - along with many of our cousins. He was awarded the Scott-Gillanders trophy for outstanding services as an officer. We had a wonderful photo at home of him swimming in the crater lake at Mt Ruapehu, where they did their manoeuvres from the Waiouru Military Camp in the early 1950s. As a teenager, I did a lot of baby sitting for Chris and Amanda. I was allowed to drive the family car from Linden to Upper Hutt and stay with Wendy and Peter for the weekend. After Peter and Wendy moved to Auckland, Zena and I had some wonderful family holidays here, and our own three offspring speak very highly of Uncle Peter. He was a wonderful Uncle to our kids, taking them fishing or out in his fizz boat or doing whatever what uncles do. I love that word ‘avuncular’ as it conjures up visions of a kindly uncle, which Peter was. Peter was a modest, intelligent, good, familyorientated kindly man who will be sadly missed. Go well brother. We express deepest sympathy to Wendy, Chris Amanda and their families. Finally, we three brothers all belonged to St Andrew Masonic Lodge in Wellington, as did our father, Fred Jobson and our maternal grandfather, Joseph Newman. I was honoured to present Peter with his 50 year badge ten years ago. Barry Jobson (1953-1957)
ALEXANDER KING Wellington College: 1966-1970
I
wish to reflect on the remarkable life and qualities of Alexander King, ‐adoring husband of Linda, immensely proud father of Richard, caring brother of Douglas, Richard, Andrew, Malcolm and Margaret, loving son of Margaret and Alexander, loyal friend and mentor of too many to mention, and a fearless lawyer for all he represented. His was a life of great intellectual purpose, intense curiosity and legal principle. It was a life of wickedly brilliant good humour, natural charisma and raucous laughter. It was a life of powerful love and reliability for his devoted wife, Linda, and their son, Richard. It was a life of resilience, strength and courage, exemplified to the very end in his fierce, but uncomplaining, battle against brain cancer. Alexander was born in Wellington, in November, 1952. Thankfully for Alexander, an avid follower of politics, this was a most auspicious month and year – a republican, Dwight D. Eisenhower, had just been re-elected United States President. Through the 1950s, picture an enthusiastic and endlessly entertaining child who combined emotional intelligence, extroversion and his high IQ to be both jester and genius at Boulcott Primary School in Lower Hutt. He attended Boulcott Primary School for nine years, then Wellington College. He went on to study law at Victoria University. A bitingly funny mimic and prankster, his spontaneous stand ‐up comedy routines regularly had fellow students in stitches. In law, Alexander’s strengths lined up perfectly. He was a captivating narrator of stories, a compelling performer, a forensic crossexaminer, and a relentless fighter. He charmed and won over jurors. He boldly challenged incompetent and stuffy judges. He clinically dissected sloppy witnesses. He ran rings around plodding prosecutors. He plotted trial strategy like a grandmaster plots an intricate chess championship. His clients were exceptionally fortunate. In the words of one of his heroes, Winston Churchill, Alexander King would never give up. To sharpen his skills and test
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himself against the best, Alexander became a barrister first in London. He took on the best and defeated them. In 1986, a decade after being admitted to practice law, good fate and adventurism lured him to Hong Kong.
Alexander remained as my King for the next 25 years,’ says Linda. He touched the lives of so many who came in contact with him. In sickness or in health, he retained his sense of humour, kindness and mischievousness at all times.
Alexander belonged in Hong Kong. It was fast, exciting, unaffected by political correctness, intellectually stimulating and unpredictable. It was Alexander to a tee.
Farewell, Alexander, you made our lives better. We wish yours had been longer. You are deeply missed and never forgotten. Hedley Thomas, Close friend
He had found his true home on this island in the South China Sea with its British traditions and rule of law, and its Chinese ownership, pragmatic entrepreneurialism, and cultural fascinations. He hoped it would be a lifelong home. Over the next three decades as Alexander became embedded in Hong Kong, he soared as a lawyer. He took on the best and worst of cases, representing the good, the bad and the ugly, and gave all the benefit of his persuasive advocacy. He had a musical anthem for every important occasion - Sink the Bismarck and I Won’t Back Down were his favourites before he would go to court. He became known as ‘One Song King’ for his rendition of Pang Yau (Friends of Mine), and he never failed to bring the house down when he sang it. He crossed social and cultural barriers effortlessly with his words and songs. The widely-read but down‐toearth Kiwi with a biting wit and a contagious charm attracted many friends from all walks of life and culture. And he was always true to himself. Did he really just say that? some would ask after one of his typically provocative statements. The mischief and contrariness at the core of his personality saw him setting off small explosives in many conversations and settings Alexander revelled in the shock and awe, the intellectual joust, and the intensity of a great debate. Linda would marvel at his ability to be laughing and bonding with someone whom he had just infuriated. Even those who would vehemently disagree with him were won over by his chutzpah and easy charm. When he first saw Linda, his life partner, he asked her: What is your name?. What’s yours? she replied. Alexander The King!’ he said smiling, a glint in his eye. Linda knew (and he suspected) that he was a king and he would always be a king - to her, to young Richard, Alexander Stuart King, and to many, many more who knew him.
M
y youngest brother Alexander King better known certainly to those who knew him at Wellington College as 'Sandy', died in Hong Kong in February of complications of a brain tumour first diagnosed in October, 2011. In March, two wonderful services were held in Hong Kong for his family and friends and in July, another memorial service was organised in Auckland for those who couldn’t make it to Hong Kong. Now four months later it’s hard to believe he’s no longer with us although his spirit and memory will last forever. The day he was born, was a big disappointment for our father. I’m told that there was a huge expectation that his fifth child was finally going to be the long awaited daughter. It was not to be. Our father’s disappointment didn’t last long. He must have sensed there was something special about his fifth son because he named him after himself and the two of them went on to form what was probably the closest father-son bond in the family.
If you ever wondered where Sandy’s slightly right of centre political views came from, you only have to imagine the influence of many hours of political tutelage that the youngest son received from his father. Our childhood experiences growing up in the Hutt Valley were happy ones. Our mother spared nothing of herself to ensure that we were able to take advantage of everything life had to offer, and our father worked long hours to support it. However amongst the boys in the family, when it came to doing the chores, there was a definite hierarchy. The older one told the next one down what to do, and strict obedience was expected. This worked very well until Sandy came of age to do his share and to take his turn in the chain of command albeit at the bottom. It became evident very early on that this was not to his liking, and he refused to
Obituaries take orders from anyone except his parents. Not even physical or mental encouragement made any difference. It was stubborn defiance of the highest order but a wonderful character trait exhibited at a very early age that he carried with him until the day he died. He was many things to many people. Intelligent, interesting, irreverent, quick-witted, provocative, funny and entertaining and always loyal to his family and friends. Alexander did start at Firth House but didn’t last long. The legacy of bad behaviour created by his older brothers meant that there was a posse of masters waiting to extract their revenge on him. He went back home and commuted as a day boy for the last three years. He was also only at Wellington College for four years, electing to go to university rather than run into trouble in his fifth year at school. He loved to stir the pot or as one friend said, stir every pot he came across. He took great pleasure in winding people up, and that could be friend or foe. If he didn’t like your opinion, he was happy to give you his, with the expectation you would quickly see the error of your ways. However, there were two things in his life that were sacrosanct to what he considered important. One was his marriage and family and the other was the practice of law in Hong Kong which he held in the highest regard. In Hong Kong law circles, the feeling of deep respect was mutual. His colleagues I spoke to, including the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions told me that he operated in the highest echelons of criminal defence advocacy. Away from his work, he was just fun to be around and it all came from a sharp intelligence that he used to full capacity in his professional and personal life. Of all his gifts, the one I envied the most was the magical ability he had to insert himself into any gathering and within a very short time have the crowd big or small totally engaged in what he was offering. It didn’t matter where it was or who they were. They didn’t even have to speak English; Sandy could get them going. It was an extraordinary gift. He would have made a fantastic TV talk show host. I would like to finish by thanking Sandy’s friends, and members of our family who were so supportive throughout his illness. It is huge comfort to know that he was loved, admired and respected by so many
people outside his family circle. To my sister-in-law Linda and nephew Richard, once again my profound thanks for making his family life so wonderful and for the courageous way you nursed him through this cruel disease. To my brother Sandy, I can only reiterate what I said in Hong Kong. The courage and dignity with which you faced your illness is something I will never forget. I only hope when it’s my turn to go, I can face it with the same incredible bravery you showed. And as Hedley Thomas, his Australian friend concluded in his wonderful eulogy, You are deeply missed and never forgotten.
Under Tim's leadership, Weta Workshop established its range of film collectibles. Weta co-founder and co-director Sir Richard Taylor says Tim had all the right attributes for the job, a good business head, corporate nous but most importantly, a high 'geek' factor. Tim came from a corporate background, but on meeting him that first time we realised he had the most critical talent for the job - the geek factor. Tim was a terrifically positive influence. It was impossible not to get swept up in his absolute enthusiasm and love for everything 'geek'. It was a wonderful thing to see. He really hit it off with the guys on the [Weta Workshop] floor who would spend the evenings model-making and watching Thunderbirds. He just really got it. He was like a big kid.
Richard King (1960-1964) TIM LAUNDER Wellington College: 1979-1983
T
im Launder, General Manager of World of WearableArt had a head for business and a heart for all things geeky.
