Many Attend Funeral Of Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29822, 15 May 1962, Page 10

Many Attend Funeral Of Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon

Few persons had so many spheres of influence in the community; and because of the wideness of his service, the breadth of his vision, and the generosity of his heart, his sudden death seemed untimely, said the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) yesterday at the funeral service for Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon. a city councillor and prominent citizen who died on Friday. The Christchurch Cathedral was full for the service and crowds lined both sides of Colombo street in Cathedral square for one of the largest funerals in Christchurch for many years. Mr Mac Gibbon had treated time as a trust to be used in the interests of others. Bishop Warren said. “One of a large family, on the death of his father, at an early age he assumed responsibility for them all.” he said. “This early experience in shouldering burdens was in part the secret of why he was able to help so many in the community. . “No-one will ever know the large numbers who owe him gratitude. He worked on the principle of setting aside a tenth of his income, and each year he distributed that sum in ways to which he gave great thought and care, primarily with a view to helping people, but also through many deserving causes.”

Mr Mac Gibbon had been a lover of beauty, and had encouraged the arts and enriched the architecture of the city. Bishop Warren continued. He had been a man of vision, and perhaps the road tunnel would be his greatest monument; but the finest monument would be the gratitude in the hearts

of hosts of friends who would never forget the help he had given. He mentioned particularly the help Mr Mac Gibbon had given to Te Wai Pounamu, the Maori girls’ college, and to Canterbury University. The big congregation at the Cathedral included representatives of all the local bodies and organisations with which Mr Mac Gibbon was associated. The funeral service was conducted by the Bishop, the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. W. A. Pyatt) led the prayers, and the lesson was read by the Rev. T. G. Campbell, a Presbyterian minister.

Pipers from St. Andrew’s College Pipe Band played a lament as the mourners filed out of the Cathedral, and at L the crematorium service they played “The Flowers of the Forest.” Relatives of Mr Mac Gibbon were the pall-bearers at a family service which preceded the Cathedral service and again at the crematorium. Pall-bearers at the Cathedral were Crs. W. P. Glue and R. M. Macfarlane. M.P. (City Council), Mr A. A. Macfarlane (Lyttelton Harbour Board), Mr F. G. K. Gilchrist (Road Tunnel Authority), Mr E. G. Bradshaw (Transport Board), and Dr. R. S. Duff (Canterbury Museum Trust Board) After the service, the pall-bearers were Messrs J. J. B. Connor (Chamber of Commerce), J. Stewart (Heritage and Te Wai Pounamu), P. H. Wood (patriotic societies), R. J. G. Collins (Navy League), W. Peers (Overseas League), and A. Gray (Scottish Society).