OBITUARY

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27705, 8 July 1955, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR THOMAS ASPELL

Mr Thomas Aspell, who died in Christchurch yesterday, was a keen supporter of trotting in Canterbury. A foundation member of the Methven Trotting Club, he was also a member of the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club, the Canterbury Jockey Club, the Canterbury Park Trotting Club and the New Brighton Trotting Club. Mr Aspell owned and raced several successful trotters among which were Wexford Rose, dam of Excelsa, Young Wexford, and Lady Wexford. One of many gallopers he raced was Courtyard. Born in County Wexford, Ireland, he came to New Zealand in 1905. After working as a salesman in the country, he became licensee of the Springston Hotel. He was licensee of the Albury Hotel and the Methven Hotel before moving to Christchurch. At the time of his death he had been proprietor of the Eastern Hotel for 35 years. Mr Aspell was a member of the Hibernian Society and was the first secretary of St. Mary’s Tennis Club. Club. He is survived by his wife and five sons, Joseph and Kevin of Auckland, Thomas of Napier, Denis of Christchurch, and Leo of Wellington. MR E. A. COOK (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 6. Mr Elsey Arthur Cook, managing editor of the “Rodney and Otamatea Times,” Warkworth, has died after a short illness. Born in Foxton and educated in Palmerston North, Mr Cook went from Masterton to the Adelaide branch of the Bank of New South Wales. He joined the Australian Imperial Force at the outbreak of the First World War. He took part in the Gallipoli landing, was in action in France and was twice wounded. TT A J the war, Mr Cook joined the High Commissioner’s Office in London and became one of the first New Zealanders to qualify for his pilot’s licence m England. After returning to New Zealand, too £ ov er the editorship of the W I S es » his fath er, the late Mr . Cook, and became managing editor in 1942. 5 Mr Cook is survived by his widow and three children.