St Bede's
Icons
Honouring Extraordinary Bedeans
Throughout our history, St Bede’s College has been shaped by remarkable individuals whose influence has reached far beyond the school gates.
We celebrate our Bedean Icons — individuals who have lived out the College motto, Fide et Opere – by faith and by works — leaving a lasting legacy in their communities, their fields, and in the story of our college. Below are the images and stories that were created and announced at the St Bede’s Centenary in 2011, sharing the memories of these Icons in our College history.
Charles Graham SM MA
(Rector 1911-1923)
Founding Rector and Teacher
The early years of the College were not easy with inadequate facilities, a small number of students, and the grim shadow of World War I ever present. For Father Charles Graham SM, the founding Rector, there was another over-arching task and this was the pressing need to not only find a suitable site for a residential college but also fund its construction and entice sufficient students to make the enterprise suitable. To his eternal credit, Father Graham took up this challenge, and the opening of St Bede’s on its current site in Papanui in 1920 is a lasting testimony to his energy and dedication for, in a sense, he had founded the College twice, once at Ferry Road and then at its permanent home.
Sadly, the manifold complexities and difficulties of carrying through his instructions took their toll on this serious, diligent man and at various times he battled exhaustion, both physical and mental, taking leave for a time in the Pacific and then early in 1923 sailing for more rest in Australia. His superior, Father Charles O’Reilly, had approved this sojourn but may well have been surprised when, in February 1923, Charles Graham wrote requesting permission to travel on to Europe.
This was declined, and in the last known correspondence from hi,m Charles Graham poignantly and achingly wrote from Sydney, saying that he would be going on to the ‘old country’,
“I will have to suffer because of my actions… I suppose I am mad, but I hope my action will not have any practical effect upon St Bede’s College or the Society in New Zealand… I am taking the whole responsibility on my shoulders.”
A final letter from Father O’Reilly, pleading for a response, was addressed to Father Charles Graham in Edmonton but was returned ‘addressee unknown’, and aside from conjectur,e nothing more is known about the latter life of Charles Graham SM.
Much however, has been written about the man who founded the College and there is plenty to admire and be thankful about for undoubtedly he lived the College motto to the full. His labours both as a teacher and administrator were immense. Photographs show a somewhat austere and stern visage, and this may well have persuaded the Ferry Road boys to nickname him ‘Monk’.
Charles Graham was born in 1879 and ordained in 1903. His first posting was to St Patrick’s College, his alma mater, and during his time on the staff there, he completed a Master’s degree. Humphrey Geany SM (1919-1922), a student at both Ferry Road and Papanui wrote of him,
“He was tall, dark, and slightly stooped. His forehead was broad above dark eyebrows; and the boundary between his brow and his scalp was purely imaginary. He wore spectacles, and his piercing dark brown eyes shone out from a pallid complexion. He had a short nose, a generous mouth… and a firm jaw. His expression was generally severe and could be very fierce.”
Testimonies from men who attended Ferry Road remember him with appreciation for his excellence as a teacher, especially of Latin, with accepting respect for his disciplinary powers, and with abiding fondness for his unstinting support of their sporting efforts. As schoolboys, of course, they could not have known of his work in finding a permanent site for the College and the imperative to find construction – both pressing burdens for a man already fully engaged in teaching.
An unnamed old boy gave a first-hand view of him in the first Bedean magazine, published in 1923 – the year of his departure, and prophetically placed him in the College’s history writing,
“But it is his efforts in the sporting side of the College life that have won so warm a place for him in the hearts of his boys… We all remember his unquestionable enthusiasm for football [rugby], cricket, running and all branches of athletics. To him is due in no small measure the phenomenal rise of St Bede’s in the football [rugby] world. To him we looked almost as of right, for congratulations in victory and consolation in defeat. No team ever felt complete unless they saw his familiar figure on the line and heard his voice urging them and advising them with all the fervour at his command.
And we, who owe so much to him, will ever treasure in our hearts the memory of him who was in our youth the recipient of our confidence, the arbiter of our destiny, the source and inspiration of our ambition, and those of us are indeed fortunate who have caught something of his spirit, something of his outlook upon life and something of his high Christian principals.
Let St Bede’s be his monument.”
Note: following the creation of the Icon boards and their stories, more infomation came to light about Fr Graham’s story. Read about it in our newsletter article here.
Cormac Hoben SM
(1920-1922)
Pupil, Priest, Teacher, Coach and Friend.
