Top Award for Betty Finalyson

Martinborough’s Betty Finlayson was one of the five recipients of the New Zealand Federation of Womens Institute’s highest award – the Gold Honours Award. With her ardent support and loyalty to the organization Betty was a most worthy recipient of a Gold Honours Award.

The awards were presented by the Institute’s Patron Her Excellency Janine Lady Mateparae at the 93rd Annual General Meeting/Conference held at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre. … Continue Reading

The Martinborough Talkies

I read with interest in the July edition of the Martinborough Star of a Mr. Blackwell who in 1939 fell from the catwalk in the Martinborough Town Hall and broke his back, there was mention of him as proprietor of the Martinborough Picture theatre.
My grandfather Callile Bouzaid, showed Talkies in the Martinborough Town hall from 1930 through to 1933, so his diary shows, 3 days a week – I am so lucky to have his Diary and ledger recording the days he showed Talkies , his costs, including the rent of the hall, wages paid, hireage of films and his daily takings. … Continue Reading

The Last Post

Arriving late at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, to hear ‘The Last Post’ played live, we had to stand on tiptoes to see anything at all. There is a short ceremony every night at 8pm and the silent crowd of all ages was huge although it was May and before the start of the main tourist season.

As people dispersed, we could see the troops lingering a little longer, maybe to enable photo opportunities or to execute their smart exit march unimpeded. … Continue Reading

Sodden Art

By JOHN ANSELL
 
The exhibit resembles
A large empty room,
With a solitary cupboard
Marked ‘Towels’,
As through the front door
The sophisticates pour,
Oozing glamour
And elegant vowels. … Continue Reading