It’s fantastic to see the support for our Old Boys' events. Since the school year began, I’ve met with about 1000 of you – an amazing number.

Following the Reunion Weekend, which more than 500 Old Boys and partners attended, we sent out a survey to check in with you. One of the key questions was the time of year for the Reunion. I’m pleased to report that over 90% of respondents are keen to retain the status quo.

So, put 16–18 February 2024 in your diary now. This Weekend Reunion will be for 20–80 years on.

Joint community event in Singapore with St Margaret’s College

I, alongside Old Boy Jeremy Johnson, will be in Singapore to host a community event on Saturday 20 May, from 4–6pm at Raffles Hotel. Everyone's welcome. Whether you're an Old Boy, Old Girl, a past, current or future parent, or looking to join our community, we would love to see you when we visit. Please spread the word. Partners welcome. Register here.

175th anniversary survey

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we want to produce a book recording the stories and experiences of the boys who attended Christ’s College from 1997–2025.

We want the student voice to drive the history. With this in mind, teacher and author Warren Lidstone would love to hear your story. All narratives are as valuable as each other, and these will inform the direction the book takes. Warren would value your response to his direct request. If you are in this age bracket and have not received an email requesting your proposed contributions to the book, you can still contact Warren at book175@christscollege.com.

Lights, camera, action

Among our international alumni is visual artist and film-maker Oscar Enberg (12940), who now lives in Berlin.

Oscar is back in Christchurch soon to scope out his next work – a feature film called Operetta – which will be filmed at Christ’s College in December and January. The tragicomedy traces the story of a boys’ school staging an ambitious theatre production and the ensuing highs and lows. It will involve as many of our current boys as possible in choral, instrumental, and leading roles, together with a further group of boys who are keen on the technical side of film-making.

The film will be completed in late 2024, or early 2025, in time for the arthouse festival circuit and will premiere as part of our 175th celebrations.

Oscar has kept costs as low as possible but is seeking further assistance and/or financial support. If you are interested in finding out more, please email ccoba@ccoba.com.

Enrolments

If you are looking to enrol your son or grandson, please apply as early as possible. Our enrolments are looking incredibly strong for future years.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE

A message to all Medbury Old Boys, and the Medbury family ...

In 2023, Medbury celebrates 100 years, and welcomes Old Boys to their decade reunions. All Old Boys, and anyone who has been part of the Medbury family, are welcome to join in these celebrations, reconnecting and reminiscing about years past.

1960s Reunion – Register here
Thursday 6 April, 5–7pm, Bealey Quarter

1970s Reunion – Register here
Thursday 18 May, 5–7pm, Bealey Quarter

View all Medbury Centenary Events here, and keep up to date by following the Medbury Old Boys Facebook page.

Contact Medbury for any more information at oldboys@medbury.school.nz.

Reunion Weekend

Thank you to all the Old Boys who joined us for the recent Reunion Weekend in February. It was our biggest Reunion yet, full of laughter and reminiscing. Proceedings began with a cocktail party on the balmy Friday night where the Old Boys 10 Houses Gin was in high demand. The latest Old Boys Posters were unveiled, along with a new Nicolas Dillon artwork donated to College by the CCOBA.

On Saturday morning, Old Boys enjoyed tours of the school, followed by drinks on the Quad and year group photos and lunch in the Dining Hall and the Chapman Room. It was wonderful to welcome three of our 90-year-old Old Boys. The evening again was warm and the respective year groups met at various locations around the city for a further catch-up. A relaxed brunch on Sunday was followed by a lovely Chapel service.

Click here for the Cocktail Party photos
Click here for the Reunion Lunch photos
Click here for the year group photos

Orders placed for year group photos are being posted this week.

Invaluable advice for life after College

Year 13 students have been urged to chase their dreams, define their goals, and value their friends as they prepare for post-College life.

Speaking at the annual Founders’ Dinner on Thursday 9 February, Director of Sport and Old Boy Benn McBrearty (11914) reminded the boys to never give up on their dreams and to always focus on their goals. Benn shared his own journey from College to senior roles in sport and education in Australia.

Old Boy and 2007 College Dux Dr Jonathan Stevenson (13190) spoke about his medical career – from the University of Otago to Oxford University. He emphasised the crucial role of friends in helping each boy to navigate the ‘snakes and ladders’ of life.

The Founders’ Dinner offers the boys the opportunity to mark their progress through College and to celebrate the school’s traditions while reflecting on their own legacy.

Classic cars live another day

Stunning cars were out in force for the annual Joe Studholme Memorial Vintage and Classic Car Day. An array of vintage and classic cars made their way to Hawarden via several entertaining stops. Discover more here.

A great time on the briny

It was fantastic to be out on the water again for the annual CCOBA Yacht Race held on Saturday 4 March, after a two-year hiatus because of Covid-19.

Dave Grigg and his crew, including Vice-President Blue Henderson, took out top honours on Global to claim the Jeremy Turnbull Memorial Trophy, presented by brother Anthony.

Glory Days (Nigel Ackroyd) came in 10 minutes behind, followed by Paradigm (David (Zac) Ensor), and Skara Brae (Alastair Shanks), which had the dubious honour of numbering Executive Principal Garth Wynne, Alumni Manager Lizzie Dyer, and CCOBA President Angus Dysart-Paul among its crew.