The 'gentle giant' managed to marry the two talents in his last two positions at Weta Workshop and World of WearableArt. WOW founder Dame Suzie Moncrieff described Tim, who became General Manager in 2014, as a fair, humble and honest man. He would question everything. What he had to say would firstly be very well considered and his viewpoint would always be what was best for the business and never about what was personally best for him. He was all about the goal of achieving the very best for WOW commercially and creatively. He was passionate about driving to be the very best we could be. That's his legacy and one we will all treasure. Tim empowered his staff and gave them the confidence to take control of each of their areas, she says. Tim brought the best out in people. He had an infectious, witty sense of humour. Many a long board meeting was had when we were focused on the task when Tim would say something in his unassuming manner and have us all lose focus for a moment and laugh. A true gentleman, a gentle giant, we will all miss him. Tim had come to WOW from Weta Workshop where he was General Manager of Weta Limited for six years. He headed the consumer products company, which handled the tourism and visits of fans to the workshop from around the world.
Tim was a huge advocate for film fans and enthusiasts. He had a clever business head and an acute ability to think like a fan, Sir Richard says. Fans can spot a faker from a mile off but Tim was someone of such sincerity. He embraced the fans and all they stood for. He had a deft touch about him and made everyone feel like their fandom was very much appreciated. He had a willingness to embrace anyone and everyone in the process of creating a unique and wonderful thing carrying that out of the workplace and into the fan space. Tim was tall in stature, Sir Richard says. Because of that you would think he would have a dominating presence but he was a gentle and quiet individual. He was always cheerful and gentlemanly. He sacrificed a lot to do the job, moving to Wellington to work through the week and returning to his family in Auckland in the weekends. Tim was born in Malacca, Malaysia. His father was in the New Zealand Army and Tim, along with his three siblings, was raised in both Malaysia and New Zealand. His sister Biddy Sutherland said he was a keen sportsman with a particular interest in cricket, which he played at a senior level. After leaving Wellington College in 1983, he graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration and began his 20-year corporate career with the then Dairy Board as a junior employee shipping thousands of tonnes of cheese to America from an office in Wellington. He went on to sell milk products to diverse customers in Japan, Taiwan, Latin America and the Middle East for Fonterra before he went back to his creative side working for Weta.
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Tim, who is survived by two teenage children and parents who live in Wellington, was a close friend of the Lord of the Rings fan site TheOneRing.net. In a post following his death to skin cancer, one member paid tribute to the friend of Middle-Earth. Sailing into the West and hopefully pain free. The collecting world lost a good friend tonight but the world lost a great guy. The Dominion Posy SIMON LOCKHART Wellington College: 1949-1952
S
imon Lockhart, QC and Retired District Court Judge passed away in early November.
Simon was admitted to the Bar in 1959 and he was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1982. He was a former Vice President and Council Member of the NZ Law Society. He also served as a Member and Deputy Chairman of the NZLS's Disciplinary Tribunal. He was a former President and Council Member of the Auckland District Law Society as well as Chairman of the ADLS's Legal Aid Assignment Committee. Simon retired as a District Court Judge in January 2007 after a distinguished ten-year career on the Bench, in both civil and criminal jurisdictions. He was a former partner in the Auckland law firm Jackson-Russell, and then a Barrister. We hope to include a full Obituary in next year’s issue. IAN MacGILLIVRAY Wellington College: 1969-1972
I
was a colleague of Ian at Wellington College in the 1960s and very quickly gained a lot of respect for his Science knowledge and his unique classroom control. Several of us had been appointed as first year teachers in 1964, and so we had a lot to learn about handling adolescents and about the subjects we were directed to teach. That's where Ian came in: as an older more experienced teacher he was so generous with his knowledge, but never dogmatic about what to do with it. One characteristic which we all picked up was his passion for the subject of Chemistry, and also his sharp wit. His laugh was unmistakable. I was lucky enough to encounter him again after I had spent two years overseas. From Wellington College, Ian had been appointed Head of Chemistry at Wainuiomata College, where he quickly gained a reputation as a superb Science The Lampstand | 2015
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and Chemistry teacher. By this time I had come to know all his family: wife Audrey, and daughters Margot and Anne, for which he was a doting and proud father. Ian also had other passions; Soccer and Classical Music. He had a sizeable collection of classical music which he listened to often. One day he said to me that he was envious because I had a vast ocean of classical music yet to discover, whereas he had pretty much heard it all. If one had been out with Ian there was always an invitation to drop into his place to hear some new version of a Brandenburg Concerto, or some such, but also to have a 'wee dram' (nearly always Glenfiddich). It was after one or two of these that he would talk about his home country of Scotland, an enthusiasm I shared since I had recently toured much of the country. Ian was a very memorable character and I feel privileged to have known him. Ernie Barrington, Colleague JOHN MARSHALL Wellington College: 1960-1964
J
ohn Marshall was a stand-up Wellingtonian with a brilliant legal mind and spent his life battling for truth and fairness.
He was a cricket fan, perennial Wellington College Old Boy, a selfless friend, and a loving family man with a strong commitment to his faith. He grew up the son of Sir John Marshall, better known as Jack Marshall, who went on to become Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1972. Despite being the Prime Minister's son, friends remember him as the person who treated every person the same, no matter who they were. John went to Wellington College as a teenager, where he quickly amassed a large and loyal group of friends. Veteran broadcaster Keith Quinn sat next to Marshall for five years at school, thanks to the proximity of their surnames. John was fun, funny, very popular and loyal, Keith said. In 1964, John was elected Head Prefect for the school, and decades later his class still considered him their 'leader'. We had a Reunion in 2004, and John was automatically the Chairman of the committee, the leader at the function. We still The Lampstand | 2015
regarded him as our head lad all the way through. John was about as close to a perfect person as a human gets, Keith said. He was probably the most decent person I've known in my life. John was also quite the cricket fan. He was a strong batsman at school and played at a senior level for some years before retiring his love for the game to the grandstand.
who understood the profession and who was able to explain the reasons for the changes and to guide the profession through them was needed. John Marshall was that man, New Zealand Law Society President Chris Moore explained.
Keith still recalls himself and John 'bragging endlessly' about the big batting stand they made as a pair opening the batting for the Wellington College 1964 team.
His concern at the high rate of stress and depressive illness in the legal profession also led him to establish the Law Society's Practising Well initiative. Throughout his career he gave much to the community and he was a firm advocate for pro bono work by lawyers, saying it was the most satisfying work a lawyer could do, Moore said.
John loved his wife Mary deeply, and their relationship was a pleasure to watch, friends said. She remembers clearly when they met at a party at his sister's flat in Wellington in April, 1975.
John was also a significant contributor to the national life of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand. He was a religious man, but never pushed his beliefs on others, son John said.
They married in 1977, and while they didn't make it to their 40th wedding anniversary, they celebrated 40 days from the day they met this year. He was just the most wonderful husband and an extraordinary human being, right through it's been wonderful, Mary said.
He recalled travelling to Norway with his father and meandering around the hillside terraces of Bergen, where John complained to his dad that all tourist attractions were religious sites. John replied: Johnny, you may not be a Christian; but you're a good Christian.
The way he lived the last eleven months of his life, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, was a joy, Mary said. From the word go he didn't waver for one moment. He always said he had a wonderful life, he loved his life, and that was such a gift to all of us, she said.
As a father, John didn't mind what his children did, as long as it was meaningful, his son said. Dad wanted to give us the freedom to discover what we believed in, to engage in our own spiritual journey, to be authentic to ourselves...To treat others as we would wish to be treated ourselves.
Mary and their three children, John, Annabel and Clementine, and his granddaughter Rose, called him an exceptionally warm, loving and supportive husband, father and grandfather. John was a highly regarded litigator whose services to law were recognised this year when he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He was former President of the New Zealand Law Society, and in his five-year tenure as Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, John led such prominent New Zealand cases as the Carterton balloon disaster and the Easy Rider fishing boat tragedy. He's a tremendous loss for the legal profession and he was just a very good man, Law Society Executive Director Christine Grice said. John led New Zealand's legal profession through major reforms of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act. The change in the way legal services were regulated was radical. Someone
Knox Church Dunedin minister Kerry Enright said John was an asset to the church. He was conciliatory and gentle in his style, and his professionalism and wisdom together with his warmth and convivial humanity echoed the churches values and helped people respond in difficult circumstances. Wellington College Headmaster Roger Moses first met John in his role on the Wellington College Board of Trustees, when John appointed him to the Headmaster role 20 years ago. The Head Prefect in 1964, he went on to sit on the Board of Trustees and be Chairman of the Wellington College Foundation. John was integrity personified, Roger said. He treated everybody with incredible dignity and respect, no matter who that person was. He grew up in an environment where he knew a lot of important people, but to meet John, he treated everybody with absolute equality. The Dominion Post
MISILUNI MOANANU Wellington College: 1990-1995 The following article was published on Club Rugby in 2012 - when Misiluni (Luni) Moananu became the third brother in his family to play 200 Premier club rugby matches for the Poneke FC.
