MRS W. S. BEAN HONOURED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27065, 13 June 1953, Page 2

MRS W. S. BEAN HONOURED

SERVICE TO MCLEAN INSTITUTE Mrs W. S. Bean, who recently resigned from the board of governors of the McLean Institute after having served for 32 years, was the guest of honour at an afternoon party given yesterday in the Mayor’s room at the City Council Chambers. At the last meeting of the board, Mrs Bean’s resignation was accepted with regret and many references were made to the excellent service she had given to the institute during her long term of office. Yesterday, Mrs Bean and her daughter, Mrs Douglas Macfarlane, were welcomed to the party by the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) and Mrs Macfarlane, and the guests included members of the board of governors of . the institute and their wives. Mr Macfarlane said it was a great pleasure to have to honour Mrs Bean, who in addition to her outstanding service for the institute had served usefully for many years on the North Canterbury Hospital Board. She was, he said, a member of a family that had served New Zealand faithfully. Her father, Mr R. J. Seddon, had been Premier of New Zealand for many years; her sister, Mrs Knox Gilmer, was a leading figure in public life in Wellington, and Mrs Bean had certainly done her share in Christchurch. Mr Macfarlane thanked Mrs Bean for her fine work fop her fellow citizens and wished her much happiness.

Several members of the board spoke of Mrs Bean’s devotion to the McLean Institute and to other bodies. Bishop’s Tribute The Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. A. K. Warren) specially mentioned Mrs Bean’s length of service in different spheres, including the church work she had carried out in St. Mary’s parish, Addington, when her husband was the vicar there. Bishop Warren said few people were [prepared to tie themselves for a long , period to any form of service. Mrs ’Bean had tied herself to the interests of the McLean Institute for 32 years, and during that time she had forgone many pleasures so that she could carry out her duties thoroughly. The Rev. L. Farquhar Gunn, who has been a member of the board for five years, has succeeded Mrs Bean as chairman of one of the board's committees. He said he had always admired Mrs Bean’s chairmanship. In that position he now had some appreciation of the problems that had often confronted Mrs Bean, but she had always overcome them in a masterly way. Her reward was that she had won the real affection of all the ladies, at “Holly Lea” and “Quamby,” he said. Miss Mary McLean emphasised Mrs Bean’s courage and firmness, her just and fair judgments, her insistence on maintaining the spirit of the will of Mr A. McLean, who. had .made the work cf the institute possible. “She is a practical psychologist, the ladies of “Quamby” and “Holly Lea” love her, the matrons and staff appreciate her interest and loyalty, and the members of the board of directors realise that they are losing a most valuable member,” she said. The Rev. A. K. Fetch said that during the short time he had been associated with Mrs Bean on the board, he had admired her knowledge of detail, the evidence of her real interest in the affairs of the board, and her gift of leadership. He and Mr D. W. Bain, another member of the board, offered Mrs Bean their best wishes in her retirement. Mrs Bean, who was awarded the 0.8. E. by King George VI. thanked the speakers. She had, she said, greatly enjoyed the 32 years during which she had been a member of the board and she had been very happy in her connexion with “Holly Lea” and “Quamby.” She spoke warmly of her association with the secretary of the board, Mr S. F. Marshall. Mr F. F. Reid, S.M., on behalf of the board, thanked the Mayor and Mrs Macfarlane for granting use of their room for the gathering.