Southbrook School centenary

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 12

Southbrook School centenary

A visitor from the Isle of Man will be among more than 500 persons expected to attend the Southbrook School centennial celebrations from Friday, February 8 to Sunday, February 10. The school was opened in February, 1874.

The former pupil from the Isle of Man is Mr J. Lucas, now chief engineer on the ship Ashbank, which is expected to be at Lyttelton at the time of the celebrations, Another former pupil, Mr W. J. Laskey, will return from Perth, West Australia. Thirteen former pupils who were at the school before 1900 are among those planning to attend. The earliest enrolment is claimed by Mrs B. Luxton, formerly Miss Buckley, who started school in 1886.

An open day will be held at the school on the Friday, followed by a ball at the Chevier Centre, Rangiora, in the evening. The Saturday afternoon reunion will include the decade roll calls and taking of photographs. A banquet will

be held at the school on Saturday evening, A former headmaster, the Rev. W. A. Pierre, will conduct the church service on the Sunday. Mr Pierre shared this function with another former pupil at the ninetieth celebrations — the Rt Rev. G. M. McKenzie, formerly assistant bishop of Wellington — who is not able to attend this time.

An historical record is being written by the present headmaster, Mr P. Dunmill, who is married to a former 'pupil, formerly Miss Joan ; Whitworth. The history will ■ include a section on the celebrations and so will not be published until after the centenary. i Enrolment for the celebraitions will close this Friday, said the secretary (Mr H. W. •Mehrtens) yesterday. <•