EDUCATION BOARD MANAGER

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27688, 18 June 1955, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD MANAGER

MR W. P. SPENCER APPOINTED 25 YEARS’ SERVICE TO BOARD Mr Wilfred P. Spencer, the present chief clerk for the Canterbury Education Board, was yesterday chosen from 37 applicants as the successor to Mr L. S. P. Butcher, the secretarymanager, who is to retire on September 30. Twenty-five years ago Mr I Spencer joined the board’s staff as an office cadet. He will take up his duties as chief officer of the board on October 1. i Born on a Spencerville farm 41 years ago Mr Spencer is the son of Mr W. P. Spencer, well known some years ago as a member of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, the Education Board and several other local bodies. Mr Spencer was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School, arid from there joined the Education Board at the age of 16 as an office cadet, earning 25s a week. After four years as a cadet he joined the accounts section of the board, and just before entering the Army in 1942, was appointed head of the manual and technical section of the board. In the Pacific with the N.Z.E.F. Mr Spencer served as battery quartermaster to the 49th Battery of New Caledonia and Guadalcanal, and later was in the assault force which landed in the Treasury Islands and took them from the Japanese. He was discharged from the Army in 1944. and returned to his post on the board. In 1949, at the time of Mr Butcher’s appointment as secretary-manager, Mr

Spencer was appointed chief clerk for the board. Among his responsibilities in this position were details for the assembly of schoolchildren at the time of the Royal visit to Christchurch, and arrangements for children taking part in the centennial celebrations. Mr Spencer is married, and has one son, who now attends Christchurch Boys’ High School. He is also a member of the Dominion executive of the Education Officers’ Association, a post he has held since 1952.