F
ollowing a short battle with bowel cancer, Luni Moananu has passed away. As recently as four months ago he was playing Jubilee Cup rugby, where he packed down for the Wellington Axemen at tighthead prop against beaten finalists and long-time rivals Marist St Pat's. Luni had many big battles against MSP through the years, including in several Jubilee Cup finals. His greatest success against them was in the 2003 final at Westpac Stadium. A significant milestone for Luni was his 200th Premier match for the Club. After a stint as Poneke's Rugby Development Officer, he transferred to the Axemen to play for in 2015. He started in seven matches for the Axemen, helping them reach the Jubilee Cup for the first time in 20 years. At the end of May he played against Poneke. Family and friends, the Poneke FC, his old school Wellington College and members of the greater Wellington rugby community are greatly saddened by his loss. It's said that once you join Poneke you become part of a family; you don't just play, you belong! The Moananu brothers epitomise all of this. Oldest Moananu brother Fili played at centre for Poneke for a few seasons in the late 1990s, middle brother Fa'atoto first played Premier rugby against MSP in 1994, while the younger twins, Luni and Misapalauni ‘P' made their Premier dĂŠbuts in 1997. Between them they've amassed upwards of 700 Premier caps in almost two decades of service to the Club. The Moananu brothers, out of Wellington College, have variously played representative rugby for four different provinces. Toto played for the Lions in 1995, 1997 and 1998 and Luni in 1998. All have also played for the Wellington Bs. Both P (2002-2004) and Luni (2002) played for the HorowhenuaKapiti NPC side, while Luni also had a season with Marlborough. In one of his first games for the Lions, Luni propped against Kevin Barrett, father of Hurricane and All Black, Beauden Barrett. His performance in that game played
Obituaries some part in Luni spending a season Taranaki with games for the Taranaki Development XV before he returned to Poneke. The brothers have each spent time overseas with Luni playing in Hong Kong, and P spending the 2001/02 Northern season playing in Scotland. P also joined up with Toto for a short stint in Cambridge in England. Luni also toured the UK and Canada with the NZ Youth team in the late nineties, along with fellow Old Boy, Poneke and Lions player, Evan Belford. His selection for the NZ touring side followed consecutive trials for the NZ U19s and the NZ Colts, and previous representative honours with the Wellington Secondary Schools, Wellington U19s and the Wellington Colts. We hope to include a full obituary provided by the family in next year’s issue. COLIN MURRAY Wellington College 1941-1942
C
olin was born in Hokitika in 1926 to Eoin and Elva Murray. He was a proud New Zealander and dedicated his adult life to serving his country primarily as a Trade Commissioner promoting and building trade relationships between New Zealand and other major countries. He attended Wellington College from 1941-1942. Colin was with the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo from 1947-1953, and then Osaka from 1963-1970. He was instrumental with Expo 70 and putting New Zealand on the map hosting dignitaries from around the world including the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan. His heart was always in Japan and this is where he met a young Japanese girl, Bessie (who happened to work at the Australian Embassy) and they were married in 1966. He was posted to the High Commission in Hong Kong (19721975), Embassy in Manila (19751978) and finally the Embassy in Moscow (1981-1985). Colin is survived by his devoted wife and best friend Bessie, his daughter and three grandchildren. Colin leaves behind a legion of close friends around the world who will remember him for his integrity, cheeky sense of humour and just 'getting the job done'. NZ Herald
HUGH NEES Wellington College 1933-1935
H
ugh Nees and his wife Jean were married for 67 years and couldn't bear to live a day apart.
Both died in their sleep of natural causes, after telling family they didn't want to live without each other. Despite doctors' predictions that Joan would die before Hugh, he was the first to go, at 10.20am on Tuesday morning. Joan let go just two hours later, at 12.30pm. Both had been in declining health, and spent the last three months of their lives sharing a double room at Eldon Lodge, in Paraparaumu. The couple were rarely apart. They first met in the Hutt Valley in the 1940s. Hugh was a Baptist minister and the couple lived in Dunedin, Levin, Gisborne, Tawa, Taumarunui and Papua New Guinea, working closely together in churches in these places. They always followed the activities of their children and grandchildren with great interest. Not only did they share a common purpose, they had a strong personal love for each other, a close relationship. It was based on a strong faith in God, and a belief that marriage was a lifelong commitment. The couple were keen gardeners, and both played golf in their younger days before taking up bowls together at their retirement village later in life. The Dominion Post JOHN SHERRING Wellington College: 1942-1946
J
ohn Sherring was born in his Grandmother’s Nursing Home in Newtown in June 1928, the son of Harold Sherring, an Old Boy of Wellington College (1917-18) and Catherine (nee Cronin). He was the oldest of their four children – brother, Stephen attended 1956-1960. Growing up in Paraparaumu where his parents settled in 1931, he attended Paraparaumu School and in 1942 as a third former, joined eight other boys who entered Firth House that year. Being such a small group of boys, they became a very close knit group and maintained a firm friendship throughout their lives. Unfortunately with John’s passing, only two members of that group now remain, Clive Westbury
and Merv Crocker. In 1946 as a member of 6A, John was both a School and House Prefect. On leaving Wellington College, John went to Canterbury University where he studied for his Bachelor of Engineering degree. While there he joined up with another Old Boy, John Hunt, who was Head Prefect in 1945 and they both boarded in the same hostel for a time at University. In 1950, John took a year off from completing his degree to get some more funding behind him and during that year returned home and worked at Paraparaumu Airport which at the time was the airport for Wellington. On returning to Christchurch, John continued his involvement in student life as Secretary of the Students’ Association and associated student activities and completed his Engineering degree. For his service he was made a Life Member of the Students’ Association. He was involved in assisting with the organisation the annual University Sports Tournaments and he part in Smallbore Rifle Shooting as well as refereeing Rugby. He also served in the Army Territorials as an engineer, putting some of his technical skills into practice. Perhaps John’s most unusual distinction was the presentation to him of a NZ University Drinking Blue during his time at Canterbury, something perhaps his parents may not have approved. After qualifying, John joined the Christchurch Drainage Board as an Engineer and it was here he developed his interest in water reticulation and sewage systems. In 1955, he married Marion Scott from Waverley and they settled in Christchurch. He had met Marion some years previously when she visited the family in Paraparaumu on school holidays from New Plymouth Girls’ High School where she and John’s sister, Helen, were students. John and Marion shifted to Tauranga in 1958 and he joined the staff of the then Tauranga County Council as the Water and Drainage Engineer. Over the years, John was involved in the design and construction of the irrigation and water reticulation systems which were being put in place in the County and particularly around the Te Puke area to assist the Kiwifruit industry. The development of the coastal farmland between Mt Maunganui and Te Puke into what is now the Papamoa residential area also occupied much of his time and interest. Another responsibility
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with the Council, was for the Parks and Reserves in the area. In the summer, many a Sunday drive with his family was to see the locals enjoying the parks and also to check on those residents who were breaking the water usage restrictions. John retired from the County as Deputy County Engineer in 1988. He joined IPENZ in 1952 and was bestowed Life Membership of the Institution in 2008 for services to the engineering profession. Following on from his initial interest while at university, John was very active in both Small-bore and Full-bore Rifle Shooting and for a number of years made the annual trip to Trentham for the Ballinger Belt Competition. However, it was in Small-bore shooting that he particularly was involved as a participant and as an administrator. He represented New Zealand both as a competitor and as an administrator and had trips to Russia, USA and Mexico. John was Manager of the New Zealand shooting team at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990 and was particularly thrilled when Stephen Pederson got the first Gold Medal of the Games. He represented Waikato and Tauranga for many years and was a life member of both the Waikato Small-bore Rifle Association and the Tauranga Small-bore Rifle Club. In later years he took enormous pleasure in coaching college students the finer points of shooting and particularly the safety issues involved. John and Marion, after shifting to Tauranga, had two children, Beth and Geoffrey. Unfortunately Geoffrey needed to attend a special school for those with disabilities and both John and Marion became heavily involved particularly in raising funds for the IHC Homes. John was devoted to Geoffrey and spent many hours reading to him, taking him on rail trips and to orchestral concerts all things which Geoffrey enjoyed. He also took a keen interest in Beth’s netball and tennis in her younger days and more recently watching his grandsons’ representative cricket and granddaughter’s badminton successes. John loved music and had eclectic tastes ranging from classical to Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera and Broadway shows. He had a love of books and reading and he passed on this love to his grandsons who are now both lawyers. John took a keen interest in Wellington College after leaving in 1946. His brother Stephen was a Firth House boarder from 19561960 so he was always interested in The Lampstand | 2015
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the changes which had taken place since his time there. He, along with a number of other Old Boys from the war years, was always proud of the fact they were also ‘Old Boys’ of Wellington East Girls’ College. This arose because for a time the Army took over the College buildings during the war and a number of the boys were shifted up to Wellington East for their classes. One of his fellow 'Group of Nine’ , Merv Crocker, referred to this event at John’s service and recounted that in recent years, a number of the Old Boys had been invited to attend a jubilee reunion at Wellington East. In more recent times, John was the Secretary of the Tauranga Branch of the Old Boys’ Association. He also took a keen interest in the College Archives, presenting a number of items which he had accumulated from his and his father’s time at College including Cadet uniform pieces, a slide rule, a trouser press, Firth House crockery and other sundry items. John was pre-deceased by Marion in March 2013 and with his health also in decline with dementia, John was in care for three years prior to his passing in July 2015. Beth Derby and Stephen Sherring WILLIAM SIME Wellington College: 1937-1938
B
ill Sime, who was Principal of Taita (now Avalon) Intermediate from 1977 to 1985 died recently in Australia. He is remembered as someone who made a significant contribution to the culture of the school and was popular with both staff and students. He grew up in Wellington during the Depression. After leaving Wellington College, his first job was delivering telegrams for the Post Office. In 1939, he delivered the telegram to the German Ambassador informing him that New Zealand was at war with Germany. Bill served in the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1941 to 1946 and was in Singapore when it fell to the Japanese. In 1946, he met and married Jean, a marriage which lasted 69 years. Post war, he trained at Christchurch Teachers’ College. Later he took the family to Fiji where he taught. In 1962, he began teaching at Taita Intermediate with his wife. The development of progressive ideas in education was always important to Bill and during his time at Taita, he abolished corporal punishment and introduced a whanau system The Lampstand | 2015
of class groupings. Bill will always be remembered as someone who made a big contribution to the school. The Hutt News WILLIAM SLATER Wellington College: 1944-1948
B
ill Slater studied at Wellington College, Canterbury University, and completed postgraduate studies in Paris (France).
