Dr Newton Wickham, CBE
Newton Wickham, or Wicky, as he was known, passed away on Monday 5 December, 2011. Wicky was one of our most distinguished Albertians. Click here for a recent article in the East & Bays Courier about his life's achievements.
Wicky was a great supporter of MAGS, often visiting the school he described as "the best in New Zealand" to students at the assembly when he presented the first Newton Wickham CBE Scholarships to the junior duxes in 2009. He will be sadly missed.
Sally Ainley
Albertian Sally Ainley died on Saturday 13 February 2010 after battling cancer for nearly three years. She and sisters Emma and Alison were triplets and attended Mount Albert Grammar School 2004-2007.
During the last week of Term 4, 2011, a special garden was dedicated to Sally's memory. The plaque was unveiled by Sally's mother and her surviving sisters. A plant was added to the garden by her form teacher Allie Wright and her young son.
Click here to download the programme of the service.
Hall of Distinction Induction - Wednesday 1 November
The Hon. Dr Michael Bassett, historian, author and former cabinet minister and the late Dr Richard Dell, world reknowned scientist in the field of malacology, were inducted into the Mount Albert Grammar School Hall of Distinction at a special assembly.
Dame Miriam Dell with the Hon. Dr Michael Bassett
Dr Bassett accepted his charter in person and Dame Miriam Dell represented the Dell family on bealf of her late husband. More....
Obituaries: Len Castle & Sir Peter Siddell
The School community is saddened by the death of two of its most illustrious artists.
Leonard Ramsay Castle DCNZM, CBE, BSc died on 29 September 2011. Len Castle was at School from 1938 - 1942. He was a prefect in his final year and after finishing his degree he returned as a biology teacher from 1948 - 1958. He was a junior housemaster at School House from 1948 - 1950. He began potting in 1947 as a hobby and became a full-time potter in 1964. He was awarded a CBE for services to pottery in 1986 and a DCNZM for services to pottery in 2004.
Len Castle was inducted into the Mount Albert Grammar School Hall of Distinction in 2005. NZ Herald Obituary
Sir Peter Graham Siddell KNZM, QSO died on 24 October 2011. Peter Siddell was at School from 1949 - 1951. He worked first as an electrician, then he trained as a primary-school teacher and taught during the day and painted at night. He took up full-time painting in 1972.
Sir Peter's work includes landscapes of New Zealand from Northland to Fiordland. They are realistic, timeless and deserted. He is most noted for his paintings of buildings, notably the exterior or interior of villas. They are finely rendered and set in beautifully lit landscapes, both familiar and strange and devoid of power reticulation, vehicles and people. He was awarded a QSO in 1991 for services to art and a DCNZM in 2008 for services to art. In 2009 his DCNZM was redesignated KCNZM.
Sir Peter Siddell was inducted into the Mount Albert Grammar School Hall of Distinction in 2009. NZ Herald Obituary
An Albertian in the News
Congratulations to Andrew Austin, the school dux in 2002, whose name has been placed on the Dean of Graduate Studies List at the University of Auckland in recognition of excellence achieved with his PhD thesis. This is a rare honour, awarded to only a few doctoral students each year. Andrew is currently studying post-doctorial research at the University of Toronto in Canada.
The Oldest Known Photo of the School
This photograph is the earliest known image of the School. It is a gift of Ted Hughes, 1948-1950. On the back, in his mother's hand, is, "Mt Albert Boy's [sic] Grammar 1921". The photograph was taken by Ted's grandfather.
The turn of this century saw girls become students of Mount Albert Grammar School for the first time in its 78-year history. The Old Boys' Association decided that from 2000 onwards that they would be named the Albertians Association and consequently, former students would also be known as Albertians.
Obituary
COLE, Bruce Sterling
At School: 1940-1941
The Mount Albert Grammar School Albertians Association and wider school community were saddened to hear of the passing of Bruce Sterling Cole on 11 May 2011.
Bruce was a highly regarded member of the business community serving as:
- President and a long serving board member of the Auckland Medical Research Foundation.
- Chairman of the Board of Hydraulink and Sanford Seafood Company.
To quote an obituary notice in the New Zealand Herald:
"Bruce was highly respected, a strategic thinker, communicator and advisor, but he also had a great sense of humour. Sharp as a tack. His warm positive influence was felt by all. One of life's true gentlemen."
Athletics
Albertian and Hawaii University Junior TeRina Keenan (20) repeated last year's performance, winning the Discus at the USA Western Athletic Conference Athletic Championships in Hawaii. TeRina threw the 1Kg discus 161-8 (49.27m), which
marked the fifth time a UH athlete has won the event.
In two weeks, TeRina will compete at the Regional Championships in Eugene, Oregan. If successful there, she will then compete at the NCAA championships Des Moines, Iowa.
She will return to New Zealand briefly before joining a NZ team of developing athletes travelling on a month long tour training and competing in Paris and London.
School ANZAC Service - Friday 15 April
Head Girl Rachel Head, Head Boy Jayden Metcalfe and Albertians Association President
Ben Stallworthy laid the traditional wreaths at the War Memorial Pavilion.
Ben was also the guest speaker at the service.
Albertians in the News
Chris Liddell Returns to MAGS
This Monday 28 February, Albertian Chris Liddell returned for a special presentation assembly for the 2010 recipients of the very significant Liddell Scholarships. Over the last three years six students have benefited from his considerable generosity.
Later that evening, he was the guest of honour at the Albertian of the Year Award function.
From left: Katherine Reynolds (2008), David Eade (2010), Chris Liddell, Geoff Gunn (2009),
Rachel Peeters (2009), Jonathan Wrigley (2008), Ella Davis (2010)
Above Photo:
At the gathering before the Liddell award ceremony, Greg Taylor, Former Headmaster speaks with Peter Thorp, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Both are former Albertians of the Year. In the background, the man in the background in the jacket and white shirt is Howard Perry, who was at school with Chris from primary school and, here, was in rowing crews and teams with him and introduced him at the ceremony.
Jonathan Good
Jonathan is also co-founded the website 1000Memories.com , which received the support of top financiers less than a year after its launch. More...
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Albertian, former dux and Rhodes Scholar Jonathan Good
continued his outstanding academic success by graduating with
distinction from the University of Oxford and receiving the
2006 George Webb Medley Prize for the top overall student. He
now works in the internet industry and has just launched an
iPhone app which digitises photos and papers and puts them on
the internet.