From the President

Richard Polson

Richard Polson
CCOBA President

Richard Polson 9008 Cropped

We love to receive feedback and strive to run events which provide Old Boys with the opportunity to connect and share stories.

The 2021 Reunion Weekend was a fantastic celebration and the survey feedback was very valuable. Lizzie Dyer, our Alumni Manager, shares some of the key Reunion Weekend feedback in her report below.

Events
College community events are under way. These are open to all and are a great opportunity for Old Boys to connect with past, current and prospective parents and the wider local community.

The Young Old Boys (YOBs) events are a wonderful chance for our newest members to connect across New Zealand. The Auckland event, which was combined with the St Margaret's Margaritas, was held on 11 May while the Wellington event was held on 20 May. Both were lots of fun. It has been great to catch up with our Young Old Boys and find out what they are doing.

Check out the photos below in the 'Out and About' section.

Giving back to College
We have a strong community of Old Boys who share their time, treasure and talent with College. One of our Old Boys, Alastair Grigg, will be speaking, as a part of College's Business Banter programme, about his time as COO at Xero. He will discuss how he and his team took a fear-inducing subject, such as accounting, to a fun, creative, easy to use service. It will follow last night's successful Fix & Fogg session. For more information and to register for the event please click here.

College Vision and Strategy
2021 is a new strategic phase for the school. The Christ's College Board of Governors is committed to the vision of ensuring that College will be a vibrant school community that educates boys to be men of virtuous character who make a positive contribution to society. Strategy 2025 addresses motivation, connection, philanthropy and sustainability to fulfil the mission statement, Each boy at his best, and to bring us to our 175th anniversary.

Click here
to view the Strategy 2025 document.

We want to hear from you
Our most popular stories from the community are ones about you, our Old Boys. So please, if you hear of a good story or you have some exciting news to share, then let us know. We would love to hear from you.

Read on

Alumni Manager

Lizzie Dyer The Quad

Lizzie Dyer
Alumni Manager

Greetings everyone

In this issue, you’ll find some feedback on our February reunions, and details about how you can register for the upcoming 65 Years On (1956–1960) and 75 Years On (1946–1950) Reunion on 20 October 2021, which coincides with our annual Gentlemen’s Lunch. The Gentlemen’s Lunch is open to our more senior Old Boys who would like to come back to College and join the current boys in Chapel for Congers, followed by lunch in the Dining Hall. It is a great chance to catch up with old friends and reminisce.

Reunion Weekend feedback
Thank you to everyone who completed our Reunion Weekend survey. More than 90% of our attendees believed the weekend was value for money. Nearly everyone wants us to continue with the current format and frequency. As expected, the most popular events were the cocktail party, the reunion lunch and the year group dinners. Most of the Old Boys heard about their reunions via email. These came through The Quadrangle, the CCOBA office or a reunion year group organiser. If you know of any Old Boys who are not receiving information, please encourage them to update their email details with us.

CBHS vs College rugby match
On Thursday 3 June, we have the annual Christchurch Boys’ High School versus Christ’s College rugby match. It is being played at the earlier time of 1.30pm at Christchurch Boys’ High School.

This year, four rugby reunion groups will join us: 1st XVs from 25 Years On – 1996; 50 Years On – 1971; 60 Years On – 1961; and a group from the 1956 1st XV. We will start at 10.30am with tea and coffee in the School House Library and then a team photo at 11am followed by lunch at 12pm sharp with the boys in the College Dining Hall before heading to Christchurch Boys' High School.

Following the match, CCOBA will again put on some drinks at Fat Eddie’s. All our Old Boys are welcome to join us.

This year, the game is not being covered by Sky. However, here are the details to watch the live stream online. Alternatively, join the scrum online, and catch all the 1st XV action at sideline.live.

Old Boys’ achievements
We are on the lookout for any Old Boys who have represented their country in sport or achieved nationally in music, art or theatre, or any other cultural endeavour. We have a comprehensive list of cricket and rugby players, but want to know more about representatives in other areas. If you or a family member have any information, please contact College Archivist Jane Teal or myself.

Congratulations to all our Old Boys who have recently graduated in New Zealand. It has certainly been an interesting 12 months and we have enjoyed seeing all the photos and stories capturing your achievements.

Save the date
Preparations are under way for our Reunion Weekend, 18–20 February 2022. If you started 3rd form (Year 9) in any of the below years, please save the date. Let me know if you can also help with gathering your classmates together.

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)
80 Years On (1942–1946)

Email is our main point of communication, so if you are speaking to any Old Boys who don’t hear from us, please encourage them to update their details by calling me on 03 364 6862 or emailing ccoba@ccoba.com.

Read on

Old Boys’ Stories

Old Boys do all sorts of interesting things ...

