Interview with Ray Hawthorn

Ray Hawthorn was born in Wellington in 1927. Gives details of his family background. Describes spending school holidays with his maternal grandfather, a butcher, at Rongotea. Describes his work routine, killing a pig and making sausages. Recalls difficult times during the Depression and his father's unemployment. Describes time off school for infantile paralysis (polio). Talks about growing up in Owen Street in Newtown, Wellington, being a cub and a boy scout and attending Wellington South School. Describes employment as a telegram boy with Post and Telegraph. Discusses restrictions on telegrams during World War II.

Talks about becoming Government House delivery boy then being transferred from the Post Office to the Internal Affairs Department. Mentions Albert Naulls. Describes the Official Secretary at Government House, David Fouhy, and comments on the formality. Mentions the Governor-General was Sir Cyril Louis Norton Newall. Describes how the butler ruled one half of Government House, the Official Secretary the other. Describes lunches, etiquette, forms of address and curtseying. Discusses formalities at staff meals and explains the hierarchy. Discusses military hero Lord Freyberg who was the next Governor-General from 1946-1952. Comments on Lord and Lady Freyberg as a couple. Recalls visits of Eleanor Roosevelt, Lord Mountbatten, Field Marshall Montgomery and Lyndon B Johnson. Comments on politicians Sir Sidney Holland and Peter Fraser. Talks about the gardens at Government House and changes to the building before a royal tour. Discusses the 1953 Royal Tour, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Mentions the Tangiwai disaster.

Talks about getting married in 1956 to Shirley Goldfinch who worked at Government House. Describes his daily working routine, with reference to the mail, becoming senior orderly and later Administration Officer. Discusses the etiquette of presenting decorations. Talks about Lord Norrie, Governor-General from 1952-1957, and Lord Cobham. Mentions Lord Cobham's love of cricket. Discusses relationships between Governors-General and Prime Ministers. Mentions Walter Nash. Talks about English aides de camp before the time of Lord Porritt and changes with employment of more New Zealanders as staff. Describes the replacement of David Fouhy by David Williams as Official Secretary. Discusses the relationship between the Official Secretary and the Comptroller. Describes moving Government House to Auckland for three months each year. Talks about Sir Denis Blundell as Governor-General from 1972-1977 and then Sir Keith Holyoake. Comments on Waitangi Day and protest, Dame Whina Cooper and the 1981 Springbok Tour.

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3398.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-004983 - OHLC-004987

Copy held at Government House