OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 4

OBITUARY

Mr. F. J. Woodham The death occurred recently of Mr. Frederick John Woodham, Arataki Road, Havelock North, and formerly of Karori, Wellington. Mr. Woodham displayed outstanding skill and ability in playing the mouth organ. This led him into the entertainment field, in which he employed his talents specially to assist patriotic purposes and social groups. An accomplished player for some 40 years, he was among the first “local talent” to provide entertainment on various New Zealand radio stations, beiug associated _wiih broadcasts for 19 years. In 1935 he gained the New Zealand mouth organ championship, and the following year secured the Australian title. His family were keenly interested in their father’s work. A family harmonica band was formed and gave many national broadcasts and on numerous occasions toured the Dominion. Born in Christchurch, Mr. Woodham followed various farming pursuits. On his retirement lest year he settled at Havelock North. He leaves a widow, six sons, and six daughters. Mrs. J. Roberts The death occurred yesterday morning in Wellington of Mrs. Lucy Roberts, wife of Mr. James Roberts, president of the New Zealand Labour Party. Mrs. Roberts, who had been ”i poor health for some years, was a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Wallace, of Victoria 1 alley. Mangonui. who was one of the pioneer settlers of New Zealand, having arrived in the early ’so’s of last century. She had five brothers and five sisters, six of whom nre still living in the North Auckland and Hamilton districts. Two of her brothers. Leslie and Gordon, were killed in the last war. She was married in 1912 and had four daughters. Mrs. Harker Mrs. Clare. Mrs. Handley and Miss Shirley Roberts, all of Wellington, and one son, John, still a student at the M ellington Boys’ College. At one time Mrs. Roberts took an active interest in the Labour movement, hut for many years before her death she had been an invalid and confined to her home. Iler funeral will take place on Saturday, leaving the mortuary chapel, Kent Terrace, at 11 a.m.