Wellesley College (New Zealand)

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Infobox NZ school
name = Wellesley College
badge =
motto = "Amat Victoria Curam"
"Victory favours those who take pains"
type = Independent, Boys, full primary (Years 1-8)
established = 1913
address = 11B Main Road,
Days Bay Eastbourne,
Wellington,
New Zealand
principal = Warren Owen
roll = 310
decile = 10
MOE = 4149
homepage = [http://www.wellesley.school.nz www.wellesley.school.nz]

Wellesley College is a boys-only independent primary school in Days Bay, Eastbourne, New Zealand. The original building in Days Bay (known as Days Bay House) was built for the Wellington Steam Ferry company in 1903. Ten years later in 1913 the house was sold to Miss Gladys Sommerville and she transformed the building into Croydon Preparatory School for Boys.

A while later in 1940 Mr W H ‘Hoppy’ Stevens leased the premises from the Wellington Diocesan Board and moved his school, Wellesley College (which had previously been situated on the Terrace) to Days Bay and he merged the two schools.

Notable alumni

*Georgina Beyer World's first transsexual MP
*Lord Cooke of Thorndon Eminent New Zealand judge.
*Marc Ellis, a former New Zealand rugby league and rugby union player, businessman, and television presenter.
*The school has played host to many sons of influential New Zealand businessmen and politicians. This includes Thomas Brash, son of former Governor of the Reserve Bank and former leader of the National Party Don Brash.
*It is alleged that the son of a British Government spy was attending the school in 1999. However the 10 year old boy was forced to return to England with his family after a vandal leaked information by writing the names of British spies on the side of the New Zealand parliament buildings. Fact|date=February 2007
*Former New Zealand Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys had a close affiliation with the school due to his grandsons attending the school during his time in power.
*Richard Wilkins, an Australian TV Personality who spent two years at Wellesley College and was awarded Runner-up Dux in his final year. He appears regularly on the Today show on Channel Nine and is a very well respected reporter.
*Alan Gibbs, creator of the Aquada amphibious vehicle.
*Jock Hobbs, All Black from 1983 to 1986, played 21 tests and 18 matches. Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union since 2002, who has led NZs successful bid to host the 2011 World Cup. On 5 June 2006 Mr Hobbs was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
*Jack Lamason (former teacher), NA Cricket representative 1935/1936 and 1937/1938.
*Peter Harcourt, Broadcaster, Actor, playwright. Attended Wellesley 1928 - 1932.
*Selwyn Toogood, a New Zealand radio and television personality. He was the originator of game show "It's in the Bag".
*Cobber Kain, Edgar James "Cobber" Kain first RAF air ace of World War II, the first recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II 1940.
*Robert Vance, New Zealand Cricketer, called up summer of 1987-88. Played 4 tests and 8 one day internationals.

External links

* [http://www.wellesley.school.nz Wellesley College School Website]