Father Ernest Cormac Hoben SM passed away suddenly on the eve of the great snow storm on 15 July 1945. It was a Sunday and he had conducted the evening devotions and preached a “stirring devotional sermon”. He then took Study and in the course of the evening spoke to the boys, prophetically saying to them,
“Gentlemen, I want you to become the best possible version of the person God created you to be.”
Shortly after he became ill and within hours had passed away and was buried the following Wednesday. Bishop Lyons preached the Panegyric at the requiem mass and concluded with an evocative tribute to a man who had given his all to the College.
“The boys of St Bede’s and the past pupils who knew Father Hoben, loved and admired him as a man of God, a painstaking master and an inspiring leader in their games.”
Cormac Hoben dedicated his life to his faith and to the education and welfare of young people. He was born in Australia but lived most of his life in New Zealand. He was educated at the Marist Brothers school and Christchurch Boys’ High School before becoming a foundation pupil at St Bede’s in 1920. During a distinguished scholastic career, he was dux in 1921 and 1922 as well as being a member of the 1st XV and 1st XI in 1922.
In 1923, he entered Mount St Mary’s at the age of 16 and was ordained in 1923. His first teaching post was St Patrick’s College Wellington, where he taught for 12 years, alternating between Silverstream and the town College. During this period he studied and gained his Master of Science degree with honours. The Superiors of the Marist Order recognised his talents and in 1942 he returned to St Bede’s where he quickly took on the responsibilities of vice rector, senior science master and sports master. He was an inspiring figure to many boys who attended the College during this too-short tenure and his contribution to College life was immense.
Denis O’Malley (1942-1946) remembers him with affection and with vivid recall. Commenting, he said,
“I can remember him as if it were yesterday… a clean cut, energetic man, tall and trim… he moved quickly and with purpose. I would say he was a man with charisma and a certain spiritual quality… a true leader and intellectual. He would train with the team, doing the sprints and tackling. At all times he demanded the best from his teams and classes but was always fair.”
His contribution to athletics was considerable and went beyond the confines of the College into the sphere of provincial competitions, where he was of great value to the Canterbury Association. He introduced a grading system to the College whereby all boys competed in a suitable level for their abilities, and he recognised the importance of specialist coaching and put many hours into instructing techniques for field events and especially high jumping. He is credited with introducing the western roll high jumping style to New Zealand. Within a short time frame his athletes were setting records and the College became a stern competitor in inter-school events.
As a rugby coach, he was a dedicated and thorough mentor to many young men. He rejoiced in developing raw talent into the finished article, and while always rejoicing in victory he never forgot that rugby was only a game. He coached the 1st XV, and in the year of his death the team report poignantly recorded the team’s great sorrow with the following words,
“Probably there is no group of boys… who knew Father Hoben better than the First Fifteen and who would mourn more deeply for his loss. He was the life and soul of the team.”
In 1945, the College celebrated its silver jubilee, and Father Hoben was at the heart of organising things. He compiled a full list of pupils from 1911 to 1945; he maintained a close scrutiny over the lists of Bedean servicemen and he worked closely with the organising committee to ensure a successful celebration. Sadly he did not live to see the fruits of his efforts and the Jubilee magazine echoed the collective grief of the Bedean community with a fitting tribute,
“When the bells begin to ring on our first Jubilee and Bedeans assemble from the ‘four winds of heaven’ one will be missed perhaps more than any other – Father Cormac Hoben – who as a pupil acquired Bedean spirit, as a priest ever did honour to his ministry, and as a master during his last precious years gave every ounce for the school. May God grant him eternal rest.”
Bill Spillane SM
(1935-1936)
Pupil, Priest, Teacher, Coach and Friend to Generations of Bedeans
The demolition of the old building produced a number of evocative photographs, but none more so than the shot of Bill Spillane seated on the concrete cross that once adorned the centre of the roof line. A crane is in the background as ‘Spill’ looks sadly to the distant skyline. It is said that as the building was destroyed, he wept, and if that is so, it is not surprising for much of his life was tied to St Bede’s firstly as a student and then for 42 years as a staff member.
Generations of Bedeans benefited from his kindness and instinctively understood that he was at the heart and soul of the College, its daily rituals, its history, and its special traditions. He was a constant factor over his four tenures on the staff, as an advisor to Rectors, a link to old boys and a confidante to numerous students who sought his counsel and were comforted by his wisdom and advice.
Bill Spillane was born in Temuka, South Canterbury on 18 June 1915. He attended Temuka High School but struggled to find work during the harsh years of the Great Depression. While playing at the parish tennis club he same to the attention of the local Fathers, and it was suggested that he might think of becoming a priest. His background was strongly Catholic, and an uncle was already a priest. In 1935, at the age of 20, he left home for St Bede’s in order to study Latin and to consider a future in the priesthood.
