Newsletter 50 - June 2021
From Clan Chief of Ayson (the 9th) – Hugh Francis
Reunion 2023
At the last Executive Meeting (by Zoom), held at Janet Sim-Elders residence, it was agreed that the next Ayson Reunion will be held in Wellington in 2023. The exact date and venue is to be decided. The last two reunions had been held in Dunedin and Gore and so it is now timely to have one in the North Island with Wellington ideally placed as the “central hub.” Do hope we can all attend to enjoy this occasion in noting it will be 170 years since the "Royal Albert," from London direct, arrived at the Otago heads on Saturday night of the 5th March 1853 with our original pioneers aboard.
About 1974, my mother was the Secretary for the Auckland Branch of the Ayson Clan; and, a Gathering was held at my home at Te Atatu North. There was a good turnout of Ayson members that included Don Ayson, his wife and family. I regret to admit that at that time I had not met Don before; nor did I know of his remarkable war time achievements even though I had already been an RNZAF Navigator for 15 years. However, over time I have been proud to learn that an Ayson I had known, had played a significant part in the Pacific war; and, even just recently this action (now 87 years ago) was mentioned in the Air Force Association Newsletter. Don’s name and his brave action is now inscribed in NZ Military aviation history and will be preserved for ever.
In recognition of our Ayson Military Heritage: Thank you to Raewyn Sandford who supplied the information about her father Don.
Donald Fraser Ayson, 09 April 1915 - 14 February 1981 (1.14.2)
Don was the eldest of three children born in Mosgiel to Corrie Duncan Ayson & Edith Henrietta Ayson (née Land). After Corrie was killed in a car accident in 1921, Edith remarried and bore two more children. She was widowed for a second time in 1928.
Don was educated at New Plymouth’s Westown Primary school and New Plymouth Boys High School. He left school aged 14 years to help with the family finances and gained employment at the Taranaki Daily News where he became a qualified Lino Type Operator. Some of his wages were used on private maths tuition which enabled him to take flying lessons at Bell Block New Plymouth airport which became an RNZAF Base in 1933.
Don enlisted with the RNZAF 09 July 1940 and after some time in New Zealand was stationed in the Pacific, firstly Fiji and then the Solomon Islands as a Pilot Officer with No 1 Squadron Bomber reconnaissance flying a Ventura NZ4509. During this time he received a DFC
Official Citation for the Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
“On 24 December 1943, Pilot Officer Ayson was the Captain and pilot of a Ventura aircraft returning from a patrol in the vicinity of Bougainville Island and New Britain.
The aircraft was suddenly attacked by nine Japanese Zero fighters. In spite of skilful evasive action taken by Pilot officer Ayson, the Fire Controller was wounded and the intercom system was wrecked. Pilot officer Ayson continued to take such evasive action as he could until another member of the crew took over fire control and was able to give his intermittent reports of the enemy attacks. During one attack the rudder controls were shot away and it was only his courage and determination in handling a crippled aircraft in the face of enemy opposition that he succeeded in bringing his crew safely back to base. By his skilful manoeuvring during the action, Pilot officer Ayson contributed materially to the certain destruction of two Zeros, and the probable destruction of three more, and damage to two others.”
The feat was recognised by immediate DFCs awarded to Ayson & Williams, a DFM to Hannah; and, a personal congratulatory signal from General R J Mitchell, the American Commander Air, Northern Solomon’s which read “For single handedly beggar up finish 3 nips & 2 damaged. A mighty well done and Merry Xmas” ( beggar up finish = Solomon’s pidgin for kill, wipe out). No 1 Squadron remained in Guadalcanal until 1944 sending out aircraft almost daily on survivor searches & helped rescue many allied airmen.
Don eventually returned to New Zealand, married Esma née Skeen and instructed at Hobsonville before leaving the RNZAF in June 1947 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He joined NAC the same year and together they moved to Palmerston North from where he captained DC3 aircraft on domestic routes.
In 1952 the family, which now included 2 children, moved to Raumati Beach when the airport shifted to Paraparaumu. In 1951 Don captained, along with Captain H C Walker, the first flight into Hokitika using a Lockheed Lodestar aircraft.