Over the years, Bill enjoyed a wonderful career in the field of civil engineering, specialising in pre-stressed concrete. His expertise in the field was well-known and he was able to be part of the many exciting projects including: the Benmore high pressure penstocks (still a world record), CN Tower, Habitat (’67), Olympic Stadium Montreal, Confederation Bridge, Hydro Building (Toronto) and many others. Bill’s other passions in life were sport and travelling. In spite of his stature, Bill played rugby, was a fierce and ranked competitive Squash and Tennis player and represented the NZ Universities in Hockey against the Australian Olympic team. Bill enjoyed mountaineering and trekking in New Zealand, England, France and visited over 40 countries during his travels. Bill was pre-deceased by two wives and leaves his fiancée and partner Sonia Banquier. He was a father to two children; three step-children; grandfather to 13. Bill also leaves his brother Dennis and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Stuart Slater (1960) BRIAN SUTTON-SMITH Wellington College: 1938-1940
B
rian Sutton-Smith, a developmental psychologist whose work, was prolific, scholarly and precedentsetting, died in March White River Junction, Vermont, USA. He was 90. His death, at a nursing home, was from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Brian was one of the first people to bring the study of play into the academic arena, and for more than half a century he was considered the field’s foremost scholar. He was the author of a spate of books, including Toys as Culture (1986) and The Ambiguity of Play (1997); a consultant to toy makers and
children’s television programmes; and a regular presence in the news media, which quoted him on subjects including the inclination of modern-day schools to abolish both school recess as well as helicopter parents. A resident most recently of Sarasota, Florida, Brian was at his death, an Emeritus Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. He also had a foot planted in folklore and as a result, cast a wide scholarly net, taking in jokes, riddles, stories and street games as well as toys, board games, organised sports, computer gaming and even daydreaming. Although play has existed since the dawn of mankind, scholars long disdained it as a fit subject for inquiry. But as Brian’s work from the 1950s onward showed, there is much to be learned about the human condition from studying play’s cultural wellsprings, developmental trajectory, psychological import and myriad variations. Games are rites of passage, he told The Toronto Star in 1991. The player performs a task, gains acceptance of his comrades and experiences success. It’s playing out an analogy of life. Though Brian’s work was concerned in particular with the spontaneous play of children, it also examined the larger forces that underpinned play of all kinds - what a child’s make-believe, a mother’s crossword puzzles and a father’s endless rounds of golf might have in common, as he wrote in a 2008 article. Throughout his career, he sought to answer a set of fundamental questions: What is play? Why do human beings engage in it? What psychological, cognitive and cultural functions does it serve? The answer, he concluded after six decades of study, was one that befit his quicksilver quarry: No single definition could contain it. Something about the nature of play itself frustrates fixed meaning, Brian wrote in 2008. Just as some scholars spend their lives consumed by the metaphysics of literature or history or philosophy or theology - you name it, came to spend mine in search of the metaphysics of play. Brian Sutton-Smith was born, without a hyphen to his name, in Wellington, in 1924. His father, Ernest James Smith, was Wellington’s Chief Postmaster. Because there were several Brian Smiths in his neighbourhood, Brian was known from an early age by his full name; as an adult he reinforced its solidity by adding the hyphen.
As a youth, he studied education at Wellington College. (Mindful even then of the human hunger for play, he chose the school because it gave students Wednesday afternoons off for sports). He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Victoria University, followed by a master’s in educational psychology. In the late 1940s he taught at a Wellington primary school. Travelling to the United States as a Fulbright scholar in 1952, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and worked elsewhere with the psychologists Bruno Bettelheim and Fritz Redl. Returning home, he completed a 900-page dissertation on the play of New Zealand children and received a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of New Zealand in 1954. In 1956, Brian moved permanently to the United States. He taught at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and Columbia University Teachers' College before joining the University of Pennsylvania faculty in 1977. His years as a schoolteacher also gave rise to three novels for young people, written for his students and rooted in his own rough-andtumble childhood. As he realised, few works of fiction reflected the experiences of New Zealand’s children, who were weaned on a literary diet of British imports, many with a lingering Victorian flavour. In the late 1940s, when Brian’s novels first appeared in serialised form, they caused a furore among New Zealand parents, educators and public officials. At issue was their generous use of slang and vivid depictions of street life. (Children adored the books, published in full as Our Street, Smitty Does a Bunk and The Cobbers). The major effect the fuss had on me, perhaps, Brian wrote in 2008, was that I came to spend the rest of my scholarly life defensively. He was called on to defend himself again in the mid-1970s, when a federal judge enjoined the sale of Child Psychology, a 1973 textbook offered by Prentice-Hall. The book had been written by a team of ghostwriters, with Brian as its named author, a practice not unknown among textbook publishers of the period. In a case that received significant coverage in the news media, Harper & Row, which had published a competing textbook, Child Development and Personality (written by Paul Henry Mussen,
Obituaries John Janeway Conger and Jerome Kagan and first issued in 1956), contended that some 400 passages in Brian’s book closely resembled parts of theirs. While court documents indicate that Brian was uninvolved in writing his book’s first draft — and that he had warned his publisher against following the Harper & Row book too closely. The court held that Child Psychology infringed on the earlier book’s copyright and permanently barred its sale. Brian’s wife, the former Shirley L. Hicks, died in 2002; a son, Mark, died in 2013. Besides his daughter Emily, his survivors include his companion, Deborah Thurber; three other daughters, Katherine Moyer, Leslie Sutton-Smith and Mary Sutton-Smith; and ten grandchildren. His other books include Child’s Play (1971, with R. E. Herron), The Study of Games (1971, with Elliott M. Avedon) and How to Play With Your Children (and When Not To), a parenting guide written with his wife, published in 1974. GRAHAM THOMAS Wellington College: 1964-1978
G
raham Thomas or ‘GT’ as he was known by us here at Hastings Boys’ High School, began his teaching at Wellington College in 1964. His bright mathematical mind and ability was quickly noticed and he was promoted to Assistant Head and later Head of Mathematics by 1973. It was in 1979 that he was appointed as Deputy Headmaster of Hastings Boys’ High School and on the retirement of Frank Christ, was appointed Headmaster in 1984. During his 18 years as Headmaster, besides leading the school, Graham lectured in regional and national Mathematics, was seconded to the Ministry and Inspectorate advising Boards on financial planning and budgeting and was awarded a prestigious Wolf Fisher Scholarship in 1990. Besides the multitude of Headmaster responsibilities, he coached rugby for over 26 years including 1st XV and representative level. Graham oversaw the introduction of Tomorrow Schools in 1989 with the introduction of a Board of Trustees and was instrumental in the establishment of the NZ Super 8 group of schools.
On his retirement in 2002, Robin Nairn, Chairman of the Board 1993-1996 wrote describing the retiring Headmaster: Graham Thomas who with professionalism, skill, commitment, vision and strong leadership led Hastings Boys’ High School, students, staff and trustees from strength to strength to the position that the school continues to enjoy in the community. The dictionary definition of the word 'dedication' could well be used to describe the service this person gave devotion to purpose, single minded loyalty. He has made an important and greatly appreciated contribution to the life of a great school. When I arrived in July 2002, it was clearly evident those words were true as the school, its students, staff and facilities showed that the school had been well lead for a very long time.
was also a very good organiser and this ability stood him in good stead when he was appointed to head the boarding establishment at Firth House, which often posed lots of challenges. By this time he had married Margaret and they had a son, Craig. Graham handled his role at Firth House with great equanimity, coping with student unrest about the quality of food at the House to students sneaking out in the weekends to join parties held by day boys. But he was always loyal to the fierce spirit that was a characteristic of Firth House. Graham was also a generous and supportive colleague, giving his expertise freely.
I quickly realised that Graham possessed a fine set of financial and mathematical skills. He became my Financial Adviser. He analysed SUE reports and assisted in my annual returns.
In 1973, Graham's leadership was recognised and he became Head of Mathematics at Wellington College. It was no surprise to his colleagues and friends that Graham was eventually appointed Deputy Principal of Hastings Boys’ High School in 1979, and from there he became Headmaster of the school (1984-2002). He distinguished himself in that role and left the school with a strong reputation.
When the débâcle of Novopay hit New Zealand schools, Graham was in his element. He analysed the multitude of pay errors, faxing through the solution by 9.00am Monday. There was good reason why he was number one top left hand corner on my school telephone special dial.
