DEATH OF MR G. E. BLANCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20055, 18 September 1920, Page 9

DEATH OF MR G. E. BLANCH.

TAKEN ILL WHILE ON HOLIDAY. DIED OF PNEUMONIA, Mr G. E. Blanch, head master of Christ's College, died early this morning of pneumonia. He had hecn staying at Oxford during the holidays, and returned home ill on Tuesday' afternoon. The late Mr George Ernest Blar-ch »1.A., Oyford, B.Sc., London, vras pbout fifty-eight years of age. At the time of his death he was a member of Synod and its Standing Committee,

and. last year he was on the Church Board of Education. Ho took his share of tho college activities, but, generally he was of a retiring disposition. He was .a strong su reporter of compulsory military training, and took a keen interest in movements to encourage the imperial spirit among youths and young men. Ho believed that the best work in this direction could he clone in the public schools. Tho Church of England Grammar School at Melbourne, where he was head master prior to coming to Christ's College, sent to the war one in everv seven of the men ho taught, he stated to an interviewer when ho arrived in Ciiristchureh. Mr Blanch accepted the position of head master of Christ's' College early in September, 1914, and took up "his duties there in Januarv. 1915. He was a junior student of Christ Church, Oxford, and took his degree with first-class honours in natural science in 1887. Later he was appointed senior mathematical and •science- master of the. Sydney Grammar School, and was acting head master for tho year 1896. He was appointed to the position of head master of tho Church of England Grammar School at .Melbourne in 1899, and under his guidance tho school reached its limit of nnnibers. During his term of office at Christ's College the number of students there has steadily increased "He married in 1897 M'iss M'Lean, daughter of Mr It. A. M'Lean, of • Brighton, England, and sho survives him. He also leaves three children. Ono daughter is in England, and the son is at the Melbourne Grammar School. The eldest daughter is attending tho Melbourne University. Tho flag was flown at half-mast at Christ's College to-day. The funeral will leave Christ's College at oloven o'clock on Monday, and will proceed to tho Cathedral, where the first part of the burial service will be held. Tho body will bo interred at (he Bromley cemetery. Mr A. E. Flower has been appointed acting head master of Christ's College.