Astute handicapping by Branch President David Ensor meant all the boats finished within 25 minutes of each other.

Thanks to Tony Cridge for the time-keeping, Tony Turnbull for the prize-giving, and Clive Macfarlane (Boom Town Brewery) and David Clouston (Two Rivers/Black Cottage Wines) for donating the prizes.

And thank you to Garth, Lizzie, Angus, and Blue for taking the time to come and join the fun.

It would be great to see more of you there next year. Diary 2 March 2024 now.

OB Collegians stamp dominance in annual match

The Valley of Peace is always the scene of much mirth for the annual Old Boys cricket outing. This year, a change of plan at the 11th hour introduced a different opposition into the attack. Read more here.

Obituaries

Percival ‘Guy’ Haig Newton (4416)

Guy Newton was a highly regarded fighter pilot in World War ll who later became the most senior non-American in the largest company in the world at that time.

Derek Morten (4602)

A former managing director of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, Derek Morten had a varied and extensive career in the meat industry.

Read full obituaries here

Deaths

January–March 2023

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

John David Frederick ROYSMITH (5798)
Victoria, 30 January 2023

John Michael Carlyon Lowry HUDSON (5418)
Hawke's Bay, 2 February 2023

Derek MORTEN (4602)
Christchurch, 5 February 2023

Kimble Lindsay MACBETH (6180)
Canterbury, 8 February 2023

Graham John WILLIAMSON (5167)
Christchurch, 12 February 2023

Nicolas James GREENWOOD (10278)
Christchurch, 27 February 2023

Harry Michael Edward PANKHURST (13162)
Christchurch, 3 March 2023

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.

The East Window, Christ's College Chapel

The current East Window in the College Chapel is not the one you would have seen before 1895. So where did the original one go? To answer these questions, we need to know about the history of the building of the Chapel.

The architects were Robert Speechly and William Fitzjohn Crisp. It was completed and opened in 1867, and, at the time, the Lyttelton Times wrote a detailed description of the Chapel’s interior, including: “The five-lighted chancel window is one of the most pleasing features of the building, and will be most effective when filled with stained glass.”ⁱ

In December 1867, a letter was received by the Board of Governors from Richard James Strachan Harman (Fellow 1868–1897), indicating that he and his nephew, Thomas De Renzy Condell (123),ⁱⁱ would present a stained-glass window for the east end of the Chapel.ⁱⁱⁱ However, they must have already contacted James Powell & Sons, also known as Whitefriars, as they were able to show the design to the Board.^iv

Although the Chapel was opened in 1867, it was not consecrated until Thursday 10 December 1868, as Bishop Harper was absent at the inaugural Lambeth Conference in England. The service began with Morning Prayer at 10am. The sermon was preached by the Bishop and the service of Holy Communion followed. There was also an evening service at 6.30pm. Once more The Press reported on the occasion, noting: “The effect of the interior of the Chapel has just been very materially enhanced by the insertion of stained glass in the east window, the gift of Messrs Harman and Condell.”^v

The window was not to remain in situ. Rather, it was transferred to the south transept to make way for another widow. The replacement window commemorates Henry John Chitty Harper, Bishop of the Diocese of Christchurch, and College’s second Warden, who had died in December 1893.

The Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association formed a committee to decide what form the memorial should take. They decided it would a three-light stained-glass window for the east end and, by September 1895, they were able to report that it was about to be shipped.^vi

The dedication of the window is recorded in several places. Charles Frederick Bourne, the Headmaster, mentions it in a prize-giving speech in the same breath as the re-roofing of Big School and the repairing and improving of the boys’ reading room.^vii The Christ’s College Register is slightly more expansive.

The unveiling by Francis Augustus Hare took place at an early communion service at which the Warden, Bishop Julius, was the celebrant. The transept was filled with boarders and Old Boys, many of whom had contributed to the cost.^viii

However, all these initial accounts only refer to three lights ordered from Lavers & Westlake of London. It was not until 1899 that the outer two lights were ordered from the same firm.^ix It is not clear who made the decision about which figures should be represented in the window, but they include St James the Great with his pilgrim staff, St Paul with a book and sword, St John with his gospel and his symbol the eagle, and St Luke, also with a book. Christ is in the central light with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end.

From left to right, the shields portrayed in the window are: 1st light Eton (where Harper was tutor); 2nd light Harper arms impaled on those of the Diocese of Christchurch; 4th light the unofficial arms of Christ’s College until 1923; 5th light Queen’s College, Oxford (where Harper took his degree).

ⁱ Lyttelton Times 24 October 1867. See also Press 24 October 1867.
ⁱⁱ At College 1860–1867. Assistant Master 1867–1893.
ⁱⁱⁱ Christ’s College Board Minutes 2 December 1867.
^iv Ciaran, F 1992. The Stained Glass Windows of Canterbury. PHD Thesis Art History, University of Canterbury, attributes this window to Michael and Arthur O’Connor on stylistic grounds.
^v Star 11 December 1868. See Ciaran, F and J Teal 2013. The Stained Glass Windows of Christ’s College for details about symbolism and the studio.
^vi Christ’s College Register May 1895 p36, and September 1895 p4.
^vii Star 19 December 1895.
^viii Christ’s College Register March 1896 p4, 20.
^ix Christ’s College Register December 1899 p 310. See also Ciaran and Teal ibid.