I have happy memories of the 1960s years with Graham, both at Wellington College and the many social functions out of it, including a camping and fishing trip to Spirits Bay in Northland, c 1966, with one of my brothers. Yes, we caught fish from the rocks. There was virtually no one else present!
As Headmaster, I welcomed and enjoyed Graham’s involvement in school and only saw it as rewarding for me, the school and Graham. In the 14 years of Hastings Boys’ High School, no Headmaster has contributed more to the fabric of Hastings Boys’ High school. I thank you GT for always being the Headmaster until the end.
Great memories.
Ka Hinga Te Totara Or te Wao Nui a Tane Rob Sturch, Headmaster Hastings Boys’ High School Graham was a first year teacher at Wellington College in 1964 having studied Mathematics at Victoria University. He had an early view of what teaching was like because his father was a Primary School Headmaster in Taranaki. Graham was a very keen teacher and soon gained a reputation as someone who could teach Mathematics to lower stream third formers as well as those seeking to pass University Entrance. He also took a lot of interest in sport, especially Rugby, where he became a successful coach. He
Ernie Barrington, Colleague IAN UTTLEY Wellington College: 1954-1959
H
ead Prefect in 1959, Ian Uttley and his wife Christine [Tink] died together tragically in September when returning from their holiday home in Taupo - their vehicle went off the side of State Highway 5 near Te Pohue, colliding with a logging truck. The couple were farewelled at the Napier War Memorial Centre. It was standing room only as hundreds turned out to remember a couple who touched many lives. Ian was a widely-recognised New Zealand rugby player. A centre three-quarter, Ian represented Wellington, Auckland, and Hawke's Bay at a provincial level. He was also an All Black in 1963. He was All Black 634. Ian and Tink met by chance on a beach. Ian, the ‘fastest kid in school’, was athletically throwing a rugby
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ball around with friends while Tink couldn't really pass the ball at all. When Tink went to work at Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong, Ian missed her 'sufficiently enough' to realise that there was more to life than rugby. They married in Gisborne in 1965 - the same year Ian scored the only try in Wellington's victory over South Africa. He played two matches at centre for the All Blacks in Auckland against England in May 1963. He was known as the ‘grey ghost’ because he could glide effortlessly through the opposition's line. Friends said Ian was a modest rugby player and believed he played his best football in the provinces. The couple recently celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. Their grandchildren gave them cards to celebrate the occasion. These were read at the funeral. They described them as the most cheerful grandparents in the whole wide world who were always supporting them from the side-line. In 1960, Ian was awarded a Shell Scholarship which enabled him to complete a Mathematics and Science degree at Victoria University. Naturally he played rugby for his university and the combined New Zealand University teams that faced international opponents in those days. In late 1962, having completed his degree, Ian joined Shell in the Finance Department, specifically to join the computer implementation team charged with conversion from manual to mechanised accounting before the IBM 14-01 computer, Shell New Zealand's first, was introduced in 1964. In 1968, Ian was appointed Training Manager and in 1971 moved to London on assignment to the Natural Gas business. On his return to New Zealand, he was appointed Marketing Manager for Kent Heating in Auckland and in the late 1970s returned to Wellington to Shell Petroleum Mining, first as Administration Manager and then EP Joint Venture Manager. This was followed in the early 1980s as Planning Manager for Shell Oil New Zealand Limited. In 1988 Ian and Christine moved to London where Ian undertook an HR assignment, and joined an active Shell New Zealand expatriate community. Ian's last position, back in Wellington, was his appointment as Director Management Services in late 1993. This was a busy time for him, managing a diverse portfolio of responsibilities including Planning, Human Resources, Corporate Relations, Quality, Safety The Lampstand | 2015
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Obituaries
and Environment, Administration Services and some other management initiatives. In 1998 Ian decided to take early retirement and in July left the company after 36 years’ service. He and Christine moved to Napier where their retirement project was to become perfect parents and grandparents - in which they were spectacularly successful. The All Black’s Player Statistics site (courtesy of Old Boys’ University RFC), quotes Ian as Only 10st 9lb (67kg) and 5' 8" (1.73m) he had a deceptive gliding run which, combined with moving in or out to take a pass, enabled him to make many openings. After a term on the Club Committee (1962-64) he coached the 1st XV from 1975-78 and was the Club's representative on the NZ Universities Rugby Football Council until the end of 1986. He was an Auckland Colts selector 1974. Ian played for Wellington 1961-65 and 1968, Auckland 1966, Bay of Plenty 1967, in NZ trials 1963, 1965 and 1967, NZU 1963 and 1965. The overall calibre of the Club's teams had started to decline before he took over. Ian had a quiet, thoughtful approach to the game and to his role as a coach. Educated at Wellington College (1st XV 1959) and Head Prefect (1959), he came of a rugby family. His grandfather George played for Otago 1901 and North Otago 190311 while father Kenneth represented Otago 1932, 34, NZ Universities 1933 and played cricket for Otago, Wellington and the South Island. He won the Redpath Cup in 1938 as top batsman and was coach of the Jubilee Cup winning Victoria University rugby teams in 1950's. Blair Wingfield (1955-1959), lifelong friend, team mate at College and University, Shell Oil colleague and Best Man at Ian and Tink’s wedding recalls when they both played their first game for the 1st XV on the bottom field. It was against the much vaunted unbeaten championship leaders Varsity 3rd 1st team with Sam Rolleston on the wing and Mick Williment at Fullback. In that same year Mick, straight out of 3rd grade, went onto play in the Wellington Senior Rep team. Well we won the match with Ian scoring the first try in the Headmaster's House corner and the late Peter Mahon kicking a drop goal from a ‘mark’ from a 25 drop out. It was always exciting to watch Ian slide into a gap with his markers thinking that they could turn and catch him. It never happened, he was just too quick, The Lampstand | 2015
with either Ian scoring the try or his outsides getting the touchdown. As a first-five-eight in the 1st XV, Ian had rapid acceleration from a standing start and this often enabled him to glide past opposition players. What a thrill it was when Ian became an All Black and again when he scored the try for Wellington against the '65 Boks. Ian's sister Sue was married to the late Keith Sturrock (1956-1060) another outstanding WCOB. BOB WOOD Wellington College: 1928-1930
R
obin (Bob1) Wood was an Old Boy who typified an impressive generation of New Zealand WW II veterans, whose resilience, optimism and enduring humour somehow set them apart. He died in February 2015, aged 100, in Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales north coast. In his long and active life, Bob gave much back to the community after the hardship of war. He helped establish and maintain a 19th Battalion Memorial on the Cashmere Hills in Christchurch, with friends, such as Charles Upham,VC and bar. In Sydney where he lived for many years, he was involved in the early days of Birthright, the support organisation for war widows and families and maintained close links with fellow veterans, including the famous Wellington-born Resistance fighter Nancy Wake. Bob was a long standing member of the New Zealand Sub-branch of the Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW) in Sydney and as President, often led the WW II veterans’ contingent to Martin Place on ANZAC Day. He was involved with plans to commemorate in bronze, a Kiwi soldier at one end of Sydney’s ANZAC Bridge, dedicated in 2008. Bob Wood was one of the ‘first in - last out’ of WW II, having joined the Special Force in Wellington in September 1939. He embarked for Egypt with what became the 19th Battalion in the first echelon leaving in January 1940 and was commissioned in 1941. He saw action in the desert campaigns, until his capture after fierce fighting at Ruweisat Ridge in July 1942. His fellow Prisoners of War included ‘Tiny’ Armour, whose father was Headmaster in Bob’s day and several other Old Boys in Campo PG 47 Modena, Italy, among them my father. When confusion reigned in the camp after the Armistice was
signed and options given to leave or stay, Bob and two friends made a space in the roof of their barracks by climbing up a pipe and began leaving food and water in a bid to escape.
funeral, Phil Wood remembered his father as honest, forthright, funny, hard-working and generous. As a keen fly fisherman, he taught his boys the value of patience. Be a stayer, not a sprinter.
As the final batch of POWs was being transferred to other camps in Germany, Bob and a Christchurch friend, Hugh Flower remained for two days in the roof in extreme heat, with brief forays out. Finding that the wire was cut on the wall at the rear of their hut, and expecting a bullet at any time, they disappeared into the night, on a journey south of about 600km and three months through central Italy, across the Apennines as winter loomed.
Bob Wood had joined the AMP in Wellington from College in 1931 aged 16½, ‘in a new suit and with a touch of Brilliantine’. Managerial positions followed in Wangaratta, Victoria, then Melbourne, Christchurch, Sydney and as Chief Manager, UK until Bob retired from Head Office, Sydney in 1978. His memoirs were recorded in an in-house journal, Keep in Touch, with what a former colleague, John Lewis, called his inimitable wit, style and grace.
