what's new in the news: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Bride lures groom to secret wedding

David Shoemark would ask his partner Cherie Butler most days to marry him.

"One day," she always replied.

That day arrived yesterday when Miss Butler and a small group of their family and friends gathered in secret at Pollard Park in Blenheim to surprise Mr Shoemark with the wedding he was so eager to have.

Standing patiently in a black and white wedding dress, Miss Butler waited for her groom, who thought he was on his way to a family picnic.

He had been successfully distracted by a fishing trip to Seddon during the morning, but said he realised something was going on as he got to the park. Walking along the path, a few people were taking photos of him and he spotted a few faces he was not expecting to see.

"They stitched me up well and truly."

The couple were married by marriage celebrant Jenny Andrews in the rhododendron garden in the park with a bridesmaid and best man at their sides.

They were joined by about 40 family and friends, including some who had travelled from other parts of the country.

A short ceremony was followed by the signing of the register and a wedding reception at the Blenheim Bowling Club.

Miss Butler – now Mrs Shoemark – began planning the wedding about a month ago and was confident she could keep it a secret, although there was potential for a leak at a family birthday party the night before.

Mr Shoemark's mum Irene said the wedding was "always on the cards" for the couple, who have been together for three years.

"It was just a matter of planning," she said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 31/10/2011

BEN CURRAN

THEY DID: Cherie and David Shoemark are married at a surprise wedding yesterday among family and friends at Pollard Park, in Blenheim.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Havelock School marks 150th

The Havelock School hall turned into a museum on Saturday as the normally plain brown walls were adorned with photos and stories from the school's 150-year history.

About 200 former students gathered at the school at the weekend to celebrate its 150th jubilee and reminisce about their time at the school.

Among those was former teacher Naome Mead who, despite teaching at the school for only a term in 1947, was remembered by many pupils.

Mrs Mead became a teacher after finishing teachers college in 1945 and her early career was spent as a reliever at some sole-charge schools.

Before starting at Havelock School she had completed short stints at Tuamarina, Onamalutu, Deep Creek and then Kekerengu and Wairau Valley, where she taught for about three years.

"The jobs [at those schools] were being kept open for the men coming back from the war," she said.

She did not mind the travelling life, though – in fact, she quite liked it.

"It's all right when you're young, living out of a suitcase. I had a nice time. I got to know a lot of people."

Later in her 10-year on-and-off-again career she was teaching in the Hutt Valley in the North Island, but disliked it.

"I'm a country mouse, not a town mouse."

At Havelock School, which was further along Main Rd from where it is now, she taught standard 1-3 (year 3-5) and said her students were always well behaved.

The threat of the strap or cane was hardly ever used – and besides, it was going out of fashion by then, she said.

Nola Harwood was one of those who remembered Mrs Mead as her teacher and learning how to darn socks, sew and embroider.

One of her first memories of school was being "mortified" at being late on her first day. Her mother walked her to school that day and spent so long telling people her daughter was starting school that they arrived after the bell rang.

Many of her other memories happened outside school hours.

"We didn't have pocket money so when people used to go clay bird shooting over the mud flats we would go pick up the ones they missed and get a penny for each of them."

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:50 31/10/2011