OLDEST LIVING ETONIAN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21904, 3 October 1936, Page 14

OLDEST LIVING ETONIAN

-V' ‘f " MR GEORGE HARPER’S ' DISTINCTION

CONTROVERSY IN LONDON , NEWSPAPER

A controversy in the correspondence columns of “The Times/' London, has proved almost beyond doubt that Mr George Harper, oi Christchurch, is the oldest living old boy of Eton College, England’s most famous public school. Mr Harper celebrated his ninety-third birthday last April and is at least a year older than any other old Etonian. The controversy began early m August, when “The Times” reported that an English clergyman whose death had recently occurred, was probably the oldest living Etonian. Several correspondents wrotemak ing'claims to the honour, but the argument ended abruptly when Mr j, W. Chitty wrote: “I think Mr Henry Howard must step down in favour of my wife s great uncle. George Harper, who is still a well-known figure Christchurch, New Zealand. He was at F. E. Durnford’s from 1855 to 1857 and was 93 last April.” , * Mr Harper when he was asked to verify these dates yesterday said he had been surprised to receive a number of letters of congratulation from persons Whom he did not even know, on his attainment of his great age and his distinction as the oldest Etonian. He said that practically every member of his family before him went to Eton, and three of ms brothers were also there, but he was the only one still Hving.. . Mr Harper is a member of tne Old Eton Association and his name appears in the lists of the association with the dates 1855 to 1877 beside it. There is no other member of the association listed who was at the college before that time. Before going to Eton, Mr Harper was educated for a. period at St. Peter’s College, Radley, Berks, A year after leaving Eton he came out to Christchurch and was a student in the upper department of Christs College. In 1866 he returned to London, and studied for the bar. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1869, and a year later on his return to Christchurch he was. admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. He was in his time -one of the leading members of the legal profession, retiring from active work with the firm of Harper, Pascoe, Buchanan, and Upham in 1930.