BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 25 June 1937, Page 6

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED.

HAMILTON NONAGENARIAN. MR IREMONGER HONOURED. Happy at a social In his honour and singing with great zest, xvhlch was demonstrative of excellent health Mr J. D. Iremonger celebrated his 93rd birthday yesterday. Mr Iremonger, who resides In Rostrevor Street, has been a well-known resident of Hamilton for more than 23 years and during his life he has been a staunch member of the Salvation Army, which organised the social last evening. The social was held In the Salvation Army Hall and was attended by members of Mr Iremonger’s family and numbers of his friends. Speeches of congratulations were delivered by Major R. F. Sansom and Mrs Sansom and Mr C. W. Lopdell. Mrs J. R. Fow congratulated the guest of honour on behalf of the Mayor of Hamilton. Many musical Items were renderod during the evening but perhaps one of the most enjoyable was the solo which Mr Iremonger sang himself. Other Items were given as follows: Vocal, Mesdames G. W. Lopdell, I. W. Gower, Webster, Liddell and Major Liddell; recitation, Miss Dorothy Church; musical items, Major Liddell and Mr Webster. A fine birthday cake was cut by Mr Joseph Iremonger, the youngest son of the guest of honour. Flight Over Hamilton. Despite his age. Mi Iremonger needed little persuasion to go for a flight over Hamilton about a fortnight ago. Mr Iremonger's sight did not permit him to enjoy the view from the air. After the experience, however, he expressed his gratitude to be once more on the ground. Mr Iremonger was born in London in 1814. and emigrated to New Zealand with his family In 1874. it was nn eventful voyage and Mr Iremonger recalls that 20 persons on board perished as a result of an outbreak of croup. Upon landing. Mr Iremonger took up painting as his trade. In Wellington Mr Iremonger became associated with the Salvation Army, and later when he moved to Blenheim he was the first resident of that town to wear the army uniform, lie founded an active group In that town. He was a painter, builder and later a shopkeeper in Blenheim and he came to Hamilton to take charge of the bookstall at the Frankton station. That was 23 years ago and the remainder of his life has been spent in the Waikato.

Mr Iremonger has living seven sons and four daughters and his descendants comprise twenty-eight grandchildren and twenty great grand- 1 children. Members nf the family are Messrs W. I>. Iremonger (Putaruru), T. Iremonger Hamilton . .1. Iremonger (Frankton'. M. H. Irenmofiger. Albert * Iremonger. Alfred Iremonger C. Iremonger Invercargill : Mesdaines .t, 11. Clifford. R. W. Go\\»r > Hamilton) < j H Greenwood aud Miss N. ira- A