POPULAR OFFICIAL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13239, 15 January 1941, Page 4

POPULAR OFFICIAL

FAREWELL TO MTI H. J.

BRADMORE

Seldom has a more representative gathering been seen in Tauranga tnan that which assembled at tne Civic Theatre last evening to farewell Mr H. J. Bradmore, who is retiring after nine years as manager of the Bank of Australasia in Tauranga. .. Among those present were His Worship the Mayor, Mr L. R. W ilkinson, in the chair. Messrs F. \\ - Doidge. M.P., H. A. Sharp, N. P. Green, G. S. Jarvis, A. Stenhouse. W. F. Cross. B. K. Gilford, S. Geo. Willcock, L. E. Woods. A. J. Mirrielees R R. O'Hara. Geo. McLeod. J. K. Lusk, W. S. Holland. Arthur Stewart. C. Hume, Fred Stewart, P. Lumley. J. K. Hamilton. Geo. H. Bell, W. O. Andrews, H. P. Butts, J. Mackav, C. J. Steedman. Colin Johnston. A. Roche. A. J. Gallagher. J. Auld, H. L. Dinsdale, L. Gamman, L. Simmonds. Capt. Jas. Mitchell. W. J. Stevens, J. G. Tennent, R. Cobbe, H. O. Cooney, F. Bates, F. Wanies, A. Bradmore, Alex Cunningh’am. C. F. Washer. A. B. Wood. O. Deacon. H. A. Mollgaard, G. Tudhope, K. D. Page, 11. W. F. King, D. S. McShane, R T. Goulding, R. H. Hay, T. F. Kerridge, D. Bain, E. Sadd, P. F. Carter, J. K. Lowe, Hanron. Younger, A. Lamport, Warren Stevens, Hetherington, F. Waldegrave, R. J. Clarkson, P. Budd, A. S. Newland, H. C. Johanson. W. J. Smith, S. O. Guinness, G. L. Green. D. Ivory, W. A. Paterson, M. Gallagher, E. T 13 elk 6i* Mr L. R. Wilkinson opened the proceedings by proposing the toast of “The King,” Mr D. McShane kindly officiating at the piano. •The chairman then called on Mr C. J. Steedman, as one of the organisers of the function, to address the gathering. Mr Steedman announced apologies from Messrs A. W. Every, E. S. Bartlett,. J. A. Guinness, A. Strang, F. T. Briggs. C. H. Jordan, H Bradney Williams, J Towsey, P. W. McCulloch. H. Gilmore Rodgers, James Macleod, A. W. Mouat, D. H. Corrigan, W. Phipps and Wynn Kirkby. Mr Steedman then introduced Mr J. Hanron to the assembly and expressed the hope that he would have a long and happy sojourn in Tauranga. “This gathering,” said Mr Steedman, “has been arranged by Mr Mackay and myself, who felt that the many friends of Mr and Mrs Bradmore could not let them slip quietly away to their ‘country castle’ without expressing to them hopes for a long and happy retirement —their “open house” policy during their stay in Tauranga has been very much appreciated by their hosts of friends. We have to acknowledge much appreciated help from the Mayor, Messrs Trevor Kerridge, Simmonds Bros., Guinness Bros, and Mick Gallagher, not to mention our small team of stewards and Mrs Mackay and Mrs Steedman. “We are here to pay tribute to a man, who, although he has retired from Bank work is, we are pleased to say, remaining amongst us. Mr Bradmore as you all know has been Manager of the Bank of Australasia in this fine town of ours for the past nine years, and has made many friends. He has been a very keen and capable worker on quite a few local committees, notably the Library and Golf Club, and it is hoped he ■will continue to contribute his knowledge and energy to .these and other bodies.

