Mr Albion Wright

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 12

Mr Albion Wright

Mr Albion William Wright, who died on Saturday, was a publisher who took more than just a business interest in the new literary talents he fostered. Many hopeful unknowns found Mr Wright a sympathetic and constructive critic of their work and he was quick to encourage writers and poets by using his own energy and resources to promote them in their new careers.

Some were to go on to greater things, such as the novelist, Janet Frame, who was first published by Mr Wright's company, Pegasus Press. Most were to become life-long friends of Mr Wright.

He was born in Christchurch in 1910, and was educated at Timaru Boys’ High School and the University of Canterbury. His talents for promotion and salesmanship led him to the world of advertising and he worked as a copywriter and designer for a Christchurch advertising firm from 1928. Four years latqr, at the age of 22, he formed his own company, Albion Wright Advertising, and entered what was already a very competitive field on his own account.

Mr Wright long had an interest in the sea — he had joined the infant Banks Peninsula Cruising Club in 1934 — so the natural thing for him on the outbreak of World War II was to join the Royal New Zealand Navy. He served as a Naval Intelligence Officer in the South Pacific during the war and at the end of hostilities joined the Canterbury Division of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Trying to re-establish his advertising business after the war, Mr Wright had difficulty in getting his printing done. His answer was to join forces with Mr Robin Muir and together they founded Pegasus Press, Ltd. Mr Wright was managing director of the company from that time until his retirement in 1980, but he remained chairman of directors until his death.

The company earned a reputation for quality printing and soon began publishing books. A long list of New Zealand writers entrusted their works to Pegasus Press, which specialised in New Zealand history, biography, fiction, and poetry. His activities as a publisher led Mr Wright to become a foundation member and the first president of the New Zealand Book Publishers’ Association.

Mr Wright’s own interest in history was strong. In 1952 his company moved from their premises near St

Michael's Church in Oxioid Terrace to the distinctive building at 14 Oxford Terrace.

A special company, Pegasus Buildings, Ltd, was formed to own and control the building which. subsequently became the first house on the Christchurch City Council's list of places of historic and architectural interest. As such, it is deemed worthy of maximum protection. Mr Wright married his interests in historic buildings and things nautical in the Lyttelton Maritime Association, of which he was a foundation member and president. The association

was founded in 1971 to restore and preserve the Lyttelton Timeball Station.

Mr Wright also employed his promotional talents in the service of Canterbury and the South Island as an executive member of the South Island Promotion Association and as its Canterbury vicepresident. Away from work, the sea was Mr Wright’s main love. He was an active yachtsman and yachting administrator up until last season. He was a life member of the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club and was its commodore for two years from 1969. He was also a member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and in 1976 was appointed the squadron’s Lyttelton port captain. One lady that played a large part in his life was the gaff topsail cutter, Pastime, of which he was skipper and co-owner. The Pastime was built in Lyttelton in 1886 and is believed to be the oldest yacht in jhe world still racing under her Original rig. Mr Wright liked to push the Pastime hard and always took delight in the occasions when conditions were ideally suited to the yacht and allowed him to show a clean pair of heels to modern designs.

Mr Wright is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.