Edmund McCulloch Mortimer - 7 March 1935 - 29 August 1915
Edmund McCulloch Mortimer was born to Elizabeth (nee McCulloch) Mortimer and Edmund Mortimer, hence the name. They married in 1920 and settled on 5 acres in Flora Road West, Makarewa. Tedo worked for Southland Frozen Meat for 53 years as a meat grader and Elizabeth Mortimer loved her sports and racing. Tedo did not drive so biked to work and back home every day. They had three daughters, Ethel, Denny and Melva. Nana played basketball for Makarewa, Southland and captained the South Island Team. She was picked for the New Zealand team but had to withdraw as she found out she was pregnant.
The night before Ted was born, Nana drove herself to the maternity hospital in Bainfield Road. The next day Tedo biked to work where the afternoon newspaper came out and the headlines read "Triplets born to Invercargill woman". It was the first and last time he ever left work early and biked all the way to Bainfield Road where he was told that he had a strapping young son called Edmund McCulloch Mortimer, much to his relief.
Of course the dynamics of the family changed with a new younger brother by years. One day Nana walked into the lounge and Denny and her best friend Mona Cook was throwing Ted around when asked what they were doing, they replied "We are toughening up Boy" to that day he was known as Boy to the Mortimer families and was called Uncle Boy by his nieces.
He walked to Makarewa School with the Cooper family across the road who had 15 children. He would be dressed up in his scarf and hat and the Coopers would be sleeveless and did not have shoes or socks. He was the only one that got the flue one winter and as he watched out his bedroom window and watching the Coopers kicking and throwing an old rugby ball around on the way to school, he vowed he would never wear a hat and scarf to school again, he did admit though he could not forgo his shoes and socks as the gravel road was too hard on his feet. His mother was always bemused that he would give up the roast meal at home for jam sandwiches at the Coopers.
On to Southland Technical College where he caught the train every day at Linds Bridge, then an apprenticeship as a panel beater at R.G. Spiers. Then
worked for Southland Radiators where he met his life time friend Neville McCorkindale.
Ted and Hilary started dating in 1956 and later married on 12 June 1958, he could not have married into a better family with Chas and Mrs A having a welcoming home and there was many stories to be told about 22 William Street, Gore. Also with his brother in laws, Robin Archer, Watson Archer and Arthur McMeeken, who all played for Eastern and Southland and with Ted playing for Town there was many a good banter to be had.
Hilary carried on her open home policy. The Australian Rugby team was touring New Zealand in 1958 and Ted went to the Australia V Southland game, and when he got home from the pub, the house was bursting at the seams. Hilary and her sister Nancy had invited the whole Australian team back to their home for a party. See the name sheet that has been signed by every player and also coach and manager.
With four children in quick succession, Angela (1959), Karen (1960), Scot (1962) and Yvette (1964), life was busy, especially since Ted had his rugby, where he won the Galbraith Shield with Pirates in 1960, Tennis in the summer and coaching Pirates and the Town team, which the latter did not lose a game. He was also club captain in 1963 for Pirates when they won the Galbraith Shield again.
Hilary's beloved brother, Watson Archer died in 1971 and 9 months later they had a son and of course named him Watson James Mortimer.
Many a holiday was spent in Riverton at "Nev's Shanty", 21 Towack Street. It was an old crib with the long drop outside. They had a billard room where all the visitors gathered and one whole wall had a mural which was done out in old race tickets, of Cardigan Bay the famous pacer.
His passion for sport did not end there and he went on to be a life member of the Makarewa Squash Club where he played, coached and managed for years. He got teams from a little club achieving the impossible dreams.
He worked for SIMU as an insurance assessor and got made redundant and walked out of the office with his redundancy package and bought a farm at Tiwai, where he farmed for eight years.
He was a foundation member of the Setarip Syndicate, which was the first racing syndicate in New Zealand. Their office is at the Makarewa Country Club so many nights were spent there. Over recent years he had lost a lot of great friends; Neville McCorkindale, Bill Grice, Mo Fellowfield, Earl Anderton to name just a few.
Sadly Ted was admitted to Southland Hospital on Saturday 22nd August and was in Intensive Care. They withdrew the treatment on Sunday 30th August when he passed away. Ted was sent off in style and it showed a mark of respect for him by the number of people that came to say Goodbye.
The night before Ted was born, Nana drove herself to the maternity hospital in Bainfield Road. The next day Tedo biked to work where the afternoon newspaper came out and the headlines read "Triplets born to Invercargill woman". It was the first and last time he ever left work early and biked all the way to Bainfield Road where he was told that he had a strapping young son called Edmund McCulloch Mortimer, much to his relief.
