Executive Principal Garth Wynne (who in a former time would have been called the Headmaster) outlined the significant changes that had taken place. He updated us on the extensive rebuilding around the College, and the strengthening work that had taken place in the Dining Hall. Saturday evening around 50 of our year group, including partners, dined at the recently rebuilt Christchurch Club. This was a very enjoyable evening and the new premises were welcoming. While no formal speaker had been arranged, there were several impromptu contributions, including a rendition of the school haka – what it lacked in rhythm was more than made up for with enthusiasm. Chris Ansley closed the speeches with a toast to the boarders, including some thoughtful observations on the respective contributions made by the various boarding houses to the musical education of the pupils of our year.
Fast forward 60 years to 2017. Some 25 of those young boys have sadly passed away, but of the remaining 93, 38 (41%) gathered together to reunite once again – to catch up with old friends, to reminisce, exaggerate and lie about their time spent together at New Zealand’s oldest school. Friday 24 February, the class of ’57 was conspicuous by its absence in the Old Boys’ race at the school sports, blaming new knees, hips, heart valves and general medical disorders for their lack of participation. These disorders were soon forgotten at the subsequent cocktail gathering where many of the class once again showed that their ability to consume alcohol, largely learned at College, had not been lost. A great opportunity to catch up, not only with boys from ’57, but also with the other decades present at the function. Also, great to catch up with Zane Dalziel, frail at 90, but still with it. On Saturday, the various groups were shown around their old Houses. Flower’s (eight attendees), Condell’s (five) and Corfe (four) had been moved outside the school grounds, whilst Jacobs (seven) has been resurrected to teach dayboys the perils of boarding. School House (six) – much to Mick Burdon’s dismay has gone upmarket with one boy per bedroom (we had four in there in our day), while Richards House (two) thankfully seems to have disappeared from the Quad. Julius (two) and Harper (four) remain strong after post-earthquake refurbishment. Drinks followed the House tours and then lunch in the Dining Hall. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding (the latter being the closest thing on the menu to “EJ”) were followed by a very informative speech from the current headmaster – should I say – Executive Principal (difficult to envisage Harry in that role) about the role of College in the community. With earthquake repairs behind it, and a new focus and direction, the future would seem to bode well for our alma mater. We just hope that the shortfall in pupils – 618 currently, with a target of 660 – is not made up by the addition of girls! Following a compulsory afternoon nap, those left standing gathered at the Canterbury Club for our reunion dinner, with a good number of wives and sweethearts in attendance. A splendid meal was enhanced with a typically dry and humorous dissertation on life at College by Steve Brazier. Steve recounted with apparently a good deal of fondness, his experience at the hands of Kingsley Warden, his subsequent GP, and related with some glee his choice of the navy with its rum, lash and “B” over those of us unfortunate (with the exception of Berry) to remain in what could only be described as a junior Dad’s Army – the cadet corp. We remembered fondly the fact that someone forgot to remove the firing pin from De Buerger’s 303 and Killer McKay’s response with the Kididga stick.
All in all, a very enjoyable weekend.
Ben Frampton (7950) and Michael Taylor (8024)
60 Years On
1957 – the year in which the Treaty of Rome established the EEC, Britain exploded its first H bomb over the Christmas Islands, and the United States army sold the last of its homing pigeons. It was also the year in which 118 young boys from throughout the country ventured nervously for the first time through the gates of Christ’s College to confront the fate that awaited them. Back Row: Jonathan Pascoe, Jim Murray, Tony Dodwell, Denis Marshall, Alan Lock, John Baird Fifth Row: Mick Burdon, John Gilbert, Richard Edmond, Rob Rhodes, Tom Dunlop, Keith Reay Fourth Row: Hamish Nimmo, Richard Lewis, Dick Bristed, Paul Studholme, Warwick Scales, Leyden Baker Third Row: Tom Broadmore, Alister Moore, James Douglas, Martin Prior, John Vernon, Steve Brazier Second Row: Bill Bristed, Forbes Mackenzie, Jerrold O’Neill, Ian Blair, Tim Armitage, Peter Wilkins Front Row: Stan Wilder, Graham Foulds, Lloyd Williams, David Joel, Tim Orbell, Peter Davis, Rick Lowe
College Issue 32 2017
99
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