Read on
IMG 1306

Sam Bosworth in winning rhythm for Games

Former College cox Sam Bosworth (13830) is setting a hot pace as a member of the men’s eight on course to represent New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Read full article
Hockey Launch 1

National champions flick back into action

An impressive line-up of national champions – Old Boys Llewey Heale (14575), Louis Beckert (14535), Will Duston (14683) and Nick Lidstone (14846) – have helped launch the Christ's College hockey season.

Read full article
Broodie Turnbull presenting the Jeremy Turnbull Memorial Trophy to Rob Grigg winning skipper of Imp Zap eidt lv

Rob Grigg sails away to claim trophy

Rob Grigg (6400) and his ‘Imp Zap’ crew took the honours in this year’s annual yacht race off Waikawa, near Picton.

Read full article
Mark Warren Waipari Station

Farm Forester of the Year

Old Boy Mark Warren (8838) has been named Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year ...

Read full article

In the News

Ben Wilson

Touch of homegrown luxury

Old Boy Ben Wilson (10378) is the co-founder of Wilson & Dorset, creator of luxury sheepskin homewares. Today, those homewares are being sold around the world. Check it out on page 27.

Read full article
Tom Hargreaves

Farming for today – and tomorrow

Run by the Hargreaves family – including Old Boy Tom Hargreaves (11286) – South Canterbury-based Kakahu Stud continues to make innovative advances.

Read full article
Vincent Luisetti 470x528

Seeds of success

A multimillion-dollar investment supporting New Zealand’s arable industry has powered into life under the guidance of Luisetti Seeds production director – and Old Boy – Vincent Luisetti (9464).

Read full article

Upcoming Events

There is plenty of activity ahead. Book now to secure your place.

UPCOMING DATES
3 JuneRugby Reunion – 25, 50 & 60 Years On
Christ's College vs Christchurch Boys' High School
Please contact ccoba@ccoba.com

Join the scrum online – you can catch all the 1st XV action at sideline.live.

29 JulyDunedin YOBs – BOOK HERE
3 AugustNelson Community Visit with St Margaret's College and Medbury School – BOOK HERE
4 AugustMarlborough Community Visit with St Margaret's College and Medbury School – BOOK HERE
11 AugustTimaru Community Visit with Waihi School – BOOK HERE
20 OctoberGentlemen's Lunch – BOOK HERE or download the Gentlemen's Lunch Form and email to ccoba@ccoba.com

20 October

65 Years On Reunion – BOOK HERE or download the 65 Years on Reunion form and email to ccoba@ccoba.com

20 October75 Years On Reunion – BOOK HERE or download the 75 Years On Reunion form and email to ccoba@ccoba.com
SAVE THE DATE
17 SeptemberWellington Long Lunch
15 OctoberCCOBA Golf
19 NovemberChristchurch Long Lunch
25 NovemberChristchurch YOBs
18–20 February 2022Reunion 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)

Read on

Out & About

Melbourne CCOBA Annual Dinner

Our Melbourne-based Old Boys gathered for the CCOBA Annual Dinner at the Sandringham Club in Melbourne on 31 March, navigating between various Covid-related restrictions.


IMG 6598 1
Read on

Hawke's Bay CCOBA Event

Our Hawke's Bay Old Boys enjoyed a wonderful night at our recent CCOBA Event at the Giant Brewing Co in Havelock North, with a great turnout and a good mix of ages.

Giant Brewing Co has strong College connections. It is part owned by Old Boy Hugo Fitzsimmons (11419) and was the perfect setting for the CCOBA catch up.

IMG 8298
IMG 8303
IMG 8290
IMG 8295
Read on

Auckland and Wellington Community Visits

Thank you to all our Old Boys who joined us in Auckland and Wellington over the last two weeks for our annual Community Visits in conjunction with St Margaret’s College. Both events were very well-supported and it was also lovely to welcome some new faces.

Keep an eye out for the details later this year for the planned Long Lunches in your area.

IMG 9501 edit lv
IMG 9499 edit lv
IMG 9492 edit lv
IMG 9491 edit lv
IMG 9526 edit lv
IMG 9527 edit lv
IMG 9529 edit lv
IMG 9631 edit lv
Read on

Young Old Boys (YOBs)

We had a great turnout of YOBs at our Auckland and Wellington events. A Young Old Boy is one who left school within the last 10 years.

The Auckland event was held at Everybody's Bar in the city, and the Wellington event was at Havana Bar.

IMG 9647 edit
IMG 9645 edit lv
IMG 9490 edit lv
IMG 9489a edity lv
Read on

The Chronicle

Obituaries

Christopher John Hindmarsh (1041), aged 82

Christopher attended Christ’s College from 1952–1956, travelling down from the east coast of the North Island.