“It was decided .to hold this function this afternoon, because we knew that the guest of honour would like to inconvenience his friends as little as possible and allow those present to be home for tea and then carry on their evening’s programme as usual. Mr Bradmore retired on Christmas Eve, but owing to the holiday rush, it was thought better to wait a. week or two before giving him this opportunity of officially saying goodbye to his business associates, and to enable these and other friends to wish him well. The very large attendance has amply rewarded Mr Mackay and myself for our small efforts, and bears striking testimony to the popularity of one of our best liked citizens.

“My part in this function is really a very small one, just to pave the way for others more capable than myself to tell of the many good qualities of my old friend Brad, and Mrs Bradmore.” Mr W. J. Stevens, on behalf of Tauranga businessmen, expressed his pleasure at being present. That pleasure was however tinged with regret at the retirement of so popular an officer from the Bank of Australasia. Mr Stevens had done business with the bank for 20 years and in that time had only known two managers, Mr H. P. Butts and Mr H. J. Bradmore. He had felt when Mr Butts retired, that he would be a difficult man to replace, but Mr Bradmore had proved a worthy successor tohim. In all business dealings with the bank he had received nothing but courtesy and kindness and for that he wished to thank Mr Bradmore on behalf of the businessmen, and to express their universal regret that the time had arrived for his retirement.

Mr H. P. Butts, on behalf of the Library Committee, spoke of the great interest which Mr Bradmore had always taken in the library. They were faced with the necessity of finding a successor which would be no easy task. He regretted Mr Bradmore’s retirement very much. He had known him for many years and had worked with him in various branches of the bank as far apart as Hawera and Gore. He hoped that Mr Bradmore had half as good an opinion of the speaker, as he had of him. Mr Bradinore’s successor Mr Hanron was also well known to him, and had worked with him at various times. He could assure everyone that Mr Hanron was quite up to the high standard which they had learned to expect of Bank of Australasia managers for the past nine years. Mr A, J. Mirrielees referred to Mr Bradmore’s valuable services to the Tauranga Golf Club. In the club Mr

Bradmore was a universal favourite with everyone. He had been on the committee most of the time that he had been in Tauranga. They all loved him in the Club in fact he was the Club. That he was the Club’s handicapper was praise indeed. He hoped that Mr and Mrs Bradmore would be spared for a long time to come to enjoy their ■well earned retirement. The health of Mi and Mrs Bradmore was then proposed by Mr J. Mackay and drunk with musical honours.

In speaking to the toast Mr Mackay joined in wishing Mr and Mrs Bradmore many happy years. As manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, he was a newcomer in banking circles here, and particularly on that account he appreciated the courtesy and fair dealing which he had always received from Mr Bradmore. He wished * him very many happy hours on the golf links in his retirement.

His Worship the Mayor, Mr L. BWilkinson, said that he was honoured to have been asked to make a presentation to Mr Bradmore. He congratulated him on the great compliment paid to him by the • large and representative attendance. It demonstrated very clearly the loyalty of his friends and was not too much for a man of his .standing Perhaps instead of spending his retirement on the golf course, Mr Bradmore would take up the position of Mayor of Tauranga, He could think of no man with better qualifications. It was, in the speaker’s opinion, deplorable that men with the necessary training avoided public positions in the way that they did. , He could not do the Borough 3 greater service than invite Mr Bradmore to offer his services as Mayor. The Mayor then presented to Mr Bradmore a handsome escritoire which he hoped he and his wife would regard as a mark of the esteem and regard in which they were held by the people of Tauranga. In rising to respond Mr Bradmore said that he was overwhelmed by the kind words uttered by all speakers. I Mrs Bradmore had in all things been his right hand man. The library and golf club were labours of love, and h e had made many firm friends 1 3 Tauranga whom he valued greatly- | Thanks were extended to his hankers for the harmonious relation.'' fe which had always existed between them, and Mr Bradmore misted tb at !• they would he as kind to Mr Hanronas they had always been to him. . | Capt. Jas. Mitchell. Chairman 01 f the Mount Maimgauui Town Board, stated that he had known Mr Brad more in Hawera as far back as tae r 90’s, and joined with all present i" . expressing regret at his retirement |j