Obituary MR T. CHAMPION

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31339, 8 April 1967, Page 23

Obituary MR T. CHAMPION

Mr Thomas Champion, a well known Christchurch businessman and prominent sportsman, has died in Christchurch.

Born in Dunedin, Mr Champion was educated at Albany School, Dunedin, and the Christchurch Technical College. He went into the plumbing trade at an early age, having his own business in Barbadoes street, at the premises now occupied by the Christchurch Milk Company. A member of the Linwood Rugby Football Club, Mr Champion played in the under 20 and senior B grades and represented Canterbury. His main interests were swimming, surf life-saving and water polo. He represented Canterbury in water polo as goalkeeper for 20 years. He was a coach of the Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club for ’ many years and he contested the Annette Kellerman Cup for the threemile harbour race thre times, winning the race at his third attempt in Auckland in 1927.

Mr Champion was vicepresident of the Taylor’s Mistake Surf Club for many years. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the New Brighton Power Boat Club, and the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club. For twp years Mr Champion was chairman of the Northcote School Committee and he was a life member of the Royal Society'of

Mr Champion is survived by his wife, a son, five daughters and three grand-children.