Independent investigation

As a valued member of our community, we are in touch regarding a former Residential Tutor at our school, who was found guilty of serious misconduct against two female students.

Our thoughts are with the survivors of his abuse, and we acknowledge their strength and courage.

We have now launched our own independent investigation into his employment at Christ’s College.

If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly – hugh.lindo@simpsongrierson.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE

Medbury celebrates 100 years

Medbury is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and has a series of events planned for Old Boys.

All Medbury Old Boys are invited and welcome to join in these celebrations, reconnecting and revisiting the nostalgia of years past. Register at Medbury Centenary Events.

• 2000s reunion – Thursday 24 August 5–7pm Kong
• 1970s reunion – Thursday 7 September 5–7pm at Kong (a postponed date from 18 May)
• 2010s reunion – Thursday 21 September 5–7pm at Fat Eddie's

Keep up to date by following our Medbury Old Boys Facebook page and feel free to contact Medbury at any time at oldboys@medbury.school.nz

Back on the attack – 60, 50, and 25 years on

Sixty years on, four 1963 Christ’s College 1st XV members lined up for their reunion, reflecting on the travels of their very social “amateur” team and remembering the seven players who have watched their last game.

All backs, they were joined by members of the 1973 and 1998 1st XV rugby teams for a reunion breakfast in the Dining Hall, a wander around the school grounds – including a look at the new sports centre, Upper West – and an afternoon at Christchurch Boys’ High School to watch the annual game.

Rob Black (6853), Stew Blakely (6994), Richard Bromley (6861), and David Holderness (6765) all agree that the team “often faced much bigger opponents” and “were amateurs compared with today’s players”.

They recall the sideline cry of “zip, zip, zip”, but not a great deal of other advice.

For Rob, the 1963 1st XV “was not coached up to the standards of today” but “was supported by the masters”.

He says that each boy’s weight “used to be included in the rugby programme and my weight went up by a stone from my actual 10 stone three pounds” in the publication on game day.

A chartered accountant, Rob still has family ties to College and continues to provide his financial expertise to several charities.

Looking out over Upper during his reunion tour, Rob recalls that his father, Herbert Black (3577), “was the first boy to cycle along the length of the wall” next to the Botanic Gardens.

All the reunion members were keen to learn more about the new multi-functional sports centre, and particularly the move to fully restore Upper and develop a world-class turf that would serve generations of rugby players to come.

David, a retired District Court judge, also reflected on the social side of being in the team and the excitement of travelling overnight on ships between Lyttelton and Wellington to take part in the Quadrangular Tournament in the North Island.

Along with Richard, a former Deputy Headmaster and biology teacher at College, and Stew, who has farmed all around Canterbury, they reminisced about their team travels and their time at school. Each has enjoyed seeing the changes at College during their reunion day and having another chance to be on the sidelines for the big game.

Tauranga Catch Up

We recently had the pleasure of hosting the first Old Boys function in Tauranga for some time. As always, it was a wonderful opportunity to put faces to the names of Old Boys we’ve talked with and emailed. Thank you for an enjoyable evening.

Akaroa Community Visit

After driving from Christchurch to Akaroa through sleet and hail, we were thrilled to be welcomed by a boisterous crowd – packed into Bully Hayes Restaurant & Bar – who had gathered for our wonderful Community Event. Despite the chill, all our College community members were in fine form as we enjoyed the excellent food and very warm setting.

Wellington Long Lunch

Our wonderful annual Wellington Long Lunch was held at The Wellington Club, with a great mix of ages enjoying catching up or meeting fellow Old Boys.

Dunedin Young Old Boys Event (YOBs)

On an unusually mild Wednesday night in July, we held the annual Dunedin YOBs and Margarita get together at the Lone Star. It was a wonderful turn out with plenty of laughs and chat. We look forward to hosting our final YOBs for the year in Christchurch on Wednesday 29 November at The Bog.

Obituaries

Nicolas James Greenwood (10278)

Nick Greenwood was a keen sportsman with an enduring passion for road cycling. After a decade in London, he returned to Christchurch with his young family, following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Read full obituaries here

Deaths

May–July 2023

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

Thomas Webb TOTHILL (5712)
Christchurch, 27 May 2023

Richard Crawford STUDHOLME (5893)
Christchurch, 1 June 2023

Kerry Serpless BOWRON (6496)
Auckland, 2 June 2023

Anthony Campbell STEELE (6459)
East Coast, 2 June 2023

Charles Herbert ELWORTHY (9025)
Europe, 8 June 2023

John Robert CLOUSTON (7399)
Marlborough, 13 June 2023

John Charles Dominic CANNON (9007)
Christchurch, 16 June 2023

Jesse Luke CROSSAN (12935)
Canterbury, 16 June 2023

James Danvers BAKER (5642)
Christchurch, 19 June 2023

Neil Scoular Edward ROBILLIARD (5790)
Christchurch, 22 June 2023

David Sandford Lee DILLON (7117)
Marlborough, 2 July 2023

Richard Lionel HARDING (4455)
Wairarapa, 14 July 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.

Tickets

Today we obtain a ticket to a show, sports event, or an overseas holiday all by the push of a button and a scarcely remembered password. We still must show our mobile phone (or a printout if we are still a bit old-fashioned) to get our seat. Electronic ticketing means that payment is easily controlled and the number of seats available easily identified.

In the past, it was necessary to collect a piece of paper or cardboard – often numbered – well before the event, from a designated location.

So how did Christ’s College cope with ticketing drama productions, rugby matches, College groups or an invitation to College events? The College Press Club produced many of these tickets on a Heidelberg printing press, tucked under the Open Air classrooms. The club’s sample books are held in the College Archives.

Tickets were needed for sports events.

And for concerts and House suppers.

They were also needed to attend events.

And to attend joint Christ’s College and St Margaret’s College productions.

Also, to make sure you had a seat in the Chapel.