Refers to Saturday 2 October 1954

 

Obituary:  Richard William Wrightson

"From the Tangimoana correspondent"

 

     The district lost an outstanding personality when the

death occurred at Palmerston North last Saturday [ 2 October 1954 ] of Mr Richard William Wrightson.  Born at Aldeburgh, Suffolk , England , 63 years ago he was the eldest son of Dr R B Wrightson.  He was educated at Epsom College .

     Following his father's wishes he began his career in a shipping office.  However being a youth of adventurous spirit, life overseas called him and he persuaded his father to allow him to try his luck abroad.  He arrived in New Zealand in 1909 and for some time assisted on farms in the Feilding district.

     School teaching next claimed his attention.  It was while he was teaching at Fordell that the First World War broke out and he was one of the first to enlist, his official number being 10/1372.

     He was one of those who went through the Gallipoli campaign, later going to France .  While in France he was awarded the Military Cross and was mentioned in despatches for his services in the Battle of the Somme .  Seriously wounded, he was invalided back to New Zealand in 1918.

     Later he farmed a returned soldiers' farm at Ohingaiti.  His war injuries were troubling him and he spent some time in and out of Wanganui Hospital , eventually having to relinquish the farm and it was then, in 1938, he retired to Tangimoana.  Here he was able to enjoy fishing and sporting.

     A successful sportsman, he shared his game and catch in a generous manner with others less fortunate.  He was a keen outdoor bowler, at the time of his death being secretary-treasurer of the local club and one of the keenest workers on the committee as well as one of the best players.  He was a member of the Hall Committee for some years and many times audited the hall accounts.

     During the Second World War, Major Wrightson did a great job of work with the Home Guard in the Tangimoana-Himatangi area.

     His great hobby was rose growing and in his own garden of about 100 bushes he grew blooms of perfection.  In 1951 he won the Glenrossie Perpetual Challenge Shield for twelve distinct exhibition roses at the National Rose Show, as well as numerous trophies from other shows.  Major Wrightson was President of the National Rose Society of New Zealand in 1953-54, relinquishing office in June.  A popular judge at rose shows, one of the most recent he judged at was the National Rose Show in Dunedin last November.

     Major Wrightson was twice married.  He leaves a widow and two step-daughters, also a brother and two sisters in England .