New Deputy-Principal Of Technical Institute

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 14

New Deputy-Principal Of Technical Institute

Mr A. E. Laybourne, a senior staff member, has been appointed to the new position of deputy-principal of the Christchurch Technical Institute. He has been trained in teaching, arts, science, engineering, electronics, and theology. Mr Laybourne has been on the staff since 1956—as head of science in the former Technical College until 1964 and as head of the general, science, and mathematics department of the Technical Institute since then. He has had an unusual combination of careers, qualifying and practising in each. On leaving the Hamilton High School in 1926, Mr Laybourne became an engineering c-det at the Chief Post Office in Auckland, and served there until 1931.

Brought up in the Congreg tional Church, he then trained for its ministry, by special arrangement, in the Methodist Theological College in Auckland. At the same time he completed his bachelor of arts degree. He then served for two years as unordained, although licensed, minister of the Linwood Cong egational Church in Christchurch. In 1937 he entered the Christchurch Teachers’ College. and later taught in a number of primary schools. Before the war he was on the staffs of the Matamata and Motueka District High Schools. Mr Laybourne joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942 and became officer commanding radar units in New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.

On a rehabilitation bursary afterwards he completed his bachelor of science degree. In 1947-48 he was at the Timaru Technical College, in 194849 at the Christchurch Boys’ High School, and from 1949 to 1955 he was a lecturer at the Christchurch Teachers’ College. Then came his appointments at the Technical College and institute.

Today Mr Laybourne’s cljief outside interests are in the Methodist Church, which he services on a variety of boards and committees.