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Christ’s College
- 2014 In Memoriam
John
Hugh Hobbs
4171
Aged 98
John died in Melbourne on 6 July 2015 at the
age of 98 years and 8 months. He was born in
Christchurch on 7 November 1916. His parents
Hugh (1646) and Edith had two other children,
Gwynneth and Warwick (4327).
John recorded that his earliest memory was
being carried to bed by his father and being
allowed to pull on the chain that activated the
pilot light so that the gaslight would come on
in the hall of their home in Christchurch. John’s
family moved to Napier for two years prior to
returning to Christchurch where John attended
Christ’s College. Cricket and rugby were John’s
sporting passions. His best cricket result was
87 not out and 5 slips catches one Saturday
afternoon. John had many happy memories of
his time at this famous school and in later life
was a proud member of the Christ’s College Old
Boys’ Association. John was responsible for the
establishment of a branch of the Association in
Melbourne.
In the midst of the 1930’s depression John
entered the workforce in the administration of
an insurance agency but two years later, looking
towards better prospects, joined the Union Bank
and commenced a banking career from which
he was to retire 42 years later as Chief Manager
– Organisation and Personnel for the whole of
the ANZ Bank. John’s major career highlight was
the responsibility he undertook for the merging
of the 22,000 personnel employed by the ANZ
and ES&A banks when they joined into one
organisation in 1970.
In Christchurch, John attended St Mary’s Parish
Church where he met the love of his life Mary
Hamilton, whose family sat in a pew just a few
rows in front of his family at Evensong each
Sunday. John and Mary were married at St
Mary’s, Merivale on 1 March 1941. Four months
later John headed overseas in the New Zealand
Army with the rank of Quartermaster-Sergeant.
No wars are pleasant, and neither was John’s,
which included time in Syria and the North
African desert, being wounded in action, taken
prisoner, a time in an Italian Hospital, three
years as a prisoner of war in Germany, and a
680 kilometre forced march across Germany.
Following his liberation, John returned to New
Zealand to be reunited with Mary and to become
acquainted with his little 3 1/2 year old daughter
– four more daughters were to follow in the years
ahead.