Page:Gillespies Beach Beginnings • Alexander (2010).pdf/92

 mazurkas, the Scottish Schotische, the Caledonian and the Lancers, and Mary, like the other members of her family, loved to dance. The concept of baby sitters was unheard of. Entire families attended these celebrations with young children and infants bedded down in whatever space was available when they became sleepy. Mary had four children when they moved to Stafford but eventually her family expanded. Henry was reported to also act as Master of Ceremonies at dances in Hokitika. Both Mary and Henry encouraged their children to play sport.

Following the outbreak of WWI, the three oldest boys of Henry and Mary (see group family photograph), Henry, Charles and Lawrence, joined the army and after posting overseas saw continuous service in Egypt and France. All three returned safely.

Henry Jnr graduated with a Masters degree in law and worked in the Public Trust Office in Wellington. Charles was both tennis and table tennis champion in Wellington for many years where he worked for the Government Life Insurance Company. He was promoted to District Manager, Invercargill, and later held the same position in Hamilton. Lawrence joined the Public Service but later ran a corner grocery near the Wellington Zoo. His son was a popular priest in the Wellington Archdiocese.

Margaret Williams became a school teacher and did not marry. Elizabeth (Marie) was a keen sportswomen and hockey representative for several years. She was Wellington Ladies hard court tennis champion in 1924 and also a keen golf player. Thomas (Tommy) was New Zealand’s first professional tennis coach and co-founder of the New Zealand Professional Tennis Coach’s Association. He was chairman of the New Zealand Table Tennis Association for 20 years and played a large role in the development of the sport. The family lived firstly in Wellington but later moved to Lower Hutt to run a dairy and later again, a bookshop in Alicetown. Patrick gained his accountancy qualification before he reached twenty years of age.