Friendly Italians sometimes sheltered and fed them and they stayed in barns, often with livestock, and in caves. They cautiously avoided towns and at times encountered other POWs on the move. Finally British commandos met them on an ice-covered ridge and escorted them to a base occupied by a New Zealand unit near Palombaro, in Abruzzo. Bob by now weighed 7 stone (44kg) and being deemed unfit for further service, was sent home to New Zealand via Egypt in December 1943. Bob Wood was one of the few escaped prisoners to return to active service after some months on furlough. He returned to Italy for the remainder of the war as Company Commander, promoted to the rank of Major with the 22nd Battalion Armoured Brigade. In 1945, he joined the POW Repatriation Unit in Margate, Kent and married his English fiancée Lyn in London. Lyn had herself survived an intrepid journey by vehicle overland from England to India via Afghanistan in the 1930s, with her then husband and another couple. Both men died of cholera in India. Bob and Lyn returned to Wellington and had two sons, Errol and Phil, now both living in Bellingen, New South Wales.
Bob remained a proud Kiwi and told Lewis after his move to Sawtell, NSW that on a good day, he could see New Zealand. And on a very good day, he could see the All Blacks giving the Aussies another beating. In August 2013, the New Zealand Veterans in NSW (WW II, Korea and Vietnam) celebrated at the Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu, Redfern. Frank Harlow from Taranaki (on Crete when the Germans dropped 6,000 paratroopers on Allied positions) had turned 100 the day before and Bob 99, the day after. Both were bestowed with a korowai, (feathered cloak) and a birthday cake. The occasion also marked the 75th anniversary of the New Zealand Sub-Branch of the RSL (NSW). Bob’s 100th birthday was suitably celebrated in Sawtell last August with a large gathering of family and friends. He was interviewed for the Saturday programme on Radio New Zealand National by Kim Hill on 30 June 2012. When she signed off she said, And that was Bob Wood, 97 going on 98. Bob added: And still dangerous! Rosanne Robertson, Family Friend
Delivering the eulogy at Bob’s
WELLINGTON COLLEGE'S WWI CASUALTIES
C
ompiling the Wellington College Old Boys list of casualties has been an interesting and lengthy exercise, cross referencing against the list produced for the 1919 Wellingtonian and subsequently for the Tablets at the back of our Memorial Hall.
With thanks to Google, the Auckland Museum Cenotaph and the NZ War Graves Project, together with the British, Canadian and Australian WWI Sites, I have endeavoured to record the most accurate information below, while at the same time, I have also discovered a number of errors that have been in place for almost 100 years. The 1919 Wellingtonian and Tablets state that 222 Old Boys
died but in fact that number also includes three staff members who never actually attended the College as students. There are also at least two Old Boys never recorded on the Tablets [that we know of] and have subsequently been added. On the other hand, there are three Old Boys recorded as ‘Missing, presumed dead’ but in fact were Prisoners of War and either escaped or survived their ordeal. There are also inaccuracies where one brother(s) has been recorded as deceased when it was actually his brother(s). There are other minor inaccuracies such as misspelt names, initials and these are a lot easier to amend. From the list of casualties, I have managed to locate 167 photos. Many were held by the
College but again using the afore-mentioned websites, I have been able to locate quite a few more. The quality isn’t the best (as depicted on the cover of the Lampstand) but at least our collection has grown. There still will be inaccuaricies. Please let me know if you have any information to add or amend. The full spreadsheet of our WWI Casualties is on the WCOBA website [www.wc.school.nz/ wcoba]. The list also records where the Old Boy is buried and any other related information. There are a number of heroic stories on our Old Boys on the Cenotaph and War Graves Sites, and how they met their demise – very sad reading indeed. .
1
ABBOTT, Victor Stephen Henry (Harry) Second Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps Died aged 23 on 15/09/16 in the Air over England
2
ABERCROMBIE, Clarence Gordon Corporal with the NZ Mounted Rifles Died aged 25 on 09/01/17 in Egypt Killed in Action
12
3
ADAMS, Robert Sefton Captain with the Royal Field Artillery BWM, VM Died aged 29 on 15/10/17 in Belgium Killed in Action
BARDEN, Herbert (Henry) William Private with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 22 on 21/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
13
4
ADKIN, Gilbert Denton Private with the Canterbury Infantry BWM, VM Died aged 26 on 10/09/18 at France Died of Wounds
BARNETT, Lewen Maughan Private with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 21 on 25/04/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
ALEXANDER, James Frederick Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 33 on 4/11/18 at Le Quesnoy, France Killed in Action
5
ALLEN, Frederick Arthur Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 30 on 02/10/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
6
ANDREW, Keith James Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 20 on 09/09/18 at Sea Died of Disease
7 8 9 10 11
ARMSTRONG, Edward Rippon Trooper with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 23 on 09/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action ARMSTRONG, Purvis Ford Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 25 on 06/04/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action ASTON, Eardley Howard Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 21 on 21/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action BADDELEY, Herman Stuart Lieutenant with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 23 on 25/04/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action BALCOMBE-BROWN, William Edward Lieutenant with the Royal Field Artillery Died aged 22 on 29/06/15 at Belgium Killed in Action BANKS, Frank Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps Died aged 29 on 22/01/19 at Ohio, USA Test Pilot @ Wright Field Test Centre
BANKS, Henry (Harry) Dunbar Lieutenant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 37 on 04/11/18 at Le Quesnoy, France Killed in Action
14
21
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Notes relating to the list below: Brown is Balcombe-Brown. Bogle was a staff member. Goulding was a staff member. It was Clarence Hickson who died not Claude. Ongley was a staff member. It was St John Tolhurst who died not Arthur, [Arthur actually died at school after a rugby injury]. Lowell Yerex, I can’t find a record of him attending Wellington College. He was listed as missing, presumed dead but in fact escaped at German POW Camp and went on to become a famous aviator establishing Transportes Aéreos Centro Americanos Airline Company. Lowell’s two brothers attended the College, and while they both fought, they also survived. Stephanie Kane WCOBA Executive Officer
BROCKETT, Archibald Geoffrey Second Lieutenant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 24 on 15/06/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action BROWN, Cyril Ivan Lieutenant with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 25 on 13/12/17 in England Died of Wounds
22
BRUCE, William Burrell Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 24 on 07/06/17 at Belgium Killed in Action
BEATTIE, Percival Moore Second Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 30 on 04/11/18 at Le Quesnoy, France Killed in Action
BRYANT, Lawrence Noel Private with the NZ Machine Gun Corps Died aged 22 on 10/10/18 at Le Cateau, France Killed in Action
BEAUCHAMP, Leslie Heron Second Lieutenant with the South Lancashire Reg. Died aged 21 on 06/10/15 in France Died of Wounds
BRYANT, Wilfred Hector Private with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 20 on 09/02/18 at France Killed in Action
BEE, James Private with the Australian Expeditionary Force DCM [Crossed], BWM, VM Died aged 26 on 31/08/18 at St Quentin, France Died of Wounds
15
BEECHEY, Frederick James Lieutenant with the Otago Infantry Died aged 34 on 25/07/18 at France Killed in Action
16
BELL, William Henry Dillon Captain with the King Edwards' Horses 33 on 31/07/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
17
BENNETT, John Dale Private with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 23 on 04/10/18 at Le Cateau, France Killed in Action
18
BERNARD, Victor Raymond Second Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 27 on 04/11/18 at Le Quesnoy, France Killed in Action
19
BRIDGE, Lance Private with the Otago Infantry Died aged 27 on 13/08/15 at Sea near Gallipoli Died of wounds, on HMHS Dongola
20
BRISCO, Wastel Trooper with the Auckland Mounted Rifles Died aged 27 on 19/05/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
23
BURNETT, Noel Fletcher Private with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 26 on 13/12/15 at Sea near Gallipoli Died of Wounds
24
CALLENDER, George Wilfred (Wiff) Captain with the Worcester Regiment Died aged 27 on 25/01/17 at Mesopotamia Killed in Action
25
CAMERON, Norman Donald Lieutenant with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 21 on 30/05/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
26
CARROLL, Tuahae Corporal with the NZ Maori Contingent Died aged 28 on 10/12/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
27
CARRUTHERS, Walter Second Lieutenant with the Wellington Infantry Military Medal [+Bar]
Died aged 24 on 29/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action CASEY, Martin Thomas Private with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 22 on 03/11/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
28
CASTLE, Arthur Penfold Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 25 on 15/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
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WELLINGTON COLLEGE'S WWI CASUALTIES
29
CHILDS, Harold (Harry) Phillips James Private with the Otago Infantry BWM, VM Died aged 22 on 27/07/15 at Sea near Gallipoli Died of Sickness
30
CHRISTIE, Rupert James Sapper with the NZ Engineers BWM, VM Died aged 22 on 28/03/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
43
ELLIS, Sydney Robert Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 22 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Died of Wounds
61
GRACE, John (Jack) Leybourne Trooper with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 19 on 30/05/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
ELLIS, William Henry Lance Corporal with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 23 on 14/07/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
62
GRACE, Thomas (Hami) Marshall Percy Lieutenant with the Wellington Infantry BWM, VM with Oak Leaf
Died aged 25 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
31
CIMINO, Francis Athol Private with the Wellington Infantry 22 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
44
EWING, John Campbell Lindsay Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 22 on 24/08/18 at Bapaume, France Killed in Action
63
32
CLACHAN, William James Captain with the 1st King's African Rifles Died aged 26 on 06/01/18 at Sea, Luambala, Africa Killed in Action
45
FALDER, George Victor Wakefield Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 22 on 27/07/15 at Malta, Med Sea Died of Disease
GRAY, Clark Maxwell Second Lieutenant with Australian Expeditionary Force Died aged 19 on 19/07/16 at Fromelles, France Killed in Action
64
