Obituary Mr G. O. Greenwood

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 12

Obituary Mr G. O. Greenwood

A well-known North Canterbury sheep farmer and a former president of the Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers’ Association, Mr George Oakleigh Greenwood, died in Christchurch last week.

Born in 1887 at Rangiora at “Oakleigh,” the home of his grandmother (Mrs Chapman), Mr Greenwood travelled to England with his family in 1897. There he was educated at Mostyn House, a preparatory school, and at St. Edward’s College, Cambridge. The family returned to New Zealand in 1904. Mr Greenwood had considerable farming experience at Teviotdale and various other North Canterbury properties. He travelled to Queensland at his father’s request to inspect properties, and on his recommendation a leasehold of 500 square miles at Tocal, on the Thompson river was acquired in 1907. In the 1920 s Mr Greenwood managed Tablelands in the Wairarapa for Mr Vivian Riddiford.

For many years Mr Greenwood was synodsman for Amberley, lay secretary for synod and a member of the standing committee of the Christchurch Synod. He was also vicar’s warden at St. Mary’s, Merivale, and at St. Barnabas. Fendalton. For a time he was chairman of the board of governors of Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls’ College. During centennial year, Mr Greenwood was president of the Pilgrims and Early Settlers’ Association, a position he held for a number of years.

In his latter years Mr Greenwood was a keen gardener, and was a vice-president of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Organic Compost Society.