THE
QUADRANGLE

ISSUE NO. 12
19 May 2022

Alumni Manager

Lizzie Dyer
Alumni Manager

As we enjoy a stunning autumn in Christchurch, it also marks the start of the winter sports season for our boys.

The Christ’s College vs Christchurch Boys’ High School Rugby game – arguably one of the most popular fixtures on the College calendar – is fast approaching. This year, with work on our new multi-functional sports centre, Upper West, under way, the annual match will be the curtain-raiser to the Crusaders vs Queensland Reds game at Orangetheory Stadium on Friday 27 May, with kick-off at 4.40pm. Tickets to the game are available to purchase through Ticketek. For our members who are not in Christchurch, this game will be broadcast on Sky TV. We also look forward to welcoming our Rugby Reunion groups – 25, 50, 60 and even some 70 Years On from when they were in the 1st XV.

4.40pm Christ’s College vs Christchurch Boys’ High School game
7pm Crusaders vs Queensland Reds
Ticket prices range from $10 to $65.

Meanwhile, Term 2 has started well for College, and we have finally been able to hold our Year 9 Parents’ Evening. This year, we served our very own 10 Houses Gin at the popular event. With 10 different House cocktails on offer, they proved a great novelty and were enjoyed by all. If you would like to purchase a bottle or two – one for yourself or a friend – of our 10 Houses Gin, please visit The Spirits Workshop website.

Please keep an eye out for our ‘What’s On’ events on both our website and in The Quadrangle so that you stay up to date with everything happening in your area. Preparations are going well for our Reunion Weekend in February 2023. Thank you to all the wonderful Reunion organisers for their help in planning this special weekend.

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Old Boys’ Stories

Old Boys do all sorts of interesting things ...

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Where are they now? Richard Reed (5788)

Retired pathologist, Angus cattle breeder, arts patron and renowned lecturer, Dr Richard Reed enjoys a much storied life in Melbourne.

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Irish pubs in Brazil, whisky on Waiheke

From Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands, Mark Hindmarsh (10715) came to Christ’s College in 1987. Now, after a lifetime of adventures around the globe, he is back in the north – in Onetangi on Waiheke Island.

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Living the international dream

Old Boy Tomohiro Harada (13120) firmly believes life is an adventure – if you let it become one.

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Marathon fundraiser for heart transplant 1 low res crop

Richard Turpie’s heartfelt reason for running an ultra-marathon

Old Boy Richard Turpie (15212) is on a marathon mission, running 100 kilometres to raise money to support the journey to a new heart for five-year-old Chase Porter.

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It’s Harvard for Brad

Recent Old Boy Bradley Shearer (15167) is off to one of the world’s most prestigious universities, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

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Different ways to becoming a doctor

Medicine looked very human when two recent Old Boys and trainee doctors fronted for the latest Career Convos session, outlining how to navigate the path into medical studies.

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ANZAC service on the Quad

For the first time in three terms the whole College community sang together at the service for the Commemoration of the Fallen.

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In the News

Zach Gallagher (14822)

Debut run for new Crusader

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Lucas Smith (14063)

Wool Aid – world-first merino bandage

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Anthony Barker (10232)

Anthony Barker, Managing Director of Southern Monograms, is stepping up to the plate to raise funds for the Christchurch City Mission.

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Upcoming Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

26 May 2022	Senior Honours Ties
27 May 2022	Christ’s College vs Christchurch Boys’ High School game – curtain-raiser for Crusaders and Rugby Reunion
22 June 2022	Melbourne Branch Dinner
3 August 2022	Auckland Community Event
4 August 2022	Auckland Young Old Boys (YOBs)
10 August 2022	Havelock North Community Visit
18 August 2022	Wellington Community Event (including YOBs)
30 September 2022	CCOBA Golf
19 October 2022	65 & 75 Years On & Gentlemen’s Lunch (2021 & 2022)
31 October 2022	Nelson Community Visit
1 November 2022	Blenheim Community Visit
7 November 2022	Ashburton Community Visit
15 November 2022	Wanaka Community Visit
18 November 2022	Christchurch Long Lunch
24 November 2022	Christchurch YOBs
TBC	Long Lunches: Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, Sydney, Melbourne

SAVE THE DATE

17–19 February 2023	Reunion Weekend 2023 20 Years On (2003–2007), 30 Years On (1993–1997), 40 Years On (1983–1987), 50 Years On (1973–1977), 60 Years On (1963–1967), 70 Years On (1953–1957) and 80 Years On (1943–1947)	Also, Old Boys from the postponed 2022 Reunion Weekend: 20 Years On (2002–2006), 30 Years On (1992–1996), 40 Years On (1982–1986), 50 Years On (1972–1976), 60 Years On (1962–1966), 70 Years On (1952–1956) and 80 Years On (1942–1946)
Labour Weekend 2025	175th Anniversary – watch this space

CCOBA Melbourne Dinner 2022

The CCOBA Melbourne annual dinner will be held on Wednesday 22 June 2022 at 6.30pm at the Sandringham Club, Brighton, Melbourne.

