| Harry Vernon Chichester |
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The mystery of the unusual gravestone of Harry Vernon Chichester has been solved, thanks to alert readers of The Courier. The gravestone in Ashburton cemetery caught a reader’s eye as it said it was erected by pupils of Borough schools in 1883. History researcher Liz Quaid said a friend of hers researched Mr Chichester’s life for a genealogy group cemetery tour, historian Gilbert Donaldson has also written about Mr Chichester, and Ashburton Museum curator Michael Hanrahan also filled in gaps. According to a pamphlet used for the cemetery tour: “This stone was erected by the pupils of the Ashburton schools and other friends as a mark of affectionate regard for the memory of Harry Vernon Chichester (late second master) who died October 28, 1883, aged 29.” According to the Ashburton Guardian of October 29, 1883: “It is with sincere regret that we announce the death of Mr Chichester, late second master of Borough Schools. “Although everyone who has seen him during the past few months must have noticed that he was gradually wearing away, none thought his final summons would come so suddenly. He remained firm in his trust until the last and died almost in harness, being at his post at the school last Wednesday. “When appointed a teacher at Borough Schools in May 1882 there were some misgivings as to the wisdom of such a course, but his career since that time was unsullied as far as we are aware with the slightest taint of aