OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21249, 1 August 1932, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. J. N. THORPE WELL-KNOWN RACING FIGURE The death occurred yesterday at the residence of his nephew, Mr. J. E. Thorpe, Grand View Road, Remuera, of Mr. John Norman Thorpe, who was associated with racing in New Zealand and Australia for about 75 years. Mr. Thorpe was in his 97th year. He was a well-known figure in the Ellerslio district, where he first took tip residence about 60 years ago. With his brother, the late Mr. Robert Thorpe, also a prominent horseman, trainer and owner, Mr. Thorpe was apprenticed, from 1846 to 1852, to the then Marquis of Exeter, at Newmarket, England. Several years later he left England and lived in Tasmania for a time. He came to New Zealand about 1857, and, arriving in Auckland after a period in Dunedin, he was immediately engaged in racing. Mr. Thorpe both rode and trained horses in Auckland, and, with Mr. Robert Thorpe, who followed his brother to New Zealand in 1864, he quickly rose to prominence in the sport. He rode and trained Lonehand, an Australian horse which played a conspicuous part in the early years of racing. About 47 years ago, when the late Major Walmsley took a number of horses from New Zealand for sale in India, Mr Thorpe accompanied the string.

Before returning to New Zealand, he stayed for two years in Australia and became interested in pony racing. He took several New Zealand ponies to Sydney, and remained in Australia, where he was a prominent trainer, for some 15 years. Returning to Auckland 30 years ago, he did not take such an active part in racing, although he was connected with the stable of his nephew, Mr. J. E. Thorpe. Mr. Thorpe was a keen follower of the sport until his health failed him. His brother, Mr. Robert Thorpe, was once proprietor of the Harp of Erin Hotel. Mr. Thorpe was not married. MRS. BRIDGET LEYDON The death occurred yesterday at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Andrew Worthington, Disraeli Street, Mount Eden, of Mrs. Bridget Leydon, in her 94th year. Born in Tullagh, County Carlow, Ireland, on July 14, 1839, she set out as a young woman with her brother for the Victorian goldfields. The voyage of 13 weeks was a memorable one. Added to the then usual difficulties of travel was the terrible experience of a fire at sea. The ship arrived at its destination while still on fire, and the crew and passengers escaped with their lives. After a few years in Victoria Mrs. Leydon left about the year 1865, in company with her brother, for the West Coast of New Zealand, which was the:a beginning to boom. Once again disaster tracked the vessel, which was wrecked on th« Grey; bar, fortunately without loss of life. A year after her arrival, she married the "late Mr. John Levdon, and with him took a full share of the West Coast pioneering. They were close friends of the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon and the late Mr. T. G. Macarthy, founder of the Macarthy Trust, was a groomsman at their wedding. About 1868 Mr. and Mrs. Leydon, attracted by the rush to the Ihames diggings, left for the north became familiar figures in the Thames goldfields. After some years of varying fortmes they came to Auckland, where they engaged in business. Upon retiring they took up.permanent residence in Auckland. Both were blessed with good health and retained their interest in current events right to ! the end. Mr. Leydon died about five years ago, and Mrs. Leydon went to reside j with her daughter at Mount Eden. ; Mrs. Leydon is survived by one son, Mr. John Leydon, of Awanui, and five ; daughters, Mesdames Keats, Sydney, I Sampson, Newcastle, Worthington and { Clarke, Mount Eden, and Skinner, Taui ranga.