The cost is $60 per head for two courses and a cheese platter, with drinks at bar prices. All Old Boys in Melbourne at the time are welcome to attend.

Bookings are required, so please book your dinner spot.

For further information, contact David Williamson at +61431313848 or david@ieducationworld.com.

Medbury School Centenary Celebrations 2023

The Medbury School Old Boys’ Association (MSOBA) – ahead of Medbury’s Centenary next year – is reaching out to all Medbury Old Boys to ensure that the wider Medbury community can all celebrate this milestone together. If you are a Medbury Old Boy and do not receive regular communications from the MSOBA, the association invites you to update your details on the Medbury School website.

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The Chronicle

Deaths

March – April 2022

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

Richard Hugh Beckett FOSTER (6622)
Christchurch, 23 March 2022

Robert John SIMPSON (7353)
Wellington, 24 March 2022

David Napier MACREADY (6421)
Auckland, 3 April 2022

William Peter Pressley EVANS (5751)
Nelson, 11 April 2022

Richard Graeme (Clayton) MCELWEE (6181)
Bay of Plenty, 12 April 2022

John Edwin Napier QUAIFE (4979)
Otago, 12 April 2022

Richard Giles BRITTAN (5472)
Christchurch, 16 April 2022

Ronald Paul RIVERS (5703)
Christchurch, 16 April 2022

Graeme Ralph SHARP (4989)
Wellington, 20 April 2022

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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.

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From the Archives

Jane Teal
Archivist

School House and a mysterious parcel

Recently, the Executive Principal, Garth Wynne, opened a parcel that had no return address. Inside was discovered a crested terracotta ridge tile.ⁱ Wrapped around it was a note indicating that it was the result of architectural vandalism of School House in 1981. The practice of acquiring pieces of the ridgeline was known to the archivist, but none had ever been returned. Thank you.

Christ’s College Archives Accession Number 2022/51

A search through the archives photographs quickly found a 1911 image of the ridgeline intact.

School House c 1911. Christ’s College Archives. Lusk Album CCPAL1/47/4

At the time of the 2011 earthquakes, there were only remnants on the ridgeline.

Extract from Earthquake folder/School House & Bricks/80

This photograph shows more clearly that the item that arrived in the parcel was snapped off a larger piece of tile.ⁱⁱ It also shows that there were two types of tiles. The one that arrived in the post is the smaller and less elaborate of the two, so maybe the larger tile was created to produce a decorative effect. It would seem the tiles were locally made, using a template to create the desired shape. We do not have the original specifications for School House. There is no information about which of the many brickmakers in the city and its surrounds are the source.

While searching the Board Minutes for any clues about the ridgeline, some interesting facts about the construction of School House emerged:ⁱⁱⁱ

The first tenders were unacceptable and so the architects (CJ Mountfort, JJ Collins and RSD Harman)^iiiv had to redraw the plans.
The tender of D Scott & Sons was accepted for £9271 and an additional £230 for the east face in stone.^v
The foundation stone was laid by Lord Plunket on 22 February 1908.^vi

Laying the Foundation Stone of School House. Christ’s College Archives C S Thomas Album CCPAL4/10/1

It was not a forgone conclusion that the Headmaster would occupy the House. When he indicated his willingness to move, he was formally offered it. He was granted £150 for the move.
The final cost of the House increased because there was additional work on the laundry and building a fence.
A report on an electric pumping plant for water indicated that there were “radical defects in the construction and pipe laying”. It was solved by laying larger pipes and employing E Ridder at 10/0 per month for oiling it, and “attending to it daily”.

Now, back to the tiles. The archives do not wish to be swamped with tiles – one is enough. However, if anyone has one of those larger, more decorative tiles, then please contact the archives before sending another mysterious package.

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i. Thank you to Alec Bruce for supplying the correct name and for his additional comments about local manufacture and decoration.

ii. http://macmillanslaters.co.nz/roof-products/clay-crested-ridges/

iii. Christ’s College Board Minutes, various dates 1907–1910

iv. Cyril Julian Mountfort (240), John James Collins (247), Richard Dacre Harman (381)

v. Approximate currency conversion to NZ dollars $1,405,304.70 based on 1910 to 2017 English conversion and then the total to NZ currency.

vi. Sir William Lee Plunket, 5th Baron. Governor of New Zealand 1904–1910

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