After retirement in 1984 Colquhoun settled at Paraparaumu Beach and took on the role of President of the Golf Club. Ian was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in the New Years Honours list in 1985 for public services. From 1989-1991, he was on the board of New Zealand cricket and served as a selector. On 26th February 2005, while watching coverage of New Zealand’s one day international defeat against Australia he passed away. He was 80. His funeral was attended by over 1000 people at Palmerston North Boys High School where a rousing haka was preformed. In 2008 he was posthumously chosen as a Manawatu legend of sport.
Reflections
Dedication, innovative thinking, powerful halftime speeches and a low tolerance for defeat were among the hallmarks of Colquhoun’s coaching. His sides were often noted for their character and slick back play. He was more of a mentor like figure than a fearsome general like Dick Glover.
“Attitude in rugby is all important: how much do they want to play? How hard are they willing to work? Most of the fun is in the preparation. The coach should prepare his players to became ONE. The challenge is to bring all the skills and characters together.”
“Rugby requires self-discipline. That contributes to the general team discipline, and that ripples throughout the school. A pride in sport and tradition of success can be built if the 1st XV are role models and perform.”
“I would like to do it all again. It was great to see the kids sparkle, some superb moments often rekindled by team reunions or simply day dreaming.”
Emosi Koloto, who played 1 test for Tonga against Wales in 1986 and later appeared in five tests for the Kiwis, was a favourite of Colquhoun. In the 1982 Palmerstonian, Colquhoun simply asked “Is he the best rugby player to come through PNBHS.”
Eulogy Presented By Paul Cameron
- Born in Wellington 1924.
- Son of Campbell Alexander and Gladys
- One brother Ray (deceased) and his wife Thelma are with us today.
- Attended Rongotai College in Wellington. Made his mark as a leader and Sportsperson followed his brother Ray as the head Prefect and Captain of the 1st XV. Also captained 1st XI Cricket, won athletics titles – 1942 was Senior Athletics Champion
- Ian took on board Renner’s words … “True Education consists in learning just two things – your duty to your neighbor and duty to yourself. There is no higher and no finer doctrine”.
- While at Rongotai College Ian met his love Betty Petley while a prefect. A partnership lasting until the day he died – coaching or should I say encouraging the New Zealand Cricket team from the couch at their home.
- As we all know this relationship was a very special one – and although Betty and Ian did not have their own children – in effect they did – they had all of us.
- Ian did not go to war but he made every effort to get there – he informed the authorities he was older than he was …He was a member of the army where he trained as a ‘signalman’. As you would expect – he became one of the best. It was in this role he showed a unique way,typical of Ian, to communicate with his love Betty, using the ‘flags’ he sent a message from Beacon Hill to Lyall Bay.”I love you”.
- Married Betty Petley 7/5/1949. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in May 1999.
- Ian attended Teachers College in Wellington before completing his study in Dunedin and qualifying in P.E.
- He was a talented five eight, in rugby and wicket keeper in cricket and probably more importantly to Ian – a captain – who could, as his Rongotai days had taught him, receive the light and pass it on.
- As a Rugby player Ian played 35 first class games – scoring 4 tries, 1 penalty, 1 drop goal.
- His playing included matches for Wellington, Otago and Manawatu
- Two quotes from the NZ Rugby Almanac
- While playing for Wellington – “Colquhoun was again a most reliable five eight with perfect hands, taking passes from all angles and not trying too much on his own”.
- While playing for Manawatu – “Colquhoun, when available captained the side and played some fine games handling well and proving incisive on attack, varying his play nicely”
- These comments typified the man:
- Perfect hands
- All angles covered
- Captained when there was a chance
- Varied his play – he was a ‘thinker
- He was a very good player. He thought about the game – he was a strategist before the word ‘strategic planning’ was invented. He was honoured to become an All Black trialist in 1947.
- As a cricketer he worked extremely hard to perfect the art of wicket keeping.
- In talking with Ian he did not rely on his natural ability. It was the hard work that counted!
- He was proud of wearing the silver fern. The honour stood high in his memories. But he kept that honour very quietly to himself, but kept it in the forefront of his mind as he played, coached and assisted hundreds of people.
- When I was selected as an All White he was one of the first to congratulate me. Also adding, it was a pity it wasn’t for the All Blacks or the NZ Cricket Team! He told me I would have made a good Flanker.
- For many of us we have a favourite number. Ian had a number he didn’t relish, 26 – the infamous cricket score by NZ vs. England. Ironically Ian passed away on the 26th of February while watching the NZ team – although they managed to just eclipse that score.
- The most difficult task I encountered with Ian was to pass the test of scrutiny – to marry his God Daughter Lynda. He told me I passed the test by going to the second best College in NZ behind Palmerston North Boys’ High School.
- Ian you leave much with us – you’ll be pleased to know your first memorial cricket match was played by your family on Wednesday on your own front lawn.
- As I sipped on a coke last night, as I looked at my Labrador dog this morning, it reminded me of a great person, bloke, sportsman. ‘Yes a LEGEND’
- Loveable
- Energetic
- Gutsy
- Educator
- Nurturer
- Determined
- Yes a LEGEND!
Rector’s Eulogy Tim Connor
Mr Colquhoun dedicated 36 years of his life with Betty to Palmerston North Boys’ High School.
The school can never repay Ian for the contributions he made firstly in 1948 as a PE teacher, then as Head of Department Physical Education from 1956 to when he was Senior Master in 1974 & 1975 then from 1976 – 1984 was Deputy Rector. He worked with three Rectors, had enormous respect for Stan Craven and was fiercely loyal to Arnold Muirhead and finished his career working with Eric White. No doubt the conversations these gentleman are having right now would be worth listening to.
Through this time he juggled the duties of College House manager and 1st XV coach in an extraordinary manner. Errol Brookie suggested in his tribute to Ian and Betty in the 1984 Palmerstonian that “ it may be acknowledged that the contribution of Ian and Betty Colquhoun will never be repeated.”
We have heard today of his exploits and endeavours from the many facets of his life
We cannot but be staggered by the impressions this man made on the lives of so many – Jerry has spoken on behalf of the young men of those 36 years. This man also impacted just as much on staff and on the ethos of PNBHS.
While Ian Colquhoun was not a man for small talk and he did not suffer fools easily. He cared and he trusted others. Viv Bevan has mentioned this to me on numerous occasions. He was a supporter of staff in difficult times, he organised College House meals for staff with sick families and wives. He wanted staff to socialise and was instrumental in organising social occasions – drinks after athletic sports and dinners for any occasion. While today we may see these things as ‘custom and practice’ they were started at PNBHS by this man.
The legends of Ian Colquhoun the disciplinarian – the caner, and he could cane…. (Brookie said it was a frightening experience to witness) changed through time. Ian was the major figure responsible for cutting down on corporal punishment first in College House and then in the day school with Brookie. He claimed that he told the school assembly in 1976 that the previous year 494 canings had been entered in the book: this was far too many and they must do something about it. By the end of 1976 there were 19 canings in the book.
He wanted to significantly alter the tone of the school through the 70’s and 80’s and in turn prepared the school for changing times while holding tight to what was important.
Trusting – Coke wanted to trust boys. Steve Kissick said that Coke’s motto was “every boy can make one mistake” – you just didn’t want to be around if he makes the same mistake twice. One is unsure how the likes of Rolf Leenards and Derek Stirling survived upon making multiple mistakes of a similar nature. The current Board chair, Craig Hart a Murray boy himself was entrusted with Coke’s red triumph on the odd Saturday night. Trust earned Coke would say.
Bruce Hamilton’s description of Ian in the centenary book said “ He seemed at first to be an apostle of maleness, with his emphasis on the Spartan elements of the BHS tradition: rugby, cross country, boxing and later cadets and marching.”
Ian Colquhoun was an innovator – we know of his coaching reputation. He developed some of the strongest 1st XV’s the school has had. He had a strong desire for teams to tour in order for them to develop. This ethos lives in the school today and has extended to a range of sporting codes.
In order to get there, it took sheer hard work and involved a myriad of fundraising ventures from bottle drives, with PE classes sorting bottles, to the Challenge Walk for the whole school His links and connections are evident today by all of us here – from the Napier Boys’ High Invasion of 20+ buses and fish n chips for everyone on the way home to the 1st XV tour of Singapore/ Taiwan organised at two weeks notice at the invitation of the then Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kwon You and of course he initiated the first world tour in 1979.
His commitment to the staff, to the boys and to the school could never be questioned. If anything one could ask how it was possible to achieve the amount he did to such a high standard. His response – “ A wife and 10 kids? I’ve got a 100 and College House.” Betty’s influence and commitment matches this career – they were a united team.
Ian’s commitment to College House for 30 years from 1955 to 1984 is legendary – this was a vocation not simply a job. A family atmosphere in College House was of utmost importance to him, he replaced corporal punishment in College House with the current day black mark system.
He developed family events such as Church Day, Market day and the Niger House exchange vs New Plymouth Boys through his long time friend Alan Gardener who was also his school mate from Rongotai and best man at their wedding. Each of these events are now CH traditions. (I note Max Carrol’s presence today a long time rival coach at NPBHS.)
He also believed in cards, chess and game playing in the Rec room and this was noted by the boys in the 1955 CH report in the Palmerstonian when Ian and Betty first took over.
At CH Ian went on to develop buildings and surroundings for the betterment of the boys. He refused to have money spent on the House Manger’s residence, but offered his home to many boys over the years in what became known as the Koloto upstairs flat.
Ian, together with Tim Loughlan were instrumental in setting up the CH Parents Education Trust. It was set up to look after boys whose changed family circumstances would have prevented them completing their time at CH. It exists today in a healthy state and is used as Ian and Tim Loughlan wished it to be used.
Ian regarded the CH boys as the standard setters for the school. He himself said “through the hostel you can set your discipline for the whole school.”
As Rector today I am privileged to run a school of this standing. I am indebted that the school was in such good hands and that Ian Colquhoun fought to retain standards with the likes of Brookie and Ineson and many others. Standards were important to each of these gentleman and almost in unison they set the day to day tone of the school. They held the lines on uniform, hair and the like to allow the school to be able to truly celebrate 100 years of male education.
In the time I have been Rector, I have cherished his wisdom and his support. He attended the 50th Niger House match in the gully ground while turning 80 last year and after the 21-20 win (after a penalty try in the last seconds) said “that is history in the making – the boys and parents will never forget this day” and they won’t.
He attended the Auckland and Wellington old Boys functions last year and upon returning from the Wellington function he and Betty were stuck in their car overnight due to the floods at Paekakeariki. He attended the 1979 and 1964 1st XV reunions last year, assisted Rhys Archibald with coaching aspects of the 1st XV last year. He touched the hearts of the current 1st XV and provided me and the CH board sub committee with guidance over the planned developments for CH late last year.
He remained worldly, wise and astute. Such was the ongoing commitment of the man.
He stressed to me the importance of traditional interschool fixtures over any other competitor and many of our traditional and annual competitors are here today to mark that loyalty and the relationships that have been developed through time.
Ian Colquhoun has created many of the traditions of today, the memories of yesterday and a benchmark for always. May those involved with our school always remember this.
As with any important interschool occasion the flag is flying proudly on the grandstand today as Coke would have been standing in the far left hand corner of the No 1 field saying “ I gave it my best shot.” We’d have to agree.
Betty without you all of this would not have been possible.Ian never wanted recognition but Coke would also say timing is everything and while we could not hold this service at school today because the hall is being extended, the timing is perfect to announce that when the hall is finished in April it will be named “The Ian Colquhoun Memorial hall.
T M O’Connor
RECTOR
Acknowledgments: A Massive thanks to Tim Connor for his support.
