Dave Ashby

The 2022 Lampstand mentioned that long-serving staff member, Dave Ashby retired. We thank Roger Moses and Rob Anderson who kindly wrote of their memories of Dave’s career at Wellington College. We are sure there are many Old Boys over the past forty years who too will endorse Roger and Rob’s tribute.

Dave Ashby was appointed to the staff of Wellington College in 1986, both as a teacher of Mathematics and also as the School’s first Sports’ Coordinator. He arrived with a stellar reputation as a teacher, a coach and an inspiring motivator of young people.

As a student in the 1960s, Dave had attended Rongotai College where he achieved spectacular success as an athlete. His McEvedy Long-Jump record remained unbroken for several decades.

After leaving school, Dave completed his academic qualifications in New Zealand and his teaching qualification at the University of Leeds. Prior to Wellington College, he had taught both at Katikati College and his alma mater, Rongotai College. Very quickly it became apparent that Dave’s prior reputation was totally justified. He was a superb classroom teacher, popular colleague and his sublime organisational skills were soon put to effective use, where he was a McEvedy Shield track coach and Manager of the 1st XV. In this role he organised a trip for the team to Australia, the first of many overseas rugby tours that Dave would organise and manage.

In 1991, he was first appointed to Senior Management as Director of Programmes, a position that entailed the organisation of major school events such as the 1992 125th Jubilee. With the retirement of long serving Deputy Headmaster, Gary Girvan in 2001, Dave was a logical choice as one of the two Deputy positions along with Mike Pallin. Mike was Deputy Principal, Curriculum and Dave, Deputy Principal, Administration.

Subsequently in 2007, Dave was appointed as Associate Principal. In both these roles, Dave proved to be a consummate professional. He was a profoundly loyal Deputy to Headmaster Roger Moses, inveterate supporter of staff, an inspiring role model for students and meticulous organiser of school events.

As the day-to-day organiser of the school programme his universally recognised organisational skills ensured that the complex ‘machine’, that is a school, ran smoothly at all times. His attention to detail was remarkable. No task was too big or too menial for Dave to tackle whether it be the visit of a Governor General or the marshalling of miscreants on after school detention to rearrange chairs in the Assembly Hall. Each duty was completed with aplomb. Praise for a job well done was modestly and deftly deflected by Mr Ashby.

As Associate Principal, Dave was responsible for the maintenance of school discipline. When Dave spoke, staff and students alike listened, such was the respect in which he was held by all. The ‘rogues’ Dave had to deal with on a daily basis never outwitted him. Almost without exception they came to regard him with great admiration and even affection.

Whenever we meet Old Boys especially those who spent a significant amount of time with him on detention, the most frequently asked question is, How is Mr Ashby? It is inevitably followed by a smile and a complimentary remark about his fairness, detection skills and unflappable sense of humour

True to form, Dave retired as Associate Principal without any fuss or bother at the end of Term One, 2022. Typical of his generosity of spirit, when approached to continue in the tedious and at times frustrating job as relief coordinator, Dave obliged.

Dave Ashby’s contribution to the Wellington College Community is beyond measure. To staff and students he personifies all that is good and positive about the teaching profession.

We all wish him well for the future. Roger Moses and Robert Anderson