Read full article here

Anthony Louis Danby Warren (6233), aged 82

Anthony was the eldest child of Lou and Moira Warren. He was brother to Wendy, Jillian, Fay and David, father to David, Geraldine and Anthony, and grandfather to Harriet and Ethan.

Read full article here

Iain Watson Gallaway (4566), aged 99

Iain Gallaway was a man of many talents, but for most he was simply the genial voice of Otago and New Zealand cricket.

Read full article here

Read on

Deaths

March – May 2021

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

Nigel Thomas DUCKWORTH (5574)
Marlborough, 13 March 2021

Walter Theodore WISDOM (6841)

Bay of Plenty, 15 March 2021

Andreas (Kit) Christen IVERSEN (5590)

Christchurch, 22 March 2021

James Stuart HEARD (5199)

Hawke's Bay, 1 April 2021

Anthony Louis Danby WARREN (6233)

Auckland, 13 April 2021

William Hugh SCOTT (5970)

Christchurch, 14 April 2021

Patrick (Paddy) Francis Lee DILLON (7019)

Christchurch, 16 April 2021

Michael Joseph BERESFORD (9286)

Christchurch, 17 April 2021

Iain Watson GALLAWAY (4566)

Otago, 18 April 2021

Christopher John HINDMARSH (6041)

Brazil, 20 April 2021

Richard Ellis BENDALL (7267)

Canterbury, 28 April 2021

Peter Lancelot BUSH (5184)

Christchurch, 8 May 2021

Read on

Contributions welcome

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

As a guideline, we suggest each obituary be approximately 500 words. However, we are happy to accept longer or shorter options.

*Please note that this office may edit obituaries submitted.

Read on

From the Archives

Jane Teal
Archivist

CCF and Christ's College Football Monogram i

On 30 March 1922, Herbert William Williams (547) wrote to Edmund Rogers Webb (722) (the College Bursar),ii enclosing some 1876, 1877 and 1872 papers, which, reading between the lines, were copies of the Football Rules as he comments on the 1877 revisions.iii

He then writes:

”I drew the monogram in that year, and I am gratified to see that it has lasted all these years.” iv

On 28 May 1877, Williams was elected to the Games Committee, but nowhere in the minutes of that year is the monogram mentioned. It is not until the Games Committee meeting of 22 June 1880 that it was “Resolved that a badge be worn by the College Fifteen black background with white letters. The letters to be C.C.F.C.” v

So where does that leave Williams’ claim? Did it take three years for his design to be implemented? According to the rules at the time he was able to play for the College for one year after leaving, and so he is in the photograph of the 1878 team. CCF is not visible.

CCXV 1878

Standing L-R: John Charles Nattle Grigg (481), Harry Joseph Beswick (505), John William Townsend Boys (438), Herbert Brown (413), Arthur Truman Chapman (660), Herbert William Williams (captain) (547), Collet Barker Dobson (708), Robert Luke Higgins (637), George Arthur Smith (465), Charles William Rattray (769), George Macpherson Cox (783), Hugh Tolmi (583)
Seated L-R:
Henry Herbert Lee (517), Harry Robert Webster (807), Hugh Frederick Hewlings (796)

In the photograph of the 1883 team, the monogram is clearly visible. At this early date, the CCFC has been reduced to CCF.

CCXV 1883 b

Back L-R: George Harris (903), George Edward Rhodes (791), Thomas Forsaith MacDonald (863), Annesley Frederick George Harman (582), Charles Henry Hamilton (620), Cyril Stanley Buchanan (1065)
Middle L-R:
Morris Carr Robison (936), Charles Edmund Maude (925), Walter Herbert Hargreaves (629, captain), Arthur Gladstone Cox (887), Walter Septimus Fisher (929)
Front L-R:
Arthur Hamilton Rowley (883), Albert John Webb (721), Edward Rogers Webb (722), Maurice Tancred Stack (919)
Insert L-R:
Reginald Fortescue Cook (913), John Wright (1003), Frederick James Hamilton (619), Leonard Evelyn Cotterill (753)

When Williams was writing in 1922, the CCF is still visible on the team’s rugby shirts.

CCPAL 40 2 1 004

CCPAL40/2/1 Source unknown

L-R: Unknown, Thomas Reginald Sheen (3055), Thomas Thoresby Caccia Birch (3260), William John Harris (2767), Charles Holmes Miller (3191), Eric Davey Trounce Lewis (2869), Hamish Francis Armstrong (3144), John Quentin McWillIam (3295), Horace Naylor Greenwood (3281), William Cunningham Stafford (3117), Roger Christian Grigg (2999), Garthowen Williams (3330), Guy Leonard Seymour Nicholl (3104), Edward Kenmure McLean (3221), Harold Bateman Godfrey (2645), Ronald Osmond Talbot (captain) (2744), Mr Harvey (coach) vi

And 100 years later in 1977.