The Bedean magazines of 1935 and 1936 bear testimony to his impact on College life. As a senior man, he quickly became a leader and in 1936 was Head Boy. Significantly, his lifelong traits of humility and service to others had already begun to manifest themselves as secretary to the debating and tennis clubs and scorer to the 1st XI. He played rugby for the 2nd XV and shone as a debater and public speaker.
Interestingly, the 1935 Bedean carries a cartoonist’s impression of him playing the organ. The caption simply reads ‘Spill’, and it was by this nickname that Bedeans for five decades affectionately referred to him, usually with reference to his characteristic mannerisms and often with a tale of a small Spillane kindness.
He completed his training and was ordained a Marist priest in 1943 and joined the staff in 1944. He confessed to being “terrified” when told his first responsibility would be boarding, but he threw himself into his work and as often happens, took on more responsibilities. At various times he was discipline master, house master, sports master, singing master, an officer in the cadet corp, and a coach of numerous sports teams, but especially athletics and rugby.
Father Kevin Manning SM said of his commitment
“… it was a mighty workload, and it was not easy for a teacher with all those responsibilities to have time for individual pupils. But Bill did; especially the homesick ones – the ones who were not well for one reason or another – the unhappiest kids who were in trouble. They loved this gentle, kindly priest and never forgot him.”
Bill Spillane had four separate periods on the staff. His first began in 1943 and left in 1957 to join the Mission board. This posting was short-lived for his heart was with St Bede’s, and he returned in 1958, staying until 1972. During this period, he took on the role of Spiritual Director and again provided comfort and example to hundreds of Bedeans.
He was transferred to St Patrick’s in Wellington, but once again his absence was short-lived and he returned after two years to work with Father Des Darby as a mentor to the new Rector. This was a difficult period in the College’s history with the looming demolition of the main building, declining numbers of teacher-priests, and the demands of integration. Throughout this anxious time, Bill Spillane’s sound judgment and experience proved to be invaluable to the College’s leaders.
In 1983, at the age of 67, he was transferred for the final time. For the next seven years, he worked at Highden as assistant to the Novice Master and was very successful in what was a less demanding role. However, with the novitiate closed in 1990, he returned to his beloved St Bede’s.
Here, for eight years, he was in his pomp. He was able to do as little or as much as he wanted. He was back among his ‘men’, his ‘men of St Bede’s’, and he was again part of the busy Bedean community, perhaps gently basking in the knowledge that he was esteemed and appreciated.
Death came to Bill Spillane on 29 October 1998. He had been unwell, but his passing came as a surprise to many, and the sadness on the occasion of his well-attended funeral was heartfelt and universal.
For many years, Bill Spillane had written obituaries in the Bedean magazine. His tributes, particularly for those boys who had passed away while at school or early in their young lives, reflect the character of the man who wrote them as an evocation of goodness, and each tribute resounds with the deep kindness which Spill dispensed throughout his life.
It was therefore fitting that an old boy, Mike Crean (1960-1965), should write an obituary in the Christchurch Press that so accurately captured the character of this good man. He wrote that
“Father Bill Spillane was the humblest of men, yet modest and mighty alike share affectionate memories of him. In nearly half a century, ‘Spill’ became the face of St Bede’s College. He will always be known as a principal teacher of form classes. Generations of boys who attended St Bede’s at this level… still regard him as a wise and patient parent figure… His gentle, humble style is best shown in a talk he gave to his rugby team when it was down 8-5 at halftime. He walked calmly onto the field and said, ‘Well boys, if you want to lose this match, just go on playing the way you have been. ’ And calmly walked off again.”
Robin Corcoran
(1941-1946)
Family, Faith and Friends
Anthony Robin Corcoran attended the College from 1941, when he caught the 7.30 train from Kaiapoi as an 11 year old, through to 1946 when he left to work in his father’s law firm. These six years as a student seem paltry when compared to the length of his service to the College as an old boy, parent, board member, and friend.
Remarkably, this association began in 1946 shortly after he left school. The Rector of the time, Fr John Mannix, summoned him to a meeting and during the course of the conversation suggested that it would be a good idea to consider joining the Old Boys’ Association. Recalling this discussion, Robin said,
“…really it was more of an order than a request – but that is the way things happened in those days.”
Whatever John Mannix’s motives, his choice was inspired for his protégée was to give sterling service to the Association for the rest of his life. He was President on two occasions and thoroughly deserved his Life Membership. In recent years, he returned to serve on the committee, ‘helping out’ to ensure the Association got through a difficult phase. In October 2008, shortly before his death, he attended the annual Old Boys mass but was too unwell to attend the dinner. He passed away in November of that year after a brief illness and the size of the congregation at his Requiem Mass reflected the many strands of his busy and diverse life.
In 1996, he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This thoroughly deserved distinction was made primarily for his work in Māori land law but also for his service to the Catholic Church and harness racing.
His understanding of Māori land law was unequalled in the South Island. For over 50 years, he handled complicated and at times acrimonious issues of land tenure for local Māori. A legal colleague wryly remarked that Robin Corcoran had “a real understanding of Māori land law long before it became fashionable.”
An enthusiasm for harness racing translated into a lengthy stint as a committee member on the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, Harness Racing NZ, and to Addington Raceway. He was a treasurer of the Metropolitan Club for 11 years, vice-chairman of Harness Racing NZ, and a director (and eventually Chairman) of Addington Raceway. In this latter role, he was heavily involved with the Westpac Centre development and went on to chair the joint venture entity NCC.
A fellow board member said that,
“Robin Corcoran’s ability to forge relationships and gift for relating to people gave him a standing that NCC felt he had to be chairman.”
Not surprisingly, his abilities were keenly sought after by the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch and his work with his parish, St Bede’s College, and the former Sacred Heart College led to him becoming financial and legal advisor to the Diocese.
In addition to his work for the Old Boys’ Association, he also gave freely of his time to assist the College as it moved to develop a governance structure, serving on the Advisory Board that would be a predecessor to the Board of Trustees. His legal mind and good sense were especially valuable at the time of integration and he was an invaluable voice during the bedding-in of the integration agreement.
He was a trustee of the St Bede’s College Foundation for a number of years and played a prominent role in the Jubilee celebrations for the 50th, 75th, and 90th events, working assiduously to ensure the success of each occasion.
Despite these commitments to community organisations, he was devoted to his family. His son Anthony and daughter Clare said, “He was a busy man, but always put family and faith first. Home was a happy place, with many visitors and frequent parties.”
In 2001, he proposed the toast to the College at the 90th Jubilee dinner. Concluding his address, he said that “St Bede’s is my school and everything I believe in or can do can be summed up in these words
Our motto wise is faith and works
Our masters Mary’s sons
May we serve Christ love Mary pure
Whilst life so swiftly runs
Bern Ryan SM
(Staff 1950-1960)
Priest, Teacher, Mentor and Friend
When Bern Ryan finished his term as Superior General of the Society of Mary in 1985, he opted to take study leave in Australia and from this starting point embarked on another life as a missionary to the Aboriginal communities in northern New South Wales, a job described by someone as extremely difficult… ‘like nailing jelly to a tree.’
For Bedean old boys of the 1950s, this commitment came as no surprise – rather to them, it was further witness to this good man’s commitment to humanity and reinforced their conviction that Barney Ryan was one of the most enlightened priest-teachers to have taught at the college.
He joined the staff in 1950 and for 11 years gave himself to the college as a teacher, sports coach, mentor and spiritual guide. In each sphere, he had an extraordinary impact on the boys under his care, but also on others, Catholic and non-Catholic. Speaking at the time of his departure, the Rector said, “I could have held up no better example of what can be done with and for the boys than the work of Fr Ryan.”
A former pupil, John Gordon, said of his teaching, “It was not an easy task getting 6H interested in novels, drama and poetry but our teacher has a generous disposition and accommodated ignorance and inadequacies… a great teacher takes his students with him and Fr Ryan had the ability to do that.”
As an athletics coach, he was well qualified, and his coaching work extended beyond St Bede’s. One aspiring coach, who admitted to being highly suspicious of Catholics, said that encounter with Barney Ryan “changed all of that within a few minutes… [he] was ultimately the biggest influence on my involvement and enjoyment of athletics… other [Bedean priest coaches] came later and completed the task of lifting the scales from my eyes.”
Barney Ryan taught at St Patrick’s College Silverstream until 1971 and then in 1977 became the first English speaker to become Superior General of the Society of Mary. In his typically humble way, he responded to this honour saying, “In New Zealand there will be laughter in many communities when they hear of my election. If you really knew me, you would not have elected me.”
Nothing could have been further from the truth, and for eight years he guided over 2000 Marist religious, focusing on developing the Marist mission in South America and the Philippines, where he hoped to ‘make a difference’. In this endeavour, he was successful and then moved on to spearhead a programme that helped religious and lay teachers reflect and go forward together.
