CHRIST'S COLLEGE & CCOBA EVENTS

60 Years On Reunion – take two

Our 60 Years On reunion group had such a fantastic time catching up in February that they decided to do it all over again in October, this time at the Canterbury Club! What a wonderful testament to the lifelong friendships formed at Christ’s College.

Thank you all for your continued loyalty and support. I’m sure it won’t be too long before the next gathering.

Once an Old Boy, always an Old Boy!

Dunedin Young Old Boys’ Catch-Up

It was wonderful to see our Dunedin Young Old Boys (YOBs) getting together at Ombrellos for a relaxed evening of catching up, sharing stories and reconnecting with fellow Old Boys. These gatherings are a great way to keep our younger alumni connected, no matter where life takes them. A big thank you to everyone who came along and helped make the evening such an enjoyable one. We look forward to seeing you all again soon!

CCOBA Golf Tournament – another sell-out success!

Our annual CCOBA Golf Tournament was held on Friday 25 September at the beautiful Christchurch Golf Club (Shirley Links), and what a fantastic day it was! With a full field of 108 players, the event was once again a sell-out. Despite the weather not being entirely on our side, spirits were high, with plenty of friendly competition, laughter and camaraderie both on and off the course. A huge thank you to our generous sponsors, the team at Christchurch Golf Club and everyone who helped make the day such a success. We are already looking forward to next year's tournament!

Congratulations to our winners:

• Stableford: 1st Jeremy Gurnsey, 2nd Hamish Pringle and 3rd Peter Guthrey
• Ambrose: Sam McLernon, James O’Gorman, Matthew Abbott and Ollie McKenna

Career Convos with Jack Belcher

Treat Heath Sciences First Year at the University of Otago like a job and always show up but make sure you enjoy life outside the lecture theatres. That’s the advice of fifth-year medical student – and 2021 Head Prefect – Jack Belcher (15073). Speaking at a Career Convos session, Jack has told senior students that if you want to be a doctor, you will get there, and if you miss out initially, there are many other pathways to medical school. The Somes House Old Boy has shared his university experiences and delved into the element of first-year study while answering many questions from an engaged audience.

Connecting with our Timaru community

What a fantastic evening at Hector Black’s in Timaru, catching up with our wonderful Christ’s College community.

A big congratulations to Jessica Elworthy, who was the lucky winner of a bottle of 10 Houses Gin – we know Rob was particularly pleased!

If you’re ever in Timaru, be sure to pop into Hector Black’s, say hello to Tim Black (10816) and check out his wonderful bar. It’s well worth a visit.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. It was such a lovely evening catching up with familiar faces and making new connections.

Obituaries

Sir Sam Neill KNZM OBE (7200)

Actor, winemaker, raconteur, environmentalist, author, Old Boy. In every role, Sir Sam Neill (7200) stood out. From Jurassic Park to Hunt for the Wilderpeople or a memoir that addressed his aggressive cancer diagnosis, Sir Sam wore his heart on his sleeve. Opposing mining in his beloved Central Otago or naming his farm animals after actor friends, Sir Sam was at home on the big screen or in a row of vines.

Read full obituaries here

Deaths

We have learnt of the following deaths in our community. Our sympathy is extended to their family and friends.

Richard Ashton OWEN (6063)
Christchurch, 1 October 2026

Jonathan Morley HOPE (6900)
Christchurch, 24 September 2026

Roger Heath RICHARDSON (7484)
Manawatu, 28 September 2026

Paul Richard WILSON (6475)
Queensland, 23 September 2026

Philip Marsh ALEXANDER (7387)
Christchurch, 10 September 2026

Anthony (Tony) Christopher WILSON (6700)
Wellington, 1 September 2026

Robert John STEVENSON (5892)
Auckland, 21 August 2026

Richard James Graham THOMSON (5360)
Christchurch, 13 August 2026

Raymond Anthony SAVILL (6814)
Canterbury, 11 August 2026

Richard Barton JOHNSON (5424)
Christchurch, 10 August 2026

Peter McKenzie HILL (7566)
27 July 2026

Michael John DUDMAN (5841)
Auckland, 27 July 2026

Godfrey Heaton RIVERS (6941)
Christchurch, 19 July 2026

Neil Alastair MACFARLANE (5952)
Christchurch, 14 July 2026

John Dermot (Sam) NEILL (7200)
Otago, 13 July 2026

Paul COTTRELL (6014)
Christchurch, 10 July 2026

Anthony Joseph (Tony) ARMSTRONG (6364)
8 July 2026

Granville John EMMETT (5478)
Auckland, 6 July 2026

Cyril Warren PRICE (6845)
Christchurch, 1 July 2026

David Hamilton COTTERILL (5654)
Victoria, 29 June 2026

Contributions welcome

If you would like to contribute an obituary to The Chronicle, please email Lizzie Dyer at ccoba@ccoba.com.

