MARRIED 50 YEARS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29760, 1 March 1962, Page 2

MARRIED 50 YEARS

Rev. C. and Mrs Blair

The well-known song, “Get Me to the Church on Time” had more than special interest for at least one married couple attending the musical, “My Fair Lady," at the Theatre Royal last evening To the Rev. C. Blair and his wife, Clare, both of whom are 81, this theatrical treat was held to mark the celebration of 50 years of married life, during which Mr Blair has himself ensured that several hundred young bridal couples got safely to the church on time. Since being ordained in 1911 at the Durham Street Methodist Church after attending the Prince Albert Theological College, Auckland, Mr Blair has served in • large number of town and country parishes throughout New Zealand. He has been at Mosgiel. Kaponga (Taranaki), Rangiora, Lyttelton, Karori, Timaru and Nelson. At Nelson, Mr Blair was minister for 20 years until he retired 15 years ago. Since then Mr and Mrs Blair have been living at Stoke until their recent move

to Christchurch. Now settled with their only son. Dr. 1 Blair, of Hackthorne road, Mr and Mrs Blair are looking forward to furthering their interests in reading, theatre, music, handwork, bowls and gardening—"all those things which we were never able to do fully before my husband’s retirement." Mrs Blair said. Before her marriage, Mrs Blair (nee Temple-Brown) was a nurse and later sister at the Nelson and Christchurch Hospitals, from 1906 to 1912. She later became a member of the Hospital Board and was also an official hospital visitor.

Retiring from Hospital.— The North Canterbury Hospital Board entertained two retiring staff members at morning tea yesterday. They were Miss E. A. Crisp, who has been .natron of Essex Hospital for 26 years, and Miss K. F. Gibbons, home supervisor at the Christchurch Hospital nurses' borne for a similar period. The chairman of the institutions committee (Mrs J. E. Mackay) and toe lady superintendent (Mrs M. Chambers) expressed their appreciation of toe work of Miss Crisp and Mias Gibbons.