Obituary MR G. HAGGITT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28604, 5 June 1958, Page 7

Obituary MR G. HAGGITT

“The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, June 4. Mr Gordon Haggitt, one of Otago's and New Zealand’s foremost motor-cycle racing riders for many years, died suddenly in Dunedin recently. He was 45. The younger son of the late Mr and Mrs Cecil Haggitt, he began his motor-cycle racing career at the speedway at Tonga Park when he was 15, but turned to road racing before World War n. In this sphere he met with great success and at one time and another during his career he held most New Zealand beach racing titles. His culminating success was his first place in the New Zealand Grand Prix held at Cust in 1950.

In 1952 he was selected to represent New Zealand at the Isle of Man T.T. championships, but was unable to make the tour because of ill-health. Although he was especially successful in beach racing held at Oreti Beach. Southland, he was also a noted performer at hill climbs. • In 1939, he established a new Otago Motor-cycle Club record for the hill climb at Bethune’s Gully, the hardest hill climb course in the Dominion. His record stood for 10 years in spite of many attempts on the time by some of New Zealand’soutstanding riders. Mr Haggitt was a foundation member of the club, serving terms on the committee and as club captain. He was also a member of the Kaikorai Rugby Football Club in recent years. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the motor-cycle section of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association. Mr Haggitt is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

X MR A. W. ELL

Mr Archie Waldock Ell, who died recently aged 82, was well known in musical circles. He was an expert violin maker, and repaired violins and other musical instruments for many Christchurch musicians. Mr Ell was a brother of the late Mr H. G. Ell, who was a member of Parliament for 21 years, Post-master-General, and later founder of the Summit Road Trust. Mr Ell, who was a widower, is survived by 10 of his family of 11 children.