Rugby First XV 1977 Ch 26

Back Row L-R: John David Morris (8929), Christopher John Chamberlain (8874), Nicholas Blair Archibald (8704), Grant Kenneth Roberts (8950)
Middle Row L-R: Geoffrey Richard Wright (8984), Michael Campbell Robilliard (8951), James William Hartley Fisher (8738), Hamish Neville Francis Cooper (8729), Peter Norman Gerald Fitzgerald (8894), Robert Maxwell Deans (8732), Michael Henley Rewi Brown (8721)
Front Row L-R: Peter Simon Polson (8810), Mr JS Taylor (coach), Michael James Bowie Hobbs (8760), Vaughan Raymond Brown (captain) (8722), Mr JJ Steel (coach), Joseph Nino Leota (8778)

And in 2020 it is still being worn.

Rugby 1st XV 5910 reduced

Back Row L-R: Mr RA Kennedy (coach), Marcus Xavier Hamilton (15107), Jonathan David Lee (15126), Cormack Frederick Dods (15186), Gus Hunter Morrow (14997), Sam Thomas Idiens (15117), Mr SR Broomhall (coach)
Third Row L-R: Mr AW Wood (coach), Hendix Hone Paku Taylor (15534), Brodie Edward Gason (15365), Jack Paul Belcher (15073), Guy Nicholas Chaffey (14939), Angus James Christopher Hammett (15691)
Second Row L-R: Mr RD Thorne (coach), Oliver William Ryan (15540), Jack Matua Jones (15529), Anton Marshall (15134), Nicholas James Shearer (15360), Nathan Ross McKenzie (15141), Sean Richard Rutherford-Bradford (15166), Mr NM Porter (manager)
Front Row L-R: Matthew John Durant (14947), Dominic Taylor Lambert (14982), Liam Benjamin Pratt (15539), Fletcher Fitzgerald Anderson (captain)(14928), Louis Maurice Mohio Morrell Gunn (vice captain)(14959), Fiti Sa (15190), Jarrad Nathan Hill (15188), George Henry Anderson (14929)

So, either 143 or 140 years later, CCF is the longest continuously worn item of the Christ’s College uniform.

i Football in this instance refers to Rugby, rather than the present use of the word in respect to the game that was previously known as Soccer
ii See 1883 1st XV photograph, front row, second from right
iii Games Committee Minute Book. June 14 1872, June 19 1876, September 17 1877
iv Webb Scrap Book Page p43
v Games Committee Minute Book June 22 1880
vi This photograph was unnamed but was matched with the formal 1922 1st XV photograph for names

Read on

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care

Governing Body Hugh Lindo

Hugh Lindo
Board Chair

You will no doubt be aware of the Royal Commission’s Inquiry into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in State and faith-based care in Aotearoa New Zealand between the years 1950–99.

Christ’s College fully supports the purpose of the Inquiry and is participating in the work of the Royal Commission.

We know that amongst our Old Boy community there are survivors of abuse that did occur at Christ’s College. We are acknowledging this now and apologising to those survivors for what happened to them. We are supporting survivors through a process of engagement that we hope will provide appropriate redress.

To review our Historical Abuse Complaints Policy, please click here.

Talking to College about your experience
If you would like to talk about your own experiences at Christ’s College please contact Board Chair Hugh Lindo. Hugh can be reached on 027 711 7171, email at rc@christscollege.com or you can write to him c/- Christ’s College, Private Bag 4900, Christchurch 8140 and mark the envelope ‘Confidential for the attention of Hugh Lindo.’

If you would prefer not to contact Hugh or have direct contact with College about your experiences, you can contact our independent facilitator, Mark Wells. You can reach Mark directly via email at markwells@xtra.co.nz or write to our address (as above) and mark the envelope ‘Confidential for the attention of Mark Wells.’

A support group for Old Boys
A support group for Old Boys who are survivors of abuse has been established by Jim Goodwin, also an Old Boy. Jim is experienced in running groups that help survivors of abuse and has worked in mental health for many years. We are very grateful to Jim for creating a forum that can support survivors in this way.

The support group will operate independently from Christ’s College under Jim’s guidance.

Its purpose is to provide a safe environment where Old Boy survivors can discuss their experiences.

If you are interested in finding out more about this group, please contact Jim directly to see if this support group is suitable for you. Jim can be contacted at: jimgoodwin@outlook.co.nz or on 021 167 9488.

For further information on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, click here.

Read on

The latest College magazine

College – Issue 40 Summer 2020

Keep up-to-date with the latest happenings at College from academic to our diverse co-curricular programme! Plus, a special Old Boys’ section. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

College Magzine Cover Issue 40
Read on