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Newsletter 41 - August 2014

FROM CLAN CHIEF HUGH FRANCIS 

 
Well it seems an aeon since the 160th Reunion was held in Dunedin, Easter 2013; and, also since the last newsletter of May 2013.   However, active and regular communications have been ongoing between the Executive – so the Clan is very much alive.  
 
Personally, I feel much has been achieved in this short time.  It has been busy but nevertheless a rewarding one learning about the Clan, writing up our objectives for the “way ahead,” the roles and duties guides for the Executive Members; and, the setting up of the Clan website.  
 
Mary and I also managed to fit in a trip to Canada and Alaska during this period; plus many 100’s of kms on the bike seat thrashing the NZ cycle trails.
 
However though, I must apologise for the reduction of pace since October 13 as personal responsibilities to the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Manawatu Officers Club have had to take centre stage.    I relinquish the Presidency of MOC in October so then it will be back to normal.  
 
The first priority then will be a strong push to get the website established.     All of you will need to be involved to add your part of your family lineage, photos, history, etc.   So please stand-by for further direction on this matter soonest.    Furthermore, I need to regain firm pursuit to secure the outstanding Ayson monies held by the IRD who seem to think it is not ours!  
 
I must acknowledge the initiative of the Secretaries of the “deep-south” to organise an Ayson Gathering to celebrate Alexander Ayson being the founding Principal of the Tokomairiro School in 1856; and, also held at this very school.    A worthy donation of $200 was made to the school to support some of their less  fortunate students.   Had Alexander lived longer he would have been aged 200 this year!    The Central  Districts and the Wellington Area Branch are organising a gathering next February; so do hope other Branches follow suit in order to keep the Clan “alive” and, to encourage members to attend.
 
It would be appreciated that you all continue to take heart in your involvement with Clan Ayson; and,  especially to encourage the younger generation to learn about their lineage and history of their forebears.   You will recall from the last newsletter that my “vision for the Clan is to ensure communication is firmly established between all members and to increase the membership of each branch.”   To maintain our  impetus we need of course to have a healthy bank account to keep this going – so your regular payment of the  annual subscription is necessary and wholly  essential.   Sorry to have to mention this but this is reality and needs to be addressed by all of us.
 
Lastly, a big thank you to the Executive and the Branch Secretaries for their involvement and dedication to the Clan – this includes a special thank you to hardworking Lindy Daniell - our National Secretary who is doing an exceptional job; including this magnificent newsletter which is tremendous and also an important historic  record.
 
To you and family, all the very best in health and happiness.      
 
 

National Secretary

Dear Cousins,
Dreams:  To think as at all possible. To imagine as possible. A fond hope and aspiration.  (Collins).
 
It has been quite a spectacle watching the Commonwealth Games and well done to Glasgow, ‘the city that dared to dream’.  The very broad Glaswegian accent  was wonderful to hear and inspired me to have another read of William Ayson’s book .   He was only 12 when he arrived in NZ but of  interest to me was his explanation of the different spelling of our name. (Ayson, Easson, Essen) .   I had always believed it was due to dialect misunderstandings however he states:  
 
“I was named after my grandfather, William Ayson, who was in the army, although he had never been in engagement except for the Irish Rebellion.  His only brother, Robert, who was a tailor and clothier in Blairgowrie found that as there were too many Essons about it interfered with his  business, and he and my grandfather decided to change the name to Ayson.   Robert Ayson never left Scotland, and had no family, so when my father and his two brothers came to New Zealand there were no Aysons left in the Old Country.”
  
I have also had another look at the "Thomas" book about the eldest son of Alexander and Joan.   He well  remembers the journey when he was just eight years old to Tokomairiro where his father  established the first school.    It is wonderful that family members from that area have just celebrated Alexander's extraordinary contribution to education and church affairs in the district and you will read an account of their get together over the page.
 
I have recently returned from Europe travelling with my husband Garry, his brother and partner and my sister Claire.    With the centennial of the start of the First World War we were keen to view some of the sites around northern France  nd the Front Line  positions.    Staying in Lille gave us the chance to attended the service at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, where every night since 1928 at 8pm the bugle and wreath laying ceremony honours the soldiers who have no marked grave.    The numbers are  staggering.   New Zealand has a special cemetery at Messines and the quiet solitude there gave us an opportunity to remember our family members who were lost in action and who are recognised in “The Ayson Story”.   Featherston in our Wairarapa District has become known as the Belgium  Embassy being twinned with Messine for 35 years
 . 
The Web Site construction is exciting and when it ‘goes live’ it will enable everyone to do research through Ancestry.com as well as keep up to date with the family history.  
 
Technology can be a struggle for some of us , however  I have found my grandchildren  know just about everything so I massage their enthusiasm for my own benefit.   We do hope you like the site and enjoy doing your research.   I also enjoy looking through the old newspapers in “Papers Past”  linked to the National Library.  I have found many write-ups about my father, Graeme, from winning the Wellington music competitions when he was 16 to  his  repertoire  at the Literaire Francais de Wellington1937, etc.     My sister and I still have his violin, viola and a grand  piano and we miss  having the quartets and trios who practiced with our parents in our living room  when we were children.
 
A big thank you to our Branch Secretaries who have been updating their mail lists and many of you will  receive this publication electronically.   We have 75 on email now so a good saving in postage and printing.     . Please push the ‘forward’ button now to send to your wider family.  
 
Our Subscription Form  due for the 2014 year included with this newsletter.  Funds raised this way are our main income so if you are able to add a donation it is always welcome.  
 
Our ‘Ayson Story” celebrates the 4 pioneering families who dared to dream and who sacrificed  everything to travel to  New Zealand.   The generational spread is far and wide and enormous now.    It is going to be really important that we all encourage our children  and grand  children to become part of the structure of our Clan so that the work of our previous Clan Chiefs and their  Executive continues to be strong into the future.
 
Together we keep the dreams of our pioneering families strong.
 
Lindy Daniell                     Generation:   1.13.4.1.2  ( Peter, Lake, George, Graeme, Lindy )
 

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