OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22004, 30 January 1937, Page 14

OBITUARY

MR W. FARQUHAR YOUNG

Mr William Farquhar Young, known throughout New Zealand as one of the finest bass singers of his day, died at his home at Clifton yesterday, after three months’ illness. Mr Youngs many qualities and accomplishments won him a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, both in New Zealand and overseas. As a member of tne Scottish race he was one of the staunchest adherents to its traditions, and as a friend and colleague he won the lifelong respect and gratitude of many. ~ Most of those who knew Mr Young at the height of his career as a singer regretted that he did not accept one of the many offers made to him and go abroad to take his place among the world’s leading bass singers He preferred to stay in New Zealand, but travelled up and down the Dominion giving his services at ■ Scottish and Irish concerts and rapidly became well known and extremely popular. He had a personality which attracted to him many staunch friends, and one of his most notable qualities was his willingness to go to great lengths to assist those with whom he had become acquainted. , „ ... , Mr Young was born of a Scottisn pioneer family in Otago. After a primary education he joined the service of the Post and Telegraph Department. He later became a telegraphist and afterwards a relieving postmaster in several districts. He was widely known for his work for the rank’ and file in the Post and Telegraph service, and he took a leading part in the establishment of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, ot which he was the first president. He was mainly responsible for the institution of a superannuation system for servants of the department, and fought for many other privileges for them. He retired from the service before the end ot his period to devote the whole of his time to his singing and elocutionary work. As a boy he was a solo chorister with an alto voice, which later developed into one of the finest bass voices ever heard in New Zealand. He sang in Gilbert and Sullivan operas and in weekly concerts in Dunedin, and it was soon realised that he had a voice of quality sufficient to win him wide recognition overseas. Many offers were made to him by ff a y®\j in S opera companies, but he rejected ■mem all. He made a number of firrn friends among the visiting artists and on return visits to New Zealand, they made a point of visiting him and discussing their art with him. Notable among these was Joseph Hislop. In his early youth Mr Young came under the influence and. tutelage of the great Hoskins, one of the most famous Shakespearean actors, who taught him a great deal of his art as an elocutionist, and from whom he learned many points of acting which he put to use in his operatic work. While he was still only 16 or 17 he was made a member of the Savage Club in Dunedin. He was then the youngest member of the club, and was admitted at that age because members were keen to have the privilege of hearing him more often. In Dunedin he was also a member of the Lledertafel, the jubilee of which he recently travelled from Christchurch to attend. A keen sportsman, Mr Young excelled in boxing and rowing while he was in Dunedin, taking a prominent part in both sports. He continued his interest in sport until his death, and spoke on sporting subjects from SYAin addition to his vocal performances over the air.

Mr Young was one of the few colonial Scotsmen who understood and loved the Gaelic language. He knew it thoroughly and always took great pleasure in meeting countrymen who could speak it with him. He also became keenly interested in the Maori language, and very quickly made himself proficient in speaking it, becoming a leading authority on the subject later in life. He had a remarkable fund of anecdote, and used to amUse friends for hours with his tales. He was noted for his ability to produce an anecdote or story suitable to almost any occasion.

Mr Young came to Christchurch about 25 years ago, and rapidly made many friends. He joined the Christchurch Savage Club, and continued his singing and elocutionary work in the city. He continued to sing for Savage clubs, Caledonian societies, and other organisations throughout the country. For a number of years he was elocutionary teacher at St. Andrew’s College, and on his retirement some years ago a fine tribute was paid to his work there. He taught elocution privately also, and many members of the legal profession and public speakers owed much to him.

Of his many qualities, Mr Young’s outstanding one was his extraordinary gift for making friends. He numbered his friends from the North Cape to Bluff, and was always ready to do his utmost to help any one of them. Many instances are quoted of the lengths to which he would go to assist others. His generosity in this way was known publicly during the war, when he gave his full energies and a liberal portion of money to the improvement of conditions among the soldiers. Mr Young leaves a widow, who was formerly Miss Mildred Righton, herself well known on the stage in her time. There are two brothers living in Christchurch, Messrs Peter Young and J. P. Young.