Obituaries

While it is always sad to hear of the passing of Old Boys, there is a great deal of pride in reading of the many significant contributions members have made to local and national communities, and also across the world, in a variety of fields. On behalf of The Association and its members, we extend our sincere condolences to the families of our alumni who have passed during the year. Lumen Accipe et Imperti.

Roger Laycock (1961-67) died at Macleay Island, Brisbane, in late February, 2020. Whilst at Rongotai Roger was active in the racquet sports, playing in the senior tennis team, captaining the A badminton team and also playing squash. He graduated in mechanical engineering from Canterbury University and in 1977 left NZ to commence what became a very successful international career in the mining industry.

Brian Findlay (1955-59) died in Thwaites, Cumbria, England in late May, 2020. Brian was Proxime Accessit in 1959 and also served roles as Head Librarian and editor of Te Rama. The Mail reported on his passing in this article. Fellow Old Boy Chris Hainsworth (1959-63) fondly remembered Brian as follows: First Editor of NZ Organ News and Organist of St Thomas’ Wellington in the 1960s… But that was just the beginning… indeed I think my first memory of Brian is of his imposing figure playing the Wellington Town Hall organ for the Annual Combined Choir Carol Concert to a packed house, myself an insignificant choirboy among many others. Then it was at Rongotai College, where as a shy new 3rd Former I was impressed by his portly and erudite person strolling daily around the school grounds reading old books. That was his last year at school, where he was Proxime accessit — he was also head librarian and edited Te Rama. Later, when I went to University, I found myself alongside him in some classes, as he had opted to do just one or two music units a year, preferring to deepen his study rather than skim and accumulate like myself (and many others, no doubt…) He worked for some years at Smith’s second-hand Bookshop (near the Wellington Town Hall) and almost every Friday night I would call in for a chat, usually about organs but with a little entertaining gossip often attached! I greatly enjoyed his intelligent conversation, his humour and his English-ness! Over a couple of Summers I delivered parcels for the Post Office and was staggered to be delivering great bundles of old books nearly every day to his home in Melrose (in the same street as Anthony Jennings, a classmate of mine and fellow organ buff at the time too). I next met him in England after his return “home” (he had come out to New Zealand as a child) to continue his studies in the rarified world of Cambridge as Donaldson Scholar at Corpus College.  …He had 4 years of postgraduate study in the Cambridge English Dept but put aside his Old Norse study =- an immense undertaking - when he was accepted for ordination. After a challenging curacy in Deptford (a very difficult slum parish in London) he was appointed as Dean of Divinity at Magdalen College Oxford, where he spent perhaps the ten happiest years of his life, intellectually and spiritually speaking, working with Bernard Rose, FRCO, who was 24 years there as Organist and Informator Choristarum. His passion for books never abated: in Wellington, he had been a pupil of Don McKenzie in techniques of scholarship and bibliography and often worked with him at the Wai-te-Ata Press (a hand press). In Cambridge Brian found and restored an 18th century printing press which he kept in the crypt of Little St Mary's. He was a member of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society and kept up his bibliography somewhat (most recently contributing to the Oxford History of the Book), and was delighted to have some real treasures amongst his 20,000 volumes -- the whole of his reading from the age of 12 - including 17th century Shakespeare and a first folio Ben Jonson - not bad for someone on a priest's stipend! We met occasionally over the decades since, in England, France or New Zealand, always with great pleasure and enjoyment, enhanced by his marriage in 1990 to Kirsty Cochrane (née Northcote-Bade), a former colleague of mine from Waikato University; he had been best man at her first wedding in 1966!  Later, overcoming arthritis-driven knee- and ankle-replacements to continue playing, he often officiated at the altar AND the organ (I replaced him a couple of times at the organ but left the altar to him!) I have splendid memories of tea at the Vicarage, in the drawing room or the luxuriant gardens of his Parish in rural Suffolk (it was always fine weather for my visits…), 5 villages within walking distance of each other, a couple with exquisite 18th Century instruments, one of which needed pumping (by foot) but it was a special thrill to give a concert with Brian, shortly before they retired to Cumbria, on a rather French organ by Auguste Gern (formerly of the Cavaillé-Coll firm) in the historic church of Chelsworth on April 25th 2010 to celebrate ANZAC Day and the exact centenary of Maxwell Fernie, of whom we had both been pupils.  RIP Brian, a fine musician, clergyman, scholar, gardener… and a truly unique character! Chris Hainsworth  (1959-63).

