Page:Gillespies Beach Beginnings • Alexander (2010).pdf/93

 It is timely to record that a grandson of Mary and Henry Williams and therefore a great-grandson of Laurence Sullivan and Margaret Vaughan, Thomas Stafford Williams, was ordained (Catholic) Bishop of Wellington in 1979, followed by the appointment to Cardinal in 1983.

Account has already been given of this couple’s pioneering at Weheka, Fox Glacier. Their sons, Thomas (Harry), Lawrence (Lawn), Patrick and Fred farmed their father’s land at Fox Glacier throughout their adult life and raised their families there. In retirement, Harry moved to Greymouth. His son, Laurie, worked the farm at Weheka, selling to also live in Greymouth in retirement. Pat moved to Christchurch in retirement. Lawn, on handing over his acreage to his son, Reeve, established a stud farm at Fernside, Rangiora, where he lived until his death. Lawn took some of his cattle with him from Fox Glacier and established a Greendale Hereford Stud there. Lawn’s son, Reeve, also moved to Canterbury in retirement but he and his wife were killed in a motorcar accident.

Fred Williams, Jnr also moved to Christchurch in retirement. As at time of writing, the Williams descendants still farming at Fox Glacier are Kevin Williams, grandson of Fred Williams Snr and his son, Paul. Also Wayne Williams, grandson of Lawn Williams and his sons. Kevin, Fred’s son, and his wife, Noeleen have operated a bed and breakfast establishment in the old Williams homestead for many years, carrying on the hospitality extended by Julia Williams in earlier times.

Michael Williams, another grandson of Fred and Julia caught the flying bug no doubt while, as a boy, he watched the planes landing at the airfield adjacent to his family’s farm. He qualified as a commercial pilot beginning with Mt Cook Airlines, later working for major airlines in New Zealand and in Australia. His sister, Monica currently lives in Christchurch.