RETIRING SOON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 November 1945, Page 5

RETIRING SOON

WELLINGTON COLLEGE MASTER MR THOMAS BRODIE’S LONG SERVICE Wellington, This Day. When he retires at the end of this year, Mr Thomas Brodie, first assistant master at Wellington College, will have completed 48 years’ service with the college. During his long term of service at the college, many pupils have passed through his hands who havi since made their mark in the world. Among these may be mentioned BrigadierGeneral B. C. Freyberg, BrigadierGeneral Gentry, Brigadier-General Parkinson, Sir Arthur Coningham, and the Hon. H. G. R. Mason (AttorneyGeneral, who was once dux of the school). Mr Brodie had much to do with building up Wellington College’s prowess on the athletic field. For upward of 20 years he coached both the first eleven and the first fifteen. At Rugby, such famous players as Cliff Porter, Quentin and Jim Donald, Mark Nicholls, and Cliff Ramsden passed through his hands, and at cricket he helped form the style of such wellknown players as the Blacklock and D. C. Collins. The only period Mr Brodie was absent from the college during the past 48 years was from 1917 to 1920, when he served overseas with the N.Z.E.F. After the armistice he became education officer at Sling Camp, England, where he conducted a big educational college, with a staff of 38 under him.