In 1953 Don was selected to be part of the RNZAF contingent to march in the parade on the day of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Don left NAC and his flying career in 1955. He died in his own home in Devonport, Auckland, surrounded by family, after a short battle with cancer, aged 65.
Member Activities
Derek Ayson 3.2.1.
Derek recently entered the Otago Classic Rally seeded #1 as he has won three-years-in-a-row a few years back! He was leading the two day event winning 10 of the 14 stages until a puncture three stages from the end dropped him to 3rd overall. 42 cars from all over NZ entered. The car never missed a beat all event and it has never been crashed in all the years he's been rallying it. He has it up for sale in immaculate condition. (Read more about Derek on his facebook page scrolling down to several April articles) Derek, Rachel and the girls are into jet boating as well and have travelled up many challenging South Island rivers.
From Corrydon to a Corydon
My Great Grandmother was Elspeth Low and my Grandmother was Eunice Hamilton. In 2019 my husband and I spent time in Scotland exploring our family history and connections. This took us south to Kircudbright and Crawford (my husband’s family), to West Linton ( Lows) and to Glenshee in the North. At Glenshee we found Corrydon and saw the house the Aysons had lived in and the Glenshee church and cemetery. We were impressed with how much Scotland was like Southland and Otago. This year we completed the circle. We stopped at Balclutha and visited the grave of John and Elspeth Low with its new headstone. We then drove out to Warepa and along Corydon Road. What determined and brave people our ancestors were. Noeline McQueen 1.9.5
The new headstone unveiled on July 26th 2020 at Balclutha Cemetery.
From Raewyn Sandford. 1.14.2
In 1879 Peter Ayson won the prestigious 1st prize medal for his Merino Ram. The following year it was reported in the paper that Mr P Ayson of Warepa obtained the best price of the season for washed Merino wool being 18¾ pence.
Peter was President of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Association in 1876.
The medal was passed on to his youngest son Duncan Fraser Ayson, to Corrie Duncan Ayson , to Donald Fraser Ayson and is now treasured by Raewyn Sandford who reported “
“I was lucky enough to inherit it. It was always displayed in my parent’s living room and now it’s in mine.”
The Ayson book records that 1879 was a time when rabbits were “becoming unpleasantly numerous in the Warepa and Kiahiku District”
From National Secretary 1.13.4.
Firstly, a big thank you to all those who paid subscriptions during last year. For year end 2021 we received 71 payments which actually doubled our previous sub income. Fabulous if we can double that each year
Over a period of time I have been collating all the graves of our first pioneers to identify those needing attention. I have photos of most of them but seek your help please. Do you have a headstone photo for the following?
• Margaret Grant Ayson John McNeill , 2nd child of Peter and Douglas. Balclutha Cemetery?
• John Ayson 6th child of Peter, m Edith Hunt. Linwood Cemetery Block 35 Plot 281
• Hugh Fraser Ayson, 11th child of Peter m Kate Dabinett,
• Catherine Robertson 1st child of Margaret, m Thomas Tolmie, Warepa Cemetery
• Alexander Robertson 2nd child of Margaret, m Johann Gordon
• William Robertson 3rd child of Margaret
• Jemima(Mima) Fleming, 1st child of James, Balclutha?
At our reunion in 2018 many called for us to have a Facebook page. We now have 110 in our group and is still growing one or two a month. This is a fantastic way to keep our family linked but I rely on you to make your own posts. So please share any achievements or show the treasures you keep from times past. It has been incredible to see the 1879 medal that Peter Ayson won for his ram and I do hope we can generate more entries such as this.
Our 6th Chief of Clan Ayson, elected in 1985, was Peter Douglas Giffen Ayson (https://www.clanayson.nz/the-aysons/clan-chiefs ) who was also the first Clan Secretary. His vision was to have area Secretaries to ensure cousins from every region would connect with each other and come together for small gatherings across NZ. It could be just a family picnic in the park or a cuppa at someone’s home. Every so often a position become available and we invite volunteers please to help keep Peter’s vision in action.
The ability to keep our Clan strong is by everyone keeping arms linked.
Best wishes for the year ahead. Lindy
Congratulations
From the Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Patsy Reddy.