CLARK, Ian Compton Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 24 on 16/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
46
FEAR, Francis John Herbert Corporal with the NZ Engineers DCM 30 on 20/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
GREATBATCH, Edwin Percy Second Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 25 on 20/10/16 at France Died of Wounds
33
34
35 36
47
COBBE, Ernest Second Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 30 on 12/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
FERNANDEZ, Cyril Jack Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 17 on 16/09/16 at France Died of Wounds
COLE, Robert Holmes Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 21 on 29/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action
FIFE, Douglas Alexander Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 33 on 22/06/17 at Belgium Killed in Action
COMESKEY, James Gerald Corporal with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 23 on 29/07/18 at France Accidental
49
COMRIE, James Morrison Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 21 on 21/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
49
CORRIE, Frank Reginald Corporal with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 24 on 09/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
50
CRESWELL, Benjamin Private with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 27 on 17/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
51
CROUCH, Foster Brooke Lieutenant, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Died aged 36 on 23/03/18 at France Killed in Action
52
CURTIS, Kenneth Oscar Lance Sergeant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 21 on 11/08/16 at London Died of Wounds
53
DANKS, William Driver with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 32 on 21/10/16 at Somme, France Died of Wounds
54
DAVIES, Fred Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 21 on 15/09/15 at Somme, France Killed in Action
55
37
DAWSON, Thomas Howard Lieutenant with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 24 on 11/06/18 at France Accidental by Gas
56
38
DEMPSEY, Sidney William Sergeant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 37 on 07/06/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
57
39
DODD, Ernest Henry Lance Sergeant with the NZ Rifle Brigade BWM, VM Died aged 38 on 11/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action
FITZGERALD, Roy James Lieutenant with the Royal British Flying Corps MC Died aged 27 on 01/07/18 at France Killed in aerial combat, over Morlancourt
DOUGHTY, William Trenton Second Lieutenant with the NZ Engineers Died aged 28 on 31/07/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
58
41
DUMBELL, Horace Cunliffe Private with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 21 on 23/06/17 at Belgium Killed in Action
59
42
EARP, William Edward Corporal with the Otago Infantry Died aged 22 on 02/05/15 at Walker's Ridge, Gallipoli Killed in Action
60
65
Died aged 24 on 04/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action HARRIS, Roy Captain with the NZ Medical Corps Died aged 23 on 05/10/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
66
HAYES, James Noel Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 24 on 26/09/16 at Flers, Somme Killed in Action
67
HECKLER, William Henry Lance Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 31 on 25/07/18 at France Died of Wounds HELEY, Kenneth Holist Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 22 on 12/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action
FREEMAN, Herbert George Private with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 20 on 15/09/16 at France Died of Wounds
HEYWOOD, Ian Martin Corporal with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 21 on 20/12/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
FREYBERG, Oscar Sub Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Brigade Died aged 34 on 04/06/15 at Gallipoli Died of Wounds FREYBERG, Paul Milton Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 32 on 18/06/17 at Ypres, Belgium Died of Wounds GALE, John (Jack) Frederick Estcourt Trooper with the East African Mounted Rifles 23 on 28/01/15 at Tanzania Killed in Action GALLIE, Oscar Eugene Captain with the Royal Field Artillery Companion (DSO) AWMM, Citation for MC Died aged 28 on 07/12/17 on Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action GALVIN, Fergus Kendrick Sergeant with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 25 on 16/07/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds GIBB, Douglas Keir Driver with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 26 on 10/03/17 at New Zealand Died of Disease
GILLIES, Hugh Oswald Private with the Auckland Mounted Rifles Died aged 32 on 15/09/16 at France Died of Wounds GOODBEHERE, Frederick (Jeff) Walter Brian Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 28 on 06/10/16 at France Killed in Action GOWER, Leslie Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery BWM, VM Died aged 21 on 26/07/15 at Sea Died of Wounds
HARLE, Douglas Allan Second Lieutenant with the Wellington Infantry BWM, VM
FLAVELL, Carleton Corporal with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 21 on 09/06/17 at Belgium Killed in Action
GIBBONS, Huon Pulsford Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 20 on 06/09/18 at Sea Died of Disease
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FINDLAY, Ian Culcutt Lieutenant with the York and Lancaster Regiment Died aged 18 on 10/08/15 at Flanders Died of Wounds
HALL, George Foden Rooking Second Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers BWM, VM Died aged 28 on 28/06/17 at France Killed in Action
HICKSON, Clarence Hyndman Private with the Wellington Infantry 24 on 30/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action
68
HIGGIE, Colin Leslie Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 21 on 02/04/18 at France Died of Wounds
69
HIGGINSON, Thomas Cecil Lieutenant with the Grenadier Guards Died aged 24 on 15/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
70
HINDMARSH, Herbert Trooper with the Otago Mounted Rifles BWM, VM ANZAC Comm Medallion
Died aged 22 on 27/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
71
HOGBEN, George McLachlan Lance Sergeant with the Wellington Infantry 29 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
72
HOGBEN, Herbert McLachlan Private with the Canterbury Infantry 29 on 27/03/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
73
HOLMES, Walter Anderson Sergeant with the Wellington Infantry MM Died aged 22 on 03/10/16 at France Died of Wounds
74
HOPKIRK, William Spottiswood Second Lieutenant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 23 on 01/06/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action HORNE, William John Lieutenant with the Australian Expeditionary Force Died aged 42 on 18/09/18 at France Killed in Action
WELLINGTON COLLEGE'S WWI CASUALTIES 75
HOWDEN, Peter Second Lieutenant with the NZ Machine Gun Corps Died aged 33 on 21/10/17 at France Died of Wounds
92
LESLIE, Norman James Trooper with the Otago Mounted Rifles Died aged 18 on 27/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
76
HOWIE, James Leslie Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 25 on 01/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action
93
HUME, Arthur Grenville Major with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 42 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
LEVY, Edward (Ted) Sergeant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 27 on 12/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
77
94
LEYS, James Robert Ruxton Captain with the Otago Infantry MC Died aged 22 on 17/04/18 at France Died of Wounds
HUTTON, David Corporal with the NZ Engineers Died aged 26 on 29/09/18 at France Died of Wounds
91
107
MILLER, George Charles Stewart Lieutenant with the Australian Field Artillery Brg Died aged 25 on 04/03/17 at France Died of Wounds
108
MURRAY, Lincoln Bishop Driver with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 20 on 13/04/18 at France Died of Wounds NAPIER, Norman Campbell Private with the Otago Infantry Died aged 22 on 09/04/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
LOMAX, Charles Mark Private with Australian Expeditionary Force BWM, VM Died aged 30 on 04/10/17 at Passchendaele, Ypres Killed in Action
109
NEWMAN, Reuben McCarthy Lieutenant, Indian Army Reserve of Officers Died aged 24 on 23/11/18 at India Died of Disease
78
JAMESON, Ian Douglas Lance Corporal with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 21 on 08/05/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
95
110
79
JENKINS, Frank Malvyn Private with the Otago Infantry Died aged 20 on 09/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
LORENZEN, Wilfred Edwin Private with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 22 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
NEWTON, Ramsay Alexander Trooper with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 21 on 09/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
96
111
80
JENKINSON, Horace Edward Sergeant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 25 on 18/10/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
LYON, Eric Corporal with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 29 on 29/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action
NICOL, Robert Kenneth Captain with the Imperial Forces MC, BWM, VM Died aged 23 on 05/08/18 at Persia Killed in Action
112
81
JENNINGS, William Henry Private with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 23 on 21/09/16 at France Died of Wounds
MacDOUGALL, Allan Captain with the Royal Fusiliers Died aged 30 on 04/08/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
NORRIS, Edward Ainslie Gunner with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 31 on 18/08/16 at England Died of Wounds
82
JICKELL, Hugh Nelson Lieutenant with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 26 on 19/10/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
97
113
83
JOHNSTON, Cameron Gordon Second Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 23 on 07/06/17 at Belgium Killed in Action
MACHU, Norman Joseph Private with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 25 on 15/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
PARSONS, Forrest Gale Second Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps Died aged 34 on 26/10/16 at France Killed in Action
98
114
84
JORDAN, Noel Luttrell Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 20 on 02/10/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
MacMORRAN, James Captain with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 29 on 30/08/18 at Bapaume, France Killed in Action
PARSONS, Sydney Herbert Private with the NZ Machine Gun Corps Died aged 21 on 04/08/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
115
85
KANE, Francis William Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 27 on 12/10/17 at Ypres Killed in Action
MAGUIRE, John (Jack) Edward Casbery Surgeon Captain with the Royal Army Medical Corps Died aged 34 on 01/09/18 at England Died of Sickness
PATERSON, George Robert Driver with the British Expeditionary Forces Died aged 22 on 08/05/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
116
86
KEASBERRY, John Compton Private with the NZ Engineers Died aged 21 on 28/04/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
MAKEHAM, Charles Edgar Second Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 24 on 12/09/18 at Havrincourt, France Killed in Action
PEARCE, Nathaniel (Niel) Arthur Lieutenant with the Grenadier Guards Died aged 21 on 25/11/17 at France Killed in Action
99
117
87