Barry Sceats (1947-52) died in Auckland, in May, 2020.

Roy Cowley (1951-56) died in Wellington, 11 May, 2020. Roy was recently invested as a MNZOM (see the feature on our News page).

Graham Nevill (Barney)  Barnett (1958-63) passed away in Manila in April 2020. While at school, Graham was in the First Hockey XI and the senior tennis team in 1963.

Reginald Mansford (1934) died in Wellington in April, 2020. Reginald was a prect in 1939 and a member of the First XV.Reginald’s two sons, John (1972-75) and Phil (1962-68) both also attended the college.

H. D. (Howard) Clements  (1947-52)  died Wellington April 2020. Howard was a prefect in his last year, and in Form Lower 6G. As the college’s Outstanding Intermediate Athlete he was awarded the Avery Cup in both 1951 and 1952. In 1952  he came second in the inter-collegiate intermediate grade 880 yards race. Howard was also fourth the in the College’s senior 3 mile cross-country race, and was a member of the Rongotai Cross-Country team, being 2nd in the inter-collegiate senior race. He  was a well-performed goalie in the 1952 1st XI Soccer team, and was chosen for the Wellington schools' senior grade representative team.

C.F. (Cliff) Coate (1945-50) died Wellington 20 March,1945-50). In 1950 was in Lower VI, 1st XV, 1st XI (batting average 19.25), and Senior Tennis Team. 

Romanofski Sefesi (1995-97) died in Napier, 1 November, 2019. “Nokski” was a respected member of the Green Gloves Boxing Gym in Newtown.

P.T.. (Peter) Marshall (1950-56) died Wellington, 29 April 2019. Peter had an outstanding record at Rongotai. Head prefect 1956 (prefect 1955); captain Wakefield House 1956; captain First XV 1956, captain Athletics team at McEvedy Shield 1956 (ran in 120 yards hurdles); captain second XI Cricket (century v Wellington College). Winner Senior Public Speaking prize 1956 (‘Coming of the milk cowboy to New Zealand’). Peter was also an outstanding musician, among other things, touring the South Island as soloist and accompanist with the Boys Institute Band at the age of eight, participating in the school string orchestra in 1951, playing percussion and keyboard part-time for the National Symphony Orchestra from 1956 to 1986, and as Musical Director (and conductor) for more than 20 Musical Theatre groups and Gilbert Sullivan shows. On leaving school Peter worked in the customs business (P.T. Marshall & Co Ltd, MSAS, Excel NZ Ltd). He was President of the Wellington Customs Agents and a counsellor in the New Zealand Society. Peter also retained his interest in rugby. More recently, Peter has been a dedicated bowler, playing at the Wilton Club where a memorial service was held. Peter was also prominent in the Old Boys Association, acting as President on two occasions, first in 1974 and serving as a member of the school board of trustees. His brother Brent (deceased) was also a Rongotai student (1957-62).

Ian Lawrence CBE died Jerusalem 8 March 2019. Ian served on the College Board of Trustees and had three boys at Rongotai: Anton (1979-83), Nathan (1981-85) and Michael (1989-93). Ian was a councillor from 1973 until he became Mayor of Wellington (1983-86). He later served on the Wellington Regional Council. Ian moved to Jerusalem in 2014.

G.C. (Gillbert) Froude (1935-38) died Wellington 9 April 2019. Gilbert served in WWII (1943-45). His three sons, Neill (1958-63) Alan (1968-72) and Derek (`973-77) also attended Rongotai. Derek represented New Zealand at the 1984 and 1992 Olympics.

Tim Edwards (1952-57) died Rotorua 24 March 2019. Tim was a prefect and a member of the First XV in 1956 and 1957. He was the son of long-term master, Doug Edwards - 27 years to 1960.

H.W. (Bob) Alexander (1941-43) died Wellington 27 February 2019.

Lionel Brackley( (1949-53) died Auckland 12 February 2019. Lionel, who came from Seatoun School in the third form, was a prefect in 1953 and a fine sportsman, playing three years in the first soccer XI (vice-captain 1953); awarded an honours pocket for tennis in 1953; and competing with success in athletics: Intermediate shot put and 120 yards hurdles 1952, senior 100 and 220 yards 1953. Lionel performed in school plays, Adventure Story (1952), The Guinea Pig (1953), and spoke on ‘The Kon Tiki Expedition’ in 1952. On leaving Rongotai, Lionel joined the Reserve Bank.