THE QUADRANGLE The ultimate milestone
A gift to treasure Executive Principal Garth Wynne and CCOBA Alumni Manager Lizzie Dyer were among guests invited to a special event at St Saviour’s at Holy Trinity, Lyttelton, on Sunday 16 February, when Old Boy Haydn Rawstron presented a box set of Godley Gifts to the Lyttelton community. Godley Gifts , a limited edition three- part set published by the John Robert Godley Memorial Trust in 2007, is a unique publication commemorating and celebrating the links between Canterbury’s founder John Robert Godley, his son Arthur, and the first superintendent of the Canterbury province James Edward FitzGerald. Part one consists of seven essays placing the people and artworks featured in Godley Gifts in their historical context; part two is an exact replica of New Zealand’s first illustrated children’s book – Seadrift – created by FitzGerald for Arthur Godley; and part three is a collection of FitzGerald’s watercolours, which he created as a farewell gift for Godley on his return to England. “Lyttelton is central to the Godley Gifts story. The Godleys were living there, as was the author and watercolourist James Edward FitzGerald. The two gifts that comprise Godley Gifts were both compiled and mostly written and drawn there, and they are among the finest treasures of Lyttelton art and literature,” says Haydn. “With the presentation of Godley Gifts to the Lyttelton Community, you could say these artworks are going home.” Sets of Godley Gifts are now housed in libraries and archives all over the world, including the College Library. “FitzGerald and Godley are central to the establishment of Christ's College. FitzGerald's alma mater, Christ's College, Cambridge, is the catalyst for College's name, Big School was designed by him, and the Rolleston Avenue site was chosen during FitzGerald's time as superintendent.”
Congratulations to perhaps our most senior Old Boy Wynyard (Wyn) Fairclough, who turned 100 in February. Wyn celebrated this special event with family and close friends at home at Holly Lea Village. Born in Christchurch 28 February 1920, Wyn attended College from 1933–36, first in Julius, then in Flower’s House. He served in the Army Dental Corps – a mobile dental service providing treatment to military personnel in the theatres of war – throughout the Middle East and Italy in World War II, but was invalided home with tuberculosis after Cassino. Wyn spent most of his working life in the motor trade, owning WJ Scotts Motors, which operated a Holden and Mercedes Benz dealership in Christchurch. He had an active and busy life, raising a family with wife Dorothy, and pursuing his passion for skiing both in New Zealand and overseas, before slowing down to enjoy his twilight years.
Old Boys together – Wyn Fairclough (centre) celebrates his 100th birthday with son Scott and grandson Ollie in February.
Christ’s College Canterbury
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