KELLY, Eric Lindsay Private with the Otago Infantry Died aged 25 on 26/08/18 at France Died of Wounds
MALLARD, John Frederick Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 22 on 27/09/16 at France Died of Wounds
PETERSEN, Harold Maximillian Lieutenant with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 33 on 04/10/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
100
MANOY, Reginald Lewis Sergeant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 24 on 16/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
118
PLIMMER, Isaac Harold Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 35 on 09/10/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
MACE, Guy George Lance Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 32 on 29/03/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
KIELY, Robert Dale Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 29 on 29/03/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
88
ORR, James Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 25 on 29/07/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
MARCHANT, John Allman Acting Sergeant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 44 on 15/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
POLLEN, Norman Essex Private with the NZ Medical Corps Died aged 23 on 03/12/17 at New Zealand Died of Disease
KING, Cyril Vernon Private with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 20 on 03/07/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
101
119
KIRK, Edward Richmond Gunner with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 23 on 21/07/15 at Sea Died of Sickness
MASON, Richard Burnside Trooper with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 23 on 10/08/16 at Egypt Died of Wounds
POWELL, Wilmot Frederick Trooper with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 24 on 09/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
102
120
89
LE CREN, Hubert Ernest Second Lieutenant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 27 on 26/08/18 at Bapaume, France Killed in Action
McARTHUR, Charles Trooper with the NZ Camel Corps Died aged 22 on 27/11/17 at Palestine Died of Wounds
POWLEY, Alfred James Captain with the Wellington Infantry MC, BWM, VM Died aged 30 on 20/09/16 at Somme, France Died of Wounds
103
90
LEARY, Ernest Richard Second Lieutenant with York and Lancaster Reg. Died aged 21 on 23/07/16 at France Died of Wounds
McCOLL, Alexander Baston Captain with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 24 on 02/07/16 at Armentieres, France Killed in Action
104
121
LEES, John Edward Leonard Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 27 on 31/08/18 at Bapaume, France Killed in Action
McINNES, Horace Alexander Private with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 20 on 01/10/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
PURDY, Robert Gleadow Major with the NZ Rifle Brigade MC, Croix de Guerre Died aged 26 on 28/03/18 at Colincamps, France Killed in Action
105
122
LEGG, Bertram Willoughby Sergeant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 26 on 15/07/16 at Sea Died of Disease
McKEE, Frederick George Second Lieutenant with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 24 on 20/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
QUICK, William Bunyon Austin Private with the Wellington Infantry 31 on 10/12/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
106
MILLAIS, Geoffrey Guille Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 19 on 05/10/16 at France Killed in Action
123
RADCLIFFE, Julian Vernon Sergeant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 33 on 25/05/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
91
PRYDE, Alexander Private with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 34 on 10/04/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
The Lampstand | 2015
92 WELLINGTON COLLEGE'S WWI CASUALTIES
The numbered photos on the front cover of this magazine link with with the numbers in this list of Wellington College causalities in WWI. Sadly, we have not been able to locate a photo of every individual
124
RAWNSLEY, Brian Duret Corporal with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 24 on 20/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
140
SOLOMON, Hubert Philip Second Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps Died aged 34 on 20/10/17 in England Killed in Action
154
125
RICHARDSON, William Robert Sergeant with the Auckland Mounted Rifles Died aged 31 on 05/12/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
141
SPROTT, Maurice William Campbell Captain with the Imperial Forces MC Died aged 34 on 21/03/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
VIAL, Grahame George Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 22 on 25/09/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
155
126
RITCHIE, Vincent Theodore Second Lieutenant with Australian Expeditionary Died aged 22 on 12/10/17 at Belgium Killed in Action
142
ST GEORGE, Eric Varnham Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 19 on 09/09/15 at Wellington Accidental Death in Camp
WAKEFIELD, Oliver Second Lieutenant with the Household Cavalry Died aged 40 on 12/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
127
ROBERTS, John Victor Bombardier with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 21 on 27/08/18 at France Died of Wounds
143
STAPLES, Edward Stock Driver with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 23 on 04/12/18 at England Died of Disease
156
128
ROBINSON, Roy George Lance Corporal with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 26 on 30/03/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
STAPLETON, Henry Leighton Private with the Otago Infantry Died aged 22 on 26/07/18 at France Died of Wounds
WALTER, John Bruno Private with the Royal Army Medical Corps Died aged 21 on 23/10/15 with HT Marquette, Lost at Sea in Aegean Sea
157
129
RONALDSON, Brian Corporal with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 21 on 27/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
144
STILL, Charles Haselden Sergeant with the NZ Rifle Brigade MM Died aged 26 on 28/09/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
WARD, Roland Leslie Private with the Otago Infantry Died aged 24 on 16/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
158
130
RUSSELL, George Burton Escott Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 23 on 15/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
145
STRACK, Karl Justus Second Lieutenant with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 23 on 04/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
WARDROP, Charles Lawrence Captain with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 29 on 12/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
159
131
RUTHERFURD, Thomas Wyville Leonard Captain with the Wellington Infantry MC, BWM, VM Died aged 28 on 19/10/18 at Mesopotamia Died of Sickness
146
STRANG, John Donald Kay Captain with the NZ Engineers MID Died aged 22 on 15/09/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
WATSON, Alfred Godfrey Corporal with Australian Expeditionary Force Died aged 28 on 27/04/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
160
132
SALMOND, William Guthrie Captain with the Wellington Infantry BWM, VM Died aged 26 on 09/07/18 at France Killed in Action
147
STUART, Alfred Meliss Lance Corporal with Lord Liverpool's Own Reg. Died aged 46 on 16/09/16 at France Died of Wounds
WEBB, Arthur Llewellyn Private with the Otago Infantry Died aged 20 on 28/09/16 at France Died of Wounds
133
SCALES, Cecil Hastings Jack Lance Corporal with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 25 on 30/05/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
148
STUBBS, Eric Guy Lieutenant with the NZ Machine Gun Corps Died aged 26 on 03/10/18 at France Died of Wounds
WALMSLEY, Guy Harold Private with the Canadian Infantry Died aged 32 on 03/06/18 at France Killed in Action
WEBB, Earl James Corporal with the NZ Expeditionary Forces Died aged 22 on 04/05/18 at France Killed in Action WILLIAMS, Cecil Ernest Lance Corporal with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 26 on 22/08/18 at France Died of Wounds
SCALES, George Arthur Maynard Sapper with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 22 on 18/12/15 at England Died of Sickness
SUTHERLAND, William Robert Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 30 on 12/10/17 at Ypres, Belgium Killed in Action
161
134
SEDDON, Richard John Spotswood Captain with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 37 on 21/08/18 at Bapaume, France Killed in Action
TANNER, Charles Cyril Pontin Captain with the Royal Garrison Artillery Died aged 26 on 05/10/18 at Baghdad, Iraq Died of Sickness
WILLIS, Cecil Nicholson Sergeant with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 33 on 07/12/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
162
135
SHORT, Leslie Howard Private with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 19 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
149
TATTLE, Philip Gardner Lance Corporal with the Wellington Infantry Died aged 26 on 29/04/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
WILTSHIRE, George Private with the Royal Berkshire Regiment Died aged 20 on 23/07/16 at France Killed in Action
163
136
SHRIMPTON, Norman Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 22 on 12/04/18 at Somme, France Killed in Action
150
TOLHURST, St John Alexander Molesworth Captain with the NZ Medical Corps Died aged 36 on 08/05/18 at France Killed in Action
WINDER, Holloway Elliott Lieutenant with the Auckland Mounted Rifles Died aged 28 on 08/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
164
SMITH, Alexander Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 21 on 25/05/18 at France Killed in Action
151
TUCKEY, Richard Septimus Warrant Officer with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 39 at 10/06/18 at France Died of Wounds
WRIGGLESWORTH, Alfred Gunn Lieutenant with British Expeditionary Forces Died aged 23 on 06/09/14 at Somme, France Killed in Action
165
137
SMITH, John Black Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 23 on 06/10/16 at France Died of Wounds
152
TURNER, John Lancelot Harcourt Captain with the NZ Field Artillery MC Died aged 25 on 14/07/16 at Somme, France Killed in Action
WRIGHT, Reginald Clarke Private with the Wellington Infantry 38 on 21/08/15 at Gallipoli Died of Wounds
138
SMITH, Leonard Second Lieutenant with the NZ Field Artillery MC Died aged 24 on 13/06/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
153
TURNOR, Percy Edward Trooper with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Died aged 25 on 27/08/15 at Gallipoli Killed in Action
166
139
SMITH, Sidney O'Carrol Lieutenant with the Royal Rifle Brigade Died aged 25 on 25/08/16 at France Killed in Action
TYER, William Edward Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade Died aged 37 on 31/08/18 at Bapaume, France Killed in Action
WYATT, Herbert Digby Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 19 on 15/06/17 at Belgium Died of Wounds
167
SMITH, William Henry Private with the Canterbury Infantry Died aged 24 on 05/09/18 at France Died of Wounds
VALLANCE, Lancelot Brentwood Private Died aged 33 on 12/10/16 at Masterton Accidental Death in Camp
YEATS, Douglas Duncan Mearns Lance Corporal with the Auckland Infantry Died aged 26 on 22/10/16 at France Died of Wounds
WYATT, Gordon Charles Gunner with the NZ Field Artillery Died aged 22 on 30/11/18 at France Died of Disease
The named crosses, set in the gardens at the start of the school drive leading up to ANZAC Day, represented Old Boys killed at Gallipoli in 1915 and as well as those killed on the Western Front in 1916.
The Lampstand | 2015