OBITUARY Mr James Leggat, Well Known As Headmaster

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 14

OBITUARY Mr James Leggat, Well Known As Headmaster

One of New Zealand’s best-1 known headmasters, Mr James Leggat, died in Christchurch on Saturday evening. He was headmaster of the Gisborne High School for eight years and then headmaster of the Christchurch Boys’ High School from 1951 to 1958. After his retirement from the latter post he was Director of Education in Western Samoa, and since 1963 he has been civil defence officer in Christchurch. Mr Leggat, who was 64, was bom in Scotland. He was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University College, where he took a bachelor of arts degree in 1921 and a master of arts degree with first-class honours in economics in 1922. From 1921 to 1924 he returned to teach at the Auckland Grammar School, and then had 11 years at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School as senior English master. From 1935 until the outbreak of the Second World War he held a similar position at the Hastings High School. War Service In the war Mr Leggat served with the 22nd Battalion in Greece, Crete, and North Africa until 1943, when he returned to New Zealand. He was a G.5.0.l at Army Headquarters in Wellington, and then was posted to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of lieutenantcolonel.

Mr Leggat was headmaster of the Gisborne High School from 1943 to 1950. His activities in the community life of Gisborne included office as president of the Gisborne and East Coast Returned Services’ Association and the Poverty Bay Rugby Union. He was also vice-president of the Cricket Association and a director of the Rotary Club. In 1951 Mr Leggat came to Christchurch. He continued

his Rotary Club activity and was also a member of the Dominion executive of the Royal Overseas League. Li 1954 he was appointed a member of the committee of inquiry on moral delinquency in children and adolescents. He became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1958. As well as representing Taranaki in lawn tennis Mr Leggat played senior Rugby in Auckland and New Plymouth. In later years he played a good deal of golf. Mr Leggat is survived by his wife and two sons, Mr I. D. Leggat, of Christchurch, and Mr A. Leggat, of Sydney. Memorial Service A special service for Mr Leggat will be held in the Christchurch Boys’ High School assembly hall this afternoon, starting at 2.15 p.m. The headmaster (Mr C. F. S. Caldwell), who will conduct the service, said last evening that old boys were invited to attend.