Chch horticulturists honoured by institute

Press, 22 June 1984, Page 14

Chch horticulturists honoured by institute

Outstanding contribution to horticulture has earned two Christchurch men the award of Associate of Honour by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.

Dr Eric Godley and Mr Gerald Ward are among three recipients of the award announced at the in-

stitute’s general meeting recently. The third is Mr Eric Toleman, of Hamilton. Dr Godley has been noted for his work in botany and horticulture. He joined the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lincoln in 1951 as a senior geneticist. The next year he was appointed director of the Crop Research Division, a post he held until 1958. He then became director of the Botany Division which post he held’'until his retirement in 1980.

Before joining the department he lectured in botany at the University of Auckland for three years. Dr Godley has published about 75 articles on botany during his career and has .contributed to the horticultural magazine, “New Zealand Gardener,” since 1978.

Mr Ward, a Loburn orchardist, has been associated with the fruitgrowing industry for 27 years. His work in the field was recognised in the New Year Honours List this year when he

received the C.B.E. Mr Ward was born in Britain, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1952 after teaching at secondary schools in both Britain and South Africa. He has been a member of several local bodies and organisations, including the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation and the Apple and Pear Price Authority. He is now a member of the University of Canterbury Council, the Lincoln College Council, the New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute, the Canterbury Development Corporation, and the Canterbury Regional Development Council.