Huntley Matt Guerin Museum

I would like to thank the many old boys who have given or made available photos for the

museum. In some ways the museum has become a historical gallery, preserving and telling

the 117 years of Huntley’s history.  All photos have a caption giving the year, christian and

sir names. The photos have been backed up on CDs.

 Most cricket, rugby, choir, school, and drill squad photos from 1900 to 1966 have been

 preserved and are in the John Marsh cabinet. (John put them together for the 1996

centenary).    Also in the cabinet are the many sheets of photos taken at the centenary.

All the team photos from after 1966 are hung in the main school block.

The museum has a number of glass display cases which secure and display our artefacts.

Any new artefacts would be greatfully received.

 

Still on the wish list is a photo of inside the old gymnasium – boxing gloves (7 ounce) – the

1952 XI (was a photograph ever taken?)   Geoff and Judy Church did a great job in recording the missing magazine years of the fifties and sixties. However the archives are weak in this period of Huntley history.   My biggest wish is for an Eton Collar. We have a mannequin which is waiting to be dressed in the 1900 – 1920 school uniform. We have the tie and cap but not the Eton collar and jersey.

 

 There is a book case being made with a glass display top. We would like books written

 by old boys. “Peter Nikau” by Peter Murphy  ( looks lonely).   Huntley is strong on ANZAC.

I wonder if anyone has a copy of these books and would like to donate one to the museum. “Spitfire Patrol” - Colin Gray,  “Mark of the Lion” - Charles Upham,  “Reach for the Sky”  - Douglas Bader.

 

Last year I put together the story of the Poverty Bay (Gisborne to Ruatoria) boy travelling

to and from Huntley (1900 – 2012). I had contact with most of the twenty one different

families that were involved (in some cases three generations)  I can not thank them enough.

They were marvellous.

From time to time old boys visit the school and usually go through the museum. Most allow

ten minutes but often take half an hour or longer. The older the old boy the longer he

usually takes. These are changing times. It is important that we preserve Huntley’s proud

history. The museum looks forward to receiving past photos and artefacts.

For the museum:  David Abraham, 19 Milne St, Marton.  dta@infogen.net.nz

A brief Huntley history

A boys’ school was founded in Marton in 1896, under the joint Headmastership of Messrs Charles Mather and Basil Wilson, to prepare boys for entrance to the Wanganui Collegiate School.  Accordingly, in 1899 it was given the name, the Marton Preparatory School.  The school occupied various buildings until 1900 when it moved into the original two storeyed, wooden building on the present site. 

Mr Wilson died in 1902, but Mr Mather continued as Headmaster, renaming the school Huntley School after Huntley Hall which was his home in England.  He retired in 1919.  By this time the roll was in the seventies and the original building had been greatly extended.

The school continued to be owned by its successive headmasters, viz:-  Messrs Strombom, Sherriff and Rix-Trott, until a Trust Board was established in 1954 to purchase and run the school, with Noel Rix-Trott continuing as Headmaster.  The formation and financing of the Trust Board was due mainly to the efforts of a small group of very dedicated Old Boys of the school.  There are eight members of the Board.  Three of these are elected representatives of the Old Boys’ Association, three are the elected representatives of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association, and two are appointees of the Diocese of Wellington