Of course the dynamics of the family changed with a new younger brother by years. One day Nana walked into the lounge and Denny and her best friend Mona Cook was throwing Ted around when asked what they were doing, they replied "We are toughening up Boy" to that day he was known as Boy to the Mortimer families and was called Uncle Boy by his nieces.
He walked to Makarewa School with the Cooper family across the road who had 15 children. He would be dressed up in his scarf and hat and the Coopers would be sleeveless and did not have shoes or socks. He was the only one that got the flue one winter and as he watched out his bedroom window and watching the Coopers kicking and throwing an old rugby ball around on the way to school, he vowed he would never wear a hat and scarf to school again, he did admit though he could not forgo his shoes and socks as the gravel road was too hard on his feet. His mother was always bemused that he would give up the roast meal at home for jam sandwiches at the Coopers.
On to Southland Technical College where he caught the train every day at Linds Bridge, then an apprenticeship as a panel beater at R.G. Spiers. Then
worked for Southland Radiators where he met his life time friend Neville McCorkindale.
Ted and Hilary started dating in 1956 and later married on 12 June 1958, he could not have married into a better family with Chas and Mrs A having a welcoming home and there was many stories to be told about 22 William Street, Gore. Also with his brother in laws, Robin Archer, Watson Archer and Arthur McMeeken, who all played for Eastern and Southland and with Ted playing for Town there was many a good banter to be had.
Hilary carried on her open home policy. The Australian Rugby team was touring New Zealand in 1958 and Ted went to the Australia V Southland game, and when he got home from the pub, the house was bursting at the seams. Hilary and her sister Nancy had invited the whole Australian team back to their home for a party. See the name sheet that has been signed by every player and also coach and manager.
With four children in quick succession, Angela (1959), Karen (1960), Scot (1962) and Yvette (1964), life was busy, especially since Ted had his rugby, where he won the Galbraith Shield with Pirates in 1960, Tennis in the summer and coaching Pirates and the Town team, which the latter did not lose a game. He was also club captain in 1963 for Pirates when they won the Galbraith Shield again.
Hilary's beloved brother, Watson Archer died in 1971 and 9 months later they had a son and of course named him Watson James Mortimer.
Many a holiday was spent in Riverton at "Nev's Shanty", 21 Towack Street. It was an old crib with the long drop outside. They had a billard room where all the visitors gathered and one whole wall had a mural which was done out in old race tickets, of Cardigan Bay the famous pacer.
His passion for sport did not end there and he went on to be a life member of the Makarewa Squash Club where he played, coached and managed for years. He got teams from a little club achieving the impossible dreams.
He worked for SIMU as an insurance assessor and got made redundant and walked out of the office with his redundancy package and bought a farm at Tiwai, where he farmed for eight years.
He was a foundation member of the Setarip Syndicate, which was the first racing syndicate in New Zealand. Their office is at the Makarewa Country Club so many nights were spent there. Over recent years he had lost a lot of great friends; Neville McCorkindale, Bill Grice, Mo Fellowfield, Earl Anderton to name just a few.
Sadly Ted was admitted to Southland Hospital on Saturday 22nd August and was in Intensive Care. They withdrew the treatment on Sunday 30th August when he passed away. Ted was sent off in style and it showed a mark of respect for him by the number of people that came to say Goodbye.
A letter from Ted's mother when he and Hilary were in Christchurch at the Interdominons.
SPAR BUSH
On Saturday night a large number of the residents of Spar Bush congregated at the newly-erected and commodious dwelling of the McCulloch family in order to welcome them into the district as neighbours. An adjournment was made to the barn, and between 40 and 50 people took the floor for dancing, excellent music being supplied by Messrs Cole and Miss Cole and Mrs E. Mortimer.
At intervals during the evening musical items were rendered by Mesdames Jewitt, H. Gilmour and D. Johnstone, Messrs McCaw, Ryan, Mortimer and McCulloch. Dancing was kept going with vigour till midnight, Mr A. Miles making an efficient M.C. Light refreshments were handed round by the ladies, and the evening concluded by the singing of "They are Jolly Good Fellows. Mr Wm McCulloch, on behalf of his parents, thanked the company for the right royal manner in which they
had been welcomed into the district.
Neville Hoskin and Ted Mortimer at South Island Champs, Logan Park, Dunedin.
Ted and Neville Hoskin watching the tennis in 1954.
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Neville Hoskin and Edmund Mortimer wins Doubles in 1954 and causes upset in U19 double title in the Southland junior tennis championships.
Robin Welsh was beaten by G. Roughan in the U17. Robin Welsh was only 14 at the time which was a wonderful achievement.
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Sorry, Ted but I got the last say and click on these buttons and you will see him sharing a secret with your great grandson in London. I am sure he is telling him how he thinks that you are a great guy and he was honoured that his name was the last thing you heard. Sonny Bill Williams.
Incredible Fella
