“Sir, we have 2000 acres run by my father and one other, you’re just market gardeners!” One day, a senior student in Flower’s House drove me to the airport, where we climbed into his family’s aircraft and he flew me over the city and College. We had a bird’s eye view of the 1st XV at practice. Back home, I wouldn’t have dreamed of trusting an Eastbourne pupil to drive me to the end of the school drive. Drama productions were fun. John Boardman and l directed Much Ado About Nothing , with a magnificent set built by fellow English teacher Manfred Bertram, and I took on David Garrick's 17th century romp The Rehearsal . One afternoon, John and l booked the Arts Centre cinema for all senior students to watch The Great Gatsby . In the film’s climactic scene, there was a rattle and clatter as over half the audience got up to leave. Sport is central to life in New Zealand and I was happy to get involved. I played regular squash during free periods and had a memorable season with an Old Colls afternoon cricket XI. Although l coached the College U16 cricket team, I was somehow always able to sneak off and play myself, leaving the boys to run their own games very successfully as players, umpires and scorers. At weekends, l could be found exploring North Canterbury and experiencing wonderful hospitality from the Davisons at Lowry Peaks and Wynyard, the Savills at Percival and Lindfield and the MacKenzies at Happy Valley. Dinner parties, aeroplane rides, jet boats, dagging, mustering and much more … Happy days indeed. “Rugby practice, sir.” New Zealand priorities!
who were working there back in 1981–82, and I will always be grateful to John Boardman for offering me the job. I had a wonderful year at College and met many delightful people. If any who remember a shy, nervous Englishman on exchange in those dim and distant days should wish to meet up, I am usually based in Christchurch from January– March and can be contacted at nigel.wheeler@outlook.com
accommodation, placed a bean bag, alarm clock and toothbrush in my classroom and had the boys convinced l was sleeping on site. Actually, kind colleagues took it in turns to offer me a bed. The English department was run by John Boardman, who was patient, scholarly, kind and encouraging. It had a well stocked book room, the Little Theatre proved a splendid space for productions, I had an attractive classroom and next door was inspirational teacher Peter Smart. He couldn't quite understand why l needed to stack chairs to deliver Henry V's speech at Harfleur or use tables to suggest Prospero's island in The Tempest , but he was tolerant. His untimely death that December came as a terrible shock. I had a very bright 6th form class, taught a two-week course on Jane Austen to the 7th form, and discovered many of the 5th formers were more interested in matters of the land, sheep prices and farm work than English literature. As a farmer’s boy myself, I imagined I could endear myself to them on equal terms. “Backyard cricket andmaking omelettes with the boys stand out asmemories of my time in Jacobs.” Nigel Wheeler
Sewell Society announcement
College has invited Nigel Wheeler to become a member of the Sewell Society, joining a select group of people who have advised they wish to make a bequest to College in their will. during his annual visit to Christchurch, and shared his memories of the school and the many Old Boys and teachers whose friendship he now enjoys. We welcome Nigel to the Sewell Society and thank him for his bequest notification. We were delighted Nigel came back to College
“What size is your family farm, sir?” asked one.
“About 350 acres,” I replied.
“What do you grow?”
Christchurch is now my second home. I owe so much to Christ’s College and those
“Apples, pears, hops and a little arable.”
College Issue 37 2019
91
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