In 1989, his conscience was pricked by an Australia-based New Zealander who he overheard denigrating aboriginals. He determined that the next phase of his life would be spent helping, as he said, “in a small way.”. Commenting on this mission, he said,
“I was invited to Bowraville in 1989 after the murders of three young Aboriginal children. The deaths put the community under terrible pressure, and I worked within the community to support the families.”
Years later, Fr Ryan united with the Sisters of Mercy in Grafton. Here, he still makes school community and home visits on behalf of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry. He said: “I help families in time of grief with counselling, support young children through their schooling years and help build spirituality in the Aboriginal community.”
In recent years he had made several visits to the College. His men of the 1950s invariably turn out in numbers to renew their friendship, and in his own modest and understated manner, he responds, ever-humble and ever considerate of others. Writing in the centennial history David McCarthy said,
“In 100 years of college history, he remains one of the most inspirational of the Marist priests, although he has never lost a sense of sympathy for those most in need. Those qualities are matched not just with words but with the hard yards of application. Fide et Opere is a phrase that lives wherever Fr Bernard Ryan walks. Of such stuff are great men made.”
Gary Lennon
(1953-1957)
Pupil, Teacher, Coach and Leader
The Bedean magazines from 1975 until 2005 are a mirror of Gary Lennon’s teaching career at the College. Photographs of him appear regularly, sometimes in the diary of the year’s events, sometimes in the collage of the middle pages, and almost always in the sporting section. These visual images cover the arrival of a young and energetic man who threw himself into all aspects of school life, they cover the middle years when he moved into senior management, and they assume a more serious look. Finally, the photographs show him as a senior statesman, a man who has earned the respect, admiration, and love of countless boys and the staff with whom he served.
Gary Patrick Lennon’s dedicated service to the College as a teacher for 31 years and before that for 5 years as a pupil, mirror in some ways those old understated heroes of British schools; but the comparison breaks down in-and-around the values lived by Gary Lennon and those portrayed in books.
In every sense, and when all else is carefully weighed, it was GPL’s humility, hard work, concern for others, and commitment to his faith that anchored his service to St Bede’s, and as a result, countless numbers of boys remember him with respect and affection.
His academic record as a student between 1953 and 1957 was, in his own words, ‘good but not distinguished’. However, a review of his final year shows that he was one of the school leaders, being an officer in the cadet corps, a prefect, a member of the 2nd cricket XI, and also the 3rd XV. On leaving, he went to the University of Canterbury where he completed a Master’s degree in History, a subject which was to be a life-long passion. He then trained as a teacher, graduating with distinction before taking his first posting at Hawarden District High School.
After 11 years in North Canterbury, he was encouraged by the far-sighted Rector of the time, Des Derby, to apply for a job at St Bede’s and within three years he was appointed head of the history department. With his capacity for organisation and by dint of plenty of hard work, other leadership roles fell to him. By 1977, he was the Senior Dean, in 1982 the Senior Master and, from 1988 to 2005 he was Deputy Principal and for a brief period Acting Rector.
For many more years, he was Master of Discipline, and as such, earned something of a reputation as a tough taskmaster. However, as time moved along, reliance on the cane diminished and other methods of discipline were introduced. He developed and drove the Bedean Disciplinary System (BDS), introduced ‘early birds’, and kept a close eye on those who were keen to challenge rules. It is alleged that he was the last teacher to cane, and if hearsay is to be believed, the cane used for this act was auctioned at a function and purchased by the father of the last miscreant.
In addition to these roles, he was an outstanding 1st XV coach, shaping championship winning teams, organising the rugby programme, setting up and managing the overseas tours as well as coaching and selecting representative teams. He coached various cricket teams, including the 1st XI, and was an inspiring leader of Regnault House – lifting its performance and by reflection, those of the other houses. It is said that the decision to change the names of the houses was, in some ways, an attack on the Regnault dynasty which he inspired and maintained.
At the time of retirement three of his teaching colleagues combined to write a tribute to him in the Bedean. For teachers the critical accolade of peers is the toughest of tests. One suspects that even GPL would have permitted himself a wry smile at their glowing words:
“…he asked more of himself than others, he led by example, working sometimes 7 days a week, starting with the ‘early birds’ detention class, always called a spade a spade, never shirked his responsibilities. Neither did he confine himself to a few chosen areas. He was invariably a leader in the College fund raisers, studied music in spite of a moderate singing talent so he could pass on its riches to senior boys, and always there was Shakespeare, his to relish and his students’ to memorise.”
Writing in the centennial history David McCarthy summarised the Lennon contribution saying, “Gary Lennon made his mark at St Bede’s with special qualities of drive, dedication, honesty of purpose and above all a burning desire that ‘his boys’ would leave its portals with the same unfaded memories that had been his.”
