SCHOOLMASTER’S SUDDEN END

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6900, 4 May 1929, Page 8

SCHOOLMASTER’S SUDDEN END

TRAGEDY AT CLYDE QUAY? ((Times Special.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. Mr. Thomas Irvine, headmaster of the Clyde Quay school died suddenly at the school this morning. While sitting at the desk in his office about 10 o’clock, Mr. Irvine had a sudden heart attack. Mr. H. R. Eishcr (first assistant teacher at the school) managed with the aid of one of the other male teachers to get him on to the couch, and Dr. Elliott, of Kent terrace, who was telephoned for, was very quickly in attendance. In the meantime, however, the headmaster had expired in Mr. Fisher’s arms, and Dr. Elliott could only pronounce life extinct. The lato Mr. Irvine began his teaching career in 1885 as a pupil teacher in canterbury. Prom March, 1921, to March, 1925. ho was headmaster of the Hokitika District High School, and he then became headmaster of the Clyde Quay School, holding that position to the end. He was an M.A. and a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society. Of a quiet, unassuming»nature, ho endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. Ho gave very conscientious attention to all his duties in connection with tho school, and was an active member of the executive of tho Now Zealand Educational Institute, taking a special interest in enhancing the value, from an educational point of view, of the journal of tho’ institute, “National Education.” Having pu. in 44 years of service under the Education department, . Mr. Irvine had intended to TCtire on superannuation at the end of the present year.