As a guideline, we suggest a 500-word submission. However, we are happy to accept longer or shorter options.

*Please note that this office may edit obituaries.

Corfe and the Canterbury colours

As Canterbury readies to line up in the NPC final on Monday, it is timely to reflect on a little-known piece of sporting history: the role a Christ’s College Headmaster played in establishing Canterbury’s iconic red and black colours.

Charles Carteret Corfe, Headmaster of Christ’s College from 1872 to 1888, is credited with introducing the colours that have become synonymous with Canterbury sport.

Originally described as ‘scarlet and black’, the colours were adopted by the United Canterbury Cricket Club in the 1870s at Corfe’s urging. The distinctive red and black blazer was a nod to his former college, Jesus College, Cambridge. In time, these colours were adopted by Canterbury representative teams, establishing a tradition that has endured for more than 150 years. While other provinces have changed their sporting colours over the years, Canterbury has remained steadfastly red and black.

Charles Corfe, left, and the Canterbury XV rugby cap worn by William Varnham Millton (362) from 1878–1886.

Corfe, himself, was a Canterbury cricket representative, a distinction that undoubtedly enhanced his standing among the College boys. Recalling his schooldays in the 1941 Register, ER Webb (722) wrote: “I still remember my first day at school, chiefly because we had a half holiday for the match between Shaw’s English XI and the Canterbury XVIII, for which Mr Corfe was playing.”

So, as you settle in to watch Canterbury take the field, you might like to share this fascinating piece of trivia – yet another example of the significant role Christ’s College has played in shaping Canterbury’s history.

The College Archives holds tangible reminders of this sporting legacy, including Canterbury XV rugby caps worn by William Varnham Millton (362) from 1878–1886, dating back to the earliest years of the red and black tradition. This is on display in the College Museum. We also hold the Canterbury cricket cap worn by Roger Charles Blunt (2706), see below, from 1917–1925.

The Canterbury cricket cap worn by Roger Charles Blunt (2706).

Over the generations, countless College Old Boys have proudly worn Canterbury's red and black across a wide range of sports. Just as we maintain a record of our All Blacks, it would be wonderful to build a comprehensive record of our Canterbury representatives.

We would love your help! If you have Old Boys in your whānau who have represented Canterbury in any sporting code, please get in touch with the College Archivist. Every name helps us preserve and celebrate this important part of our shared history. Please email archives@christscollege.com.

In honour of Canterbury's appearance in the NPC final, here are some of the Christ’s College Old Boys who have represented Canterbury in rugby:

• William Varnham Millton (362)
• Edward Bowler Millton (467)
• George Henry Noble Helmore (665)
• Frank Cunningham Fryer (1744)
• Harold Vivian ‘Toby’ Murray (2095)
• Ronald Osmond Talbot (2744)
• Anthony Ian Cottrell (3269)
• Hugh Cameron Burry (5283)
• Robert Maxwell ‘Robbie’ Deans (8732)
• Michael James Bowie ‘Jock’ Hobbs (8760)
• Ian Bruce Deans (8883)
• Jone Tabaiwalu Fakavalle ‘Tabai’ Matson (10743)
• Michael Robin Davis (12477)
• Carl Sone Manu (12527)
• Michael John Stronach Paterson (12550)
• Joseph Paul Tamatea ‘Joe’ Moody (12994)
• Samu Tawake (14912)
• Ngane Punivai (14486)
• Sam Darry (14680)
• Isaiah Punivai (14738)
• Zach Gallagher (14822)
• Dallas McLeod (15055)
• Shun Miyake (15194)
• Nick Shearer (15360)
• Liam Jack (15852)

From the earliest days of Canterbury representative sport to the present, the red and black tradition remains a proud thread connecting Christ’s College with the wider Canterbury community.