Obituary Mr D. W. Bain

Press, 6 February 1982, Page 6

Obituary Mr D. W. Bain

Mr Donald William Bain, who retired two years ago after 20 years on Lincoln College’s council, the last six years as its chairman, died yesterday. He was 74.

He served on the University of Canterbury council from 1947 to 1974 and was chairman from 1954 to 1957. He also had the distinction of being the first chancellor from 1957 to 1959 when the university became autononimous.

Mr Bain was awarded an M.B.E. in 1965 and had an honorary degree of Doctor of Law confered on him by the University of’Canterbury in 1977.

He was born in Napier and educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School, and Canterbury University College, where he obtained a master of arts degree and Diploma of Journalism. He taught at Waitaki Boy’s High School and served as a reporter on “The Press” from 1928 to 1933, then continued in journalism with the “Star-Sun” from 1934 to 1951, rising to the post of finanical editor and leader writer.

Mr Bain was a Canterbury provincial representative at athletics and won a university “blue.” After World War II he became general secretary of the Royal Overseas League and bursar of Christchurch College. He was a director of J. Ballantyne rind Company, a life member of Heritage, Inc., a former president and life member of the Canterbury centre of the Amateur Athletics Association, and a.former president of the Christchurch Boys’ High Old Boys Association. He is survived by two daughters.