Mr Peter Ayson, of Otautau, (1.3.10) QSM, for services to the community
Peter Ayson organised the IHC’s rural appeal collections for 40 years. He was Chairman of the Otautau Scouts Committee. He has been President of the Otautau Lions Club, the Otautau Jaycees, and the Otautau Bowling Club. He was Chairman of the Otautau St John Area Committee, leading fundraising for a health shuttle for Western Southland.
He helped oversee the refurbishment of the Otautau town hall. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the Otautau Athletic Society Trust and the Otautau Returned and Services Association.
Mr Ayson was on the Southland District Allocations Committee and was an Otautau Medical Trust Member.
Victory in battle to get records of aunt killed in fire.
Otago Daily Times 31 March 2021. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nearly 80 years after the tragic inferno that claimed her life, Grace Low once again has a voice.
Miss Low was in her early 20s when she, along with 37 other female patients, was killed when a fire swept through Ward 5 of the Seacliff Mental Hospital near Dunedin in 1942.
Her family has been battling with the Southern District Health Board for five years in a bid to get access to Miss Low’s records.
Earlier this month, her niece, Di Buchan,(1.9.3) finally received the long-awaited file.
"It was such an emotional moment," she said.
Ms Buchan’s Dunedin-based sister was visiting her in Wellington at the time, so they were able to read the file together.
Ms Buchan had wanted access to her aunt’s records to learn more about her family health history, and to include information about her in a book she wrote about her family.
The information came too late for the book, but had still unravelled a complicated part of the family’s history.
For decades the family had believed Miss Low’s parents had her admitted to Seacliff unnecessarily.
But the records showed Miss Low was a very troubled young woman.
From her early teens she refused to leave her Balclutha home, fearing the outside world.
Ms Buchan said she believed her aunt showed signs of schizophrenia.
"She went into a serious decline — there’s no doubt.
"When you read the record of how she was behaving at that time, I can understand she must have been incredibly difficult to manage and they did need to put her in Ward 5."
The release of the file had allowed the family to see Miss Low as a real person, rather than just a photo on the wall, Ms Buchan said.
"It’s given her a presence that she never had before."
A doctor’s certificate outlining the need for historical health information had helped bring the matter to a head, she said.
Other families were also trying to access records, and she was planning to get in touch with them to let them know she had managed to get her aunt’s.
Health board chief executive Chris Fleming said the issue of whether to, and how to, release the clinical records of former patients who might be deceased and therefore unable to express their wishes was one the board took very seriously.
Patients’ personal health information was guarded "very carefully and sensitively", balancing relevant principles in the Privacy Act, the health information privacy code and the Official Information Act, he said.
Di is descended from Elspeth (9th child of Peter and Douglas) and John Low. Her book is called “Triumphs, Tribulations and Tragedies, the Low family in Otago and Southland.” Please contact Di to obtain your own copy. Dianne Buchan This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Congratulations to Lulu and Belle Ward (1.12.6) who compete all over New Zealand and love their dancing. Daughters of Kirsty (nee Fleming) and Justin Ward. Kirsty daughter of Sandra (nee Davidson) and Tim Fleming. Sandra daughter of Keith and Fae Davidson.
The Clan is very proud that they have the strong Scottish traditions in their lives which link them back to their forebears.
Life Membership Awards
Trevor Maurice Bruce Ayson. 1.6.5
Trevor was well known in Christchurch with his Mitre 10 store in Colombo Street. After the earthquakes Trevor and his late wife Phyllis had moved to just south of Levin, on a lovely two-acre property next door to their daughter Andrea.
Trevor was Clan Sub Chief from 1970 – 1985 and has continued to be enthusiastic and supportive of all Clan affairs over many years. His expertise and knowledge of family history makes him the ‘go to’ person with amazing recall of family connections. His father was the youngest child of John and Edith Ayson and it was wonderful to view special family photographs and to hear the stories.
Les Green (1.9.2) and Neville Peat (1.3.2) have received Clan Ayson Life Memberships Awards for their excellent 
service and expertise with unstinting loyalty while serving in Executive positions over the many years. Members of the Clan are extremely appreciative; and, we are indeed fortunate to have such stalwart members of high caliber serving in our ranks. The Awards were presented at a pleasant afternoon tea at the Nichols Garden Centre in Dunedin by Clan Executives Dot Johnson (3.3.11) and Janet Sim-Elder (1.12.3). Neville was accompanied by his daughter Sophora who is also on the executive and his grand daughter Grace.
Mick Cullen (3.3.11) volunteered to print the Ayson Newsletter in Feb 1999 and received a Life Membership Award in 2003.
This printing was at no cost to the Clan including the recent past when printed in colour.
Mick now receives the Award of Appreciation for his continuing excellent service and dedication with the newsletter. He says he is proud to have received the Life Membership Award and it hangs in a prominent place – now he can proudly show them together. Mick’s generosity has saved the Clan a huge amount of finance for which we are truly grateful. The award was presented by Clan Executive Dot Johnson (3.3.11)
Alan Francis Ayson. 1.13.6.
Alan was presented with his Life Membership Award by Clan Chief Hugh Francis for his commitment to the Ayson Clan since he was a young boy.
Alan had always shown the importance of keeping family ties and connections and was part of the team when our Ayson book was republished in 2000. He was able to obtain a digital copy of the Ayson Story which forms the bulk of the web site
history. He was Secretary for the Wellington region and enjoyed all family reunions. He was the last surviving grandchild of Lake and Alice Ayson and coordinated the restoration of their graves at Taita Cemetery. Sadly, Alan has since passed away and his award now becomes a family treasure.
Murray Ayson 3.2.1
The Life Membership Award was presented posthumously to the family of Murray Ayson. Murray was the great great grandson of Alexander and Joan Ayson and his father, Eric, was our second Clan Chief when “Looking Back” was published.
Murray has been a valued and loved member of our Clan over the years and worked hard for the continued growth of our membership. His knowledge and contacts were vital to the success of the Dunedin reunion.
He was a true gentleman who was passionate about the outdoor beauty of New Zealand, particularly the South Island and Fiordland. His art reflected that love and he won many awards in New Zealand and overseas.
From his wife Joan: “I shall treasure the Award on Murray's behalf and it shall be handed down through the family, as will the leather-bound Family Bible presented to Alexander Ayson in 1866 from the Tokomairiro Sabbath School and as teacher of Tokomairiro District School for ten years. The Bible has been handed down to the eldest son/child of the eldest son/child and on through Derek then on to Georgia Ayson his eldest child, 7th direct generation of Alexander.”
Congratulations to Georgie Hills (1.13.4) who graduated with a Masters of Sustainable Development Goals from Massey. Georgie is descended from Lake Falconer and Alice Ayson and is the daughter of Dr Claire Hills and the late Peter Hills.
In Georgie words “When I was studying, I wanted to chuck it in at so many points - I kept reminding myself that nothing worth having comes easy. Today I graduated It's such a great feeling! Special thanks to my amazing family and friends for supporting me.”
Amazing Street Art by Mary Spooner 1.3.7. in Australia.
FOR SALE
The Spittal Of Glenshee
For centuries, there has been a hostel or inn at the site and, in modern times, the small village has become a centre for travel, tourism and winter sports. The Property suffered a substantial fire in August 2014 which has destroyed approximately 30% of the building with only the two and three storey bedroom accommodation wings remaining. The site area extends to approximately 1.089 hectares (2.69 acres). Services have been disconnected to the site and any purchaser would be required to satisfy themselves on the condition of services to the site. Offers over £250,000 are invited. The subjects currently have a Rateable Value of £0 which reflects the fact the hotel has been badly fire damaged. The property previously had a Rateable Value of £57,800 prior to 2014
Peter Ayson’s wife Douglas Lamond worked at the Hotel before her marriage.
The owner of the Spittal lent coaches to transport the Aysons on the 1st part of their journey to Edinburgh.
The Spittle hotel was badly damaged by fire first in 1959. (right) then also in 2014.
The construction show similarities to the Corrydon homestead.
John & Dallaise McLean visited Glenshee in June 2013 and may have been the last of the NZ Aysons to have a meal there.
Otago Daily Times ; 14th May 2021 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
When you are faced with a thousand negatives, there is always a positive to be found. Searching for those glimmers of hope helped Lake Ohau resident Hugh Spiers (1.13.2) get through the past six months, dealing with the loss of his home and business in the Ohau fire last October.
Last week another positive came his way, as the concrete pad his former home sat on was removed.
"It sort of felt like a little bit was ripped away from you but you just turn a negative into a positive and now you can see the footprint where the new house is going to go," Mr Spiers said.
A resource consent for his new home, in Lake Ohau Rd, was submitted to the Waitaki District Council today, and he was looking forward to rebuilding his future alongside partner Dwayne Rennie.
They were determined to complete their substantial rebuild, including their business The Barn At Killin B&B, and had already taken a booking for next March.
These days, Lake Ohau Village was humming with activity. House frames were going up, and some were opting to have relocatable homes built off site.
"It’s exciting. I think it’s really positive.
"People are also learning to be a little patient.
"There’s been mixed emotions, but we get really excited to be invited to a house warming."
After being through the devastating fire together — which damaged or destroyed 48 houses — the community refused to let it stop them from rising back up, he said.
"It’s really been quite therapeutic to come out the other side smiling and looking towards the future in a positive light. The fire, as negative as it was, there’s going to be really good things happening."
Mr Spiers, who is fifth generation Ohau resident, and Mr Rennie had been living in their neighbour’s cottage since October. His parents Chris and Rae Spiers, who previously lived with them, were living on their home’s site in a "relocatable home".
Insurance companies had been "bloody awesome" to deal with, and he hoped to hear back from the council regarding their rebuild in the next few weeks.
"The council promised, sort of, a fast-track when it came to consents and fingers-crossed that’s still going to happen."
Obituaries
Norma Anne Hall (Crook) 3.3.11 passed away on the 1st September 2020 at Dunedin aged 80.
She had been unwell for quite some time and is now at peace. She had become more interested in the Clan in recent years attending the Gore reunion in 2006 and the Dunedin one in 2013 and was unfortunately not well enough to attend the Gore Reunion in 2018. Norma is sadly missed by all her family.
Thomas Bruce Gold 1.9.7 died on 8th September 2020 at Dunedin aged 84. He too had been unwell for quite some time and was disappointed not to be able to attend the unveiling of Elspeth and John Low’s headstone in 2020. “Goldie” was always hugely enthusiastic about family gatherings and enjoyed the last reunion in Gore 2018. The Gold family has always been very involved in the Clan for many years.
Alan Francis Ayson (1.13.6) of Waikanae.
It is indeed a very sad time to learn of Alan’s death on 9th January 2021 at the age of 88. Alan had been in fulltime care in Eldon Lodge, Paraparaumu.
Alan (1.13.3) was a stalwart senior member of the Ayson Clan and was Secretary for the Wellington area from 27 Feb 1999 to about 2015;
Alan has always shown the importance of keeping family ties and connections and was part of the team when our Ayson book was republished in 2000. He is the last surviving grandchild of Lake and Alice Ayson and coordinated the restoration of their graves at Taita Cemetery.
Alan Henry Ayson Smith (3.2.1) on 26th September 2020 at Rakaia. Loved husband of Audrey and father of Warren, Karen, Grant and Amanda. Over 400 attended his funeral to remember his keen involvement with the farming community and in the sporting world. We send our condolences to his family.
Pam Sizemore (Nee Brown 3.3.5). Sadly another of our Clan Members has passed away in Dunedin on 23 January 2021.
We send our condolences to her husband Don and her sons, Chris and Greg and her family.
Pam has been a regular at our family reunions over the years and met up with cousins again in Gore 2018. She has also been a member of our Clan Facebook Group.
We will all miss her.
Gordon Ayson Smith (3.2.1) So soon after the death of his brother Alan we have been saddened to hear that Gordon passed away aged 85 years on 24th October 2020.
A gathering was held in the Redcliffs Mount Pleasant Bowling Club on Friday October 30th. Our condolences to Gordon’s family and friends.
On 10th June 2021 the Clan received news of a generous bequest of $10,000 from the Estate of Gordon Ayson Smith. We are extremely grateful for his generosity and his desire to help our Clan to achieve its goals going into the future i.e. to preserve the memory of our pioneer families who had the courage to travel and settle in New Zealand. This is a wonderful gift and is very much appreciated.
Thank you to Mick Cullen from Southern Colour Print who so willingly prints and distributes our newsletter to the regional Secretaries. Without Micks assistance it would be difficult to keep people informed of Clan news. Thank you Mick It is very much appreciated.
