Obituary MR R. HAMPTON

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28311, 24 June 1957, Page 12

Obituary MR R. HAMPTON

Mr Robert Hampton, erf Meadowgrove, Lakeside, a farmer who took an active interest in the affairs of the district, died recently. He was chairman of the Lakeside Soldiers’ War Memorial Hall Committee at the time of his death and during the last war served on the district’s Patriotic Committees. Born at Portadown, Northern Ireland, Mr Hampton came to New Zealand at an early age and settled with his parents in the Southbridge district. After service in France during the First World War he worked for Mr Jack Free, a butcher at Southbridge. On his father’s death Mr Hampton became a farmer. He was a life member of the Lodge of Progress No. 22, and for some time master. Mr Hampton was a keen bowler, and a member of the Returned Services’ Association.

Mr Hampton is survived by his wife and two daughters.

MR E. M. C. GUEST Mr Ernest Matthias Capewell Guest, who died in Ashburton last week at the age of 83, spent 33 of his 58 years in New Zealand on the Chatham Islands. There, Mr Guest was a storekeeper, and also acted as postmaster before the Post Office established a full office on the islands. He was also secretary of the Chatham Island Jockey Club for many years.

Mr Guest was trained in Birmingham as a pattern-maker, and his technical knowledge was useful at the islands. Once he was able to fashion a propeller from hardwood to enable a launch to return across the turbulent 12mile strait between Pitt and Chatham Islands after the orthodox propeller had been broken in an accident.

An enthusiastic chess player, Mr Guest played the game with many persons by correspondence all over the world, and used to recall that his most spectacular win was by default. He carried on a game for 12 years with a man in Barbados, and the game was still in progress when his opponent died.

For the last 10 years Mr Guest lived in Spreydon with Mr and Mrs R. A. McGregor.

MR E. F. BULL

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 23.

A former leading softball umpire and a well-known bandsman, Mr Ernest Francis Bull, died at Wellington on Friday. He was aged 57.

Mr Bull formed the Melrose Softball Club, partly to provide Sport for his sons, who had become interested in softball. Five of his sons and five other players comprised the team, and a sixth returned from service overseas to increase the family’s representation. Seven of the family of nine —five boys and two girls—reached provincial selection.

After forming the Melrose club he turned to umpiring, became chairman of the Wellington Umpires Association and the Zealand Umpires Council’s examiner.

Formerly of Oamaru, Mr Bull played with the Salvation Army Band. In Wellington, he was with the Port Nicholson Tramways and Boys’ Institute bands. His interest in bands extended over 40 years.

For 30 years he was employedon the maintenance staff of the Wellington Tramways, retiring shortly before his death.

MR E. HORSPOOL (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 23. A prominent Auckland cricketer of former years, Mr Ernest Horspool, has died at Auckland, aged 65. Mr Horspool was an Auckland representative at 17 and represented Auckland from 1909 to 1930. He played against an Australian team in the 1925-26 season. In senior club cricket, he reached 13,000 runs and 1500 runs in Plunket Shield cricket. Ke also played senior hockey and soccer. Mr Horspool is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

MR W. P. ENDEAN

(New .Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 23.

A former Auckland member of Parliament and business man, Mr William Phillips Endean, has died in Auckland, aged 74. Mr Endean was first elected to Parliament in 1931 and remained until 1943 when he retired. Latterly he had represented the Remuera electorate. Born in Auckland, Mr Endean got his law degree at Auckland University College and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in February, 1906. Mr Endean had many business interests, holding directorates on a, number of companies. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, who is in America, and a son.

MR JOHN HOPKINS (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 23.

Mr John Hopkins, formerly a prominent New Zealand showbusiness promoter, theatre manager, and choral conductor, died last week, aged 87. For years he was an executive with John Fuller’s theatrical and vaudeville organisation, but branched out on his own, managing costume companies, many of which he brought over from Australia. Mr Hopkins managed the New Zealand tours of the Italian tenor, Corelli, and the Australianborn baritone, Peter Dawson. During the two world wars he organised concert parties for entertaining the troops. He was outstanding in his ability as a designer and builder of spectacular fireworks tableaux. He was responsible for the brilliant displays at the Christchurch Centennial celebrations.

Organiser of the first Mardi Gras festival at Napier, Mr Hopkins also produced and conducted the first open-air presentation of the “Messiah” in New Zealand. He was choirmaster in several churches in Christchurch and Dunedin.

Mr Hopkins eventually managed picture theatres throughout New Zealand on behalf of the FullerHayward organisation. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, 10 grandchildren, and nine greatgrandchildren.