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HBHS Old Boys' Association
"Newstalk" November 2022
Wall of Fame 2022
Four of our Old Boys’ were inducted onto our Wall of Fame at our Senior Prizegiving on 4 November 2022. We had previously tried twice to honour these men but Covid-19 meant both occasions were cancelled and we were delighted that this year it could go ahead. The Inductees were : Air Commodore Ernest William Tacon, Mr Richard (Dick) Frizzell MNZM, Mr Josh Kronfeld and Mr William (Bill) Davis.
Air Commodore Ernest William Tacon CBE, DSO, MVO, DFC – Introduced by Reuben Allen (Prefect)
Mr Tacon attended Hastings Boys’ High School in 1931. Ernest William Tacon, also known as Bill and ‘Dead-eye’. DFC and Bar, AFC and Bar, DSO, CBE, RVO. At School in 1931, in form 3C. In the 1931 Heretaungan, he is described as a ‘quiet and serious young man.’ He left in 1932 for St Patricks College, Silverstream, due in part to the after-effects of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.
He returned to Hastings before joining the Air Force in 1939. By the end of the war he was a Wing Commander, earning the Air Force Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross, both with Bars. He ended the war as one of the RAF’s most decorated pilots for his bravery under fire and leadership of his squadrons
In 1944, he was shot down after assisting a number of pilots in his squadron who were in trouble and spent the last months of the war as a prisoner of war. On his liberation, he returned to Britain and the RAF. He continued rising through the ranks and was the first Commonwealth member to be Captain of the King’s Flight, at the personal request of King Geroge VI, flying the Royal Family around Britain and the world. He held many positions of importance such as station Commander in Egypt at the time of the Suez Crisis, as well as in Cyprus. He also headed up many training and operational stations and was involved in RAF tactical and strategic planning. Bill ended his career with the RAF in 1971 as Air Commodore, the equivalent rank as a Brigadier General in the army, and returned to live in New Zealand.
However, his life of service did not stop there. In 1973, he was appointed to the National Executive of the IHC and when the Aswan Dam project began he headed an international ‘Save the Animals’ campaign. Although he only had a short time attending our School, he was a very proud Old Boy, keeping in contact with Mr. S I Jones and other Old Boys throughout and after the war. He also attended the 50th reunion of the school.
Air Commodore Tacon passed away in Auckland on September 9, 2003.
Ladies and gentlemen we are honoured to present Air Commodore Ernest William Tacon as an inductee to our wall of fame.
Mr Richard (Dick) Frizzell MNZM – Introduced by Michael Lansdown (Prefect)
Mr Frizzell attended Hastings Boys’ High School from 1957-1961. In 1960 he won the Best Portrait Award and the Best Senior Painting Award. He also had two of his drawings published in the 1960 and 1961 Heretaungan.
Mr Frizzell trained at the Ilam School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury. After graduating he worked in advertising for many years, and it is through this that he gained his appreciation for the advertising characters he uses in his work. Mr Frizzell has contributed designs to Esther Diamond linen company, has released several varieties of "Frizzell Wines," and designed the cover and several illustrations for The Great New Zealand Songbook. Mr Frizzell also wrote Dick Frizzell: The Painter. Mr Frizzell is represented by Gow Langsford Gallery in Auckland, the Central Art Gallery in Christchurch, and the Milford Gallery in Dunedin and Queenstown.
In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mr Frizzell was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the arts.
Ladies and gentlemen we are honoured to present Mr Frizzell as an inductee to our wall of fame.
Mr Josh Kronfeld – Introduced by Hunter Yarrall (Prefect)
Mr Kronfeld attended Hastings Boys’ High School from 1984-1989. He was a member of the schools First XV from 1987-1989. In 1989 he was awarded the Greg Pulford Memorial Cup for contribution to Rugby and the Deputy Headboys Award. He captained the First XV and made the following representative teams, HB U18, Regional U18, HB Secondary Schools and the Central Regions Team. He also led the First XV to an unbeaten local season and captained the team at the Caltex Top Four Tournament.
Mr Kronfeld is an All Black who represented New Zealand, Otago, the Highlanders and Leicester at first-class levels. During his international career, Mr Kronfeld made his All Black test debut in 1995, playing against Canada at Eden Park in Auckland and played in 56 games for the All Blacks, gaining 54 test caps, including appearances at both the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups.
Mr Kronfeld played as an openside flanker, and his greatest attribute was considered to be the speed with which he was able to get to breakdowns in play, in order to gain or regain possession of the ball.. After the inception of the Super 12 competition in 1996, Mr Kronfeld also played for the Highlanders Super 12 franchise. In total, he made 42 appearances for the Highlanders. Mr Kronfeld remained a first choice player for Otago, the Highlanders and the All Blacks until 2000. At the end of the 2000 season, after 69 matches for Otago, 42 for the Highlanders in the Super 12 and 56 All Black matches including 54 tests, Mr Kronfeld left New Zealand rugby to take up a contract with the English club, Leicester. In May 2001 he officially signed with English club Leicester Tigers.
Outside of rugby Mr Kronfeld also studied at University of Otago and has made numerous media appearances, including Celebrity Treasure Island and in 2009 he participated in the fifth season of TVNZ's entertainment series Dancing with the Stars.
Ladies and gentlemen we are honoured to present Mr Josh Kronfeld as an inductee to our wall of fame
Mr William (Bill) Davis – Introduced by Jehmial Ross (Prefect)
Mr Davis attended Hastings Boys High School in 1956-1959. He was a member of the schools First XV for three years starting in 1957. In 1959 his last season for the school Mr Davis was named in the Hawkes Bay Juniors.
A wing and centre, Mr Davis represented Hawke's Bay at a provincial level, and was a member of the All Blacks, from 1963 to 1970. He played 53 matches for the All Blacks including 11 internationals. His test debut was on the 19th August 1967 v Australia at Wellington and his final test was the 8th August 1970 v South Africa at Cape Town. Mr Davis was the blade whose speed and subtle skills were noticed from an early age. He was cherry-picked from Hastings Boys’ High as an 18-year old to turn out for the Magpies and also earned several All Black trials. Mr Davis was quickly into action on his All Black test debut. He headed off on his international journey where his skills and speed were a constant menace. The Wallabies thought so in 1968 and when they tackled Davis in the final minutes without the ball, referee Kevin Crowe awarded the All Blacks a test-saving penalty try. He brought the balance, pace and vision which were not a regular backplay trait in those times. He was a durable tourist playing many matches outside tests during the 1967 tour to the UK and the 1970 trip to South Africa before he retired from rugby to concentrate on softball. Once his international rugby career ended the Taradale club rugby and softball player played international softball including two World Series from 1972-76 for New Zealand. He played in the 1976 Lower Hutt-hosted World Series which ended in the United States, Canada and New Zealand sharing title honours because of wet weather. The outfielder played in the longest match at a World Series, a 20 innings four hour and two minute tussle which saw the United States beat New Zealand 1-0.
Ladies and gentlemen we are honoured to present Mr Bill Davis as an inductee to our wall of fame
William (Bill) Davis
Richard (Dick) Frizzell MNZM
Air Commodore Ernest William Tacon CBE, DSO, MVO, DFC
Josh Kronfeld
Blessing of the New Building
A new classroom block will be built in the next few years. This will replace the Tier Block which will eventually be demolished. The new block will lead off from the School Library and run parallel with the Tech Block and out towards the boundary with Akina Park.
On Tuesday 15th November a Karakia was held to ensure the safety of the workers and those who are on site. Mr Jem Te Huia performed the ceremony and Mr Sturch turned the first sod.The picture gives you an idea of what the building will look like.
Old Boys' Blazer
Old Boys' with a PhD
with the details. As you can see we have a few already but we know there are plenty more out there.
Information about the Association's Legacy Projects
The Association has made a commitment to fund a number of Legacy Projects. These projects range from financial support for special groups within the school, the purchase of a particular resource or resources and support for improvements school wide.
We have achieved a few projects to date which include the funding of the Electronic Scoreboard and the furnishing and finishing of the Craig Hickson Lounge in the pavilion. It is an area where visiting schools, both national and international can be hosted. It is the base of the Old Boys' Association and has a display of trophies and memorabilia of over 100 years of the school's rich history.
We have also established The Old Boys’ Association Scholarship for Dux. This scholarship is to be awarded annually at the school’s Senior Prizegiving and will help support a student as they ready themselves for tertiary studies. We have supported two students with this so far.
Understandably all of these projects come at a cost as does the running of the Association.
The Association is promoting this opportunity for you to become a Patron of the Craig Hickson Lounge by making a donation in a specific category. There are four levels of patronage to begin with:
1st XV Wall Plaque (ex 1st XV players only) $250.00
Bronze Plaque $500
Silver Plaque $1000
Gold Plaque $5000
Each patron will have an engraved plaque with names or business names being displayed in and around the pavilion complex. Names of all patrons will be recorded on an Honours Board which will be on display inside the new pavilion lounge.
This project will also extend at a later date with ideas ranging from coat hooks in the cricket pavilion and music department etc. We are working on some pricing and artwork for some of these projects.
We hope you will be able to support us in our endeavours, and ask that if you do wish to make a donation, or a pledge you please email hbhsoldboys@hastingsboys.school.nz for further information.
Contact Us
800 Karamu Road South
Hastings 4120
Ph: +64 06 873 0365
hbhsoldboys@hastingsboys.school.nz
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