HIGHLY ESTEEMED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20127, 22 December 1939, Page 3

HIGHLY ESTEEMED

ST. JOHN SECRETARY SERVICES TO SPORT COMBINED FAREWELL The high esteem in which Mr. W. E. B. Froggatt has been held by the St. John Ambulance Association and Poverty Bay Health Camp Committee, as secretary of both organisations, and by_ sporting bodies and other associations his honorary work had brought him in contact with was voiced yesterday afternoon at a. farewell function in the Masonic Hotel. The chairman of the St. John Ambulance Association. Mr. J. J. Macdonald, presided over a representative gathering. In making Mr. Froggatt a presentation of a chiming clock, Mr. Macdonald said the Poverty Bay Hunt Club, Poverty Bay Turf Club, Poverty Bay A. and P. Association, Poverty Bay Rugby Union, and Waikanae Beach Improvement Society were . associated . with the association in the presentation. The guest of honour had been . made a serving brother of the Order of St. John some years ago and had proved himself by his service to all sports clubs and the association since that date. Great Self-Sacrifice

The great self-sacrifice that Mr. Froggatt had made while in the district for the past 17 years and the great. amount of humanitarian work he had carried out with zeal was remarked upon by Mr. Macdonald. Whereas he was to be congratulated on his promotion, it was felt that the association’s regrets at losing his services would be uppermost. It was claimed by Mr. W. E. Goffe that there was no St. John officer in New Zealand who had given more time ungrudgingly to humanitarian work. Mr. Froggatt was a practical man who worked admirably day and night for his cause. Mr. Goffe also considered that Mr. Froggatt had been the lock, stock, and barrel of the St. John movement in this district.

Messrs. H. H. De£osta, E. J. Poswillo, and F. Tolerton also added their congratulations and extended best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Froggatt ;n their new sphere. The lastmentioned, representing the Poverty Bay Turf Club, Hunt Club, and A. and P. Association, said he regretted that the donations of sports clubs might be on the small side on account of difficult financial periods, and that the appreciation that was felt of the services provided by the association could not be measured by the amount of the donations granted it. “Never Failed in Duly”

Mr. Ralph Morse spoke on behalf of the Waikanae Beach Society and Gisborne Thirty Thousand Club, and Mr. T. G. Johns of his perso al association with the guest of honour, who, he said, had never failed in his duty and it would be extra ,:-iy difficult to fill the vacancy he would leave. Detailed work atten led to by Mr. Froggatt was explained by Mr. W. E. Bullivant, whose answer to the sports club's was “help us to help you

A divisional superintendent, Mr, C. E. Bickford, appreciated the heavy duties that fell on the shoulders of the district officer and said that further burdens had had to be shouldered since the outbreak of war, including assistance for medical boards examining recruits fcr service. Mr. G. J. Jeune spoke on behalf of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union. As a junior member of the association and superintendent of the Cadet Division, Mr. Harvey Wade, extended his congratulations and those of tlm cadets to Mr. and Mrs. Froggatt. Health Camp Presentation

The chairman of the Gisborne Health Camp Committee, Mr. H. Holmes, presented Mr. Froggatt, late secretary of tliai committee, with a Silver entire dish He said the committee had felt d< eply indebted to him for stepping into the breach when Mr. W. Oilmen resigned. Messrs. A. Cassin and W. Ogilvie endorsed the chairman’s remarks and extended their wishes for Mr and Mrs. Froggatt’s good health and prosperity. Replying, Mr. Froggatt said that although he would be leaving on promotion, lie felt sad at having to leave many happy personal associations in the district. He would have been happier if he had seen the construction of the children’s health camp and a permanent ambulance station. Both the health camp and St. John organisations in Wellington had invited him tb link up with them when he arrived, bu.t he was going to have a rest for a short time before going on the active list once more.

Mr. and Mrs. Froggatt will leave Gisborne for Wellington on December 30, Mr. Froggatt having to report for duty on January 3 at the head office of the Vacuum Oil Company.