Mr Sedley Wells

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 3

Mr Sedley Wells

Mr Sedley Wells, who founded the music and home appliance company that bore his name, died in Christchurch on Thursday. He was 79. Mr Wells was born and educated in Christchurch. He began his long association with the piano trade in 1921 as an employee of the Bristol Piano Company. Seven years later ne joined Robert Francis, Ltd, as a piano tuner, and later moved to that firm’s sales division. In 1930 Mr Wells went to New Plymouth, where he took charge of the radio department of Hamilton Nimmo and Sons, Ltd. He later worked in Wellington as sales manager for the same firm. Mr Wells returned to Christchurch and formed Sedley Wells, Ltd, in 1939. The company expanded to become a household name, specialising in musical equipment and home appliances. When Mr Wells retired m 1976, the firm had a main store in High Street, branches in Northlands, New Brighton, and Sydenham, and a service department in Bedford Row. The firm was taken over in 1979 by Wilson Neill, Ltd,

but continued to trade under the name, Sedley Wells, until 1982. Mr Wells was a keen sportsman. He played hockey for Canterbury in the 19305, and recently had

his name added to the honours board of the Sydenham Hockey Club. He was a member of the Shirley Golf Club and Fendalton Bowling Club. His extensive community involvement included work for Lions clubs and the Masonic Lodge. He was the first South Island district governor of Lions International, and helped set up 13 clubs in the South Island. He was a past master of the Avon Masonic Lodge. Mr Wells was a past president of the Christchurch Businessmen’s Club and a director of the Fisher and Paykel Finance Company. He is survived by his wife and three sons.