Mr James Collins

Press, 13 April 1984, Page 7

Mr James Collins

Mr James Collins, the man who initiated both the Skellerup Young Farmer of the Year Award and the Prince Philip Award for New Zealand Industrial Design, died in Christchurch yesterday after a short illness. He was 74. Mr Collins was a former director and marketing director of Skellerup Industries and chairman of the New Zealand Industrial Design Council.

He was born in Lutterworth, Leicester, England, and came to New Zealand with his family in 1920. He attended the Timaru Main School and Timaru Boys’ High School for six months before the family came to Christchurch. After six months at Christchurch Boys’ High School, Mr Collins started work at Beaths department store. He became Beaths advertising manager before leaving in 1944 to become assistant manager of D.I.C.

In 1952, when acting manager, he left to become marketing manager of Skellerup Industries. After a visit to San Francisco in 1969, Mr Collins

started the Young Farmer of the Year Award.

He joined the Industrial Design Council in 1976 and became first chairman in 1980. It was in this capacity that he initiated with Prince Philip the Industrial Design Award.

Mr Collins was well known for his activities in theatre and the arts. In 1948 he became president of the Christchurch Operatic Society and in 1960 became a director of the New Zea-

land Operatic Company. A year later he was appointed to thb newly formed Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. In 1965 Mr Collins chaired the Pan Pacific Arts Festival and the next year was awarded the 0.8. E. for his services to the arts. He was a former deputy chairman of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation and had also served as president of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society.

Mr Collins was active in the Anglican Church. He was on the vestry of St Matthew’s, St Albans, and was later church warden for 14 years at St James’, Lower Riccarton. He taught the senior bible class at St Mary’s, Merivale, for six years before becoming a lay canon and chairman of the chapter executive of Christchurch Cathedral. His enthusiasm and organising ability as head of a fundraising campaign helped raise $BOO,OOO to restore the Cathedral for its centenary in 1981.

Mr Collins is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.