Obituary Mr C. H. Clibborn, former Harbour Bd. Secretary

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 10

Obituary Mr C. H. Clibborn, former Harbour Bd. Secretary

A former secretary of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, Which he served for 42 years, Mr Charles Hovenden Clibborn died in Christchurch on Christmas Eve. at the age of 85. Mr Clibborn was also well known in Christchurch as a member of the Canterbury Progress League’s executive for 25 years, and its honorary treasurer for about 15 years. Mr Clibborn was bom at Waterford, Ireland, but at the age of eight went with his family to Queensland, where he was educated, and had three years’ business training. In 1897 Mr Clibborn’s family came to Christchurch, and in August that year he entered the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s (service as a clerk in its city I office. In 1903, Mr Clibborn transferred to Lyttelton in charge of the board’s port office, where he remained until 1918. In this period occurred the 1913 waterside strike, when special constables controlled the wharves, and were accommodated in the Harbour Board’s stores and other buildings. In 1918, Mr Clibborn returned to the board’s head office as accountant and assistant secretary. In 1927 he was appointed secretary and chief executive officer, from which post he retired in 1939. Church Work

Throughout his life, Mr Clibborn took an active interest in the affairs of the Church of England. He was a synodsman for the St. Albans parish from 1911 to 1940 With the then vicar.

the Rev. P. B. Haggitt, he formed the first Christchurch branch of the Church of England Men’s Society. He was instrumental in forming the St.' Matthew’s (Lady Liverpool’s Own) troop of boy scouts, and was secretary of its committee for seven years, and later served on the district executive council of the Boy Scouts’ Association. Mr Clibborn was also secretary of the St. Matthew's Church’s Victory Memorial School for 12 years, and led Bible class and other youth work in the parish. In more recent years, Mr Clibborn had a term as a vestryman and treasurer in St, Barnabas’s parish, Fendalton, where he moved on his retirement. Mr Clibborn was the first president of the Canterbury chapter of the New Zealand Institute of Secretaries, organised the formation of the South Island Travel Association, and was active in the formation of the Canterbury Travel Club. He held office in (both latter organisations. As a young man, Mr Clibborn took part in running, rowing, and tennis, and was well known in later years as a patron of the Anglican Harrier Club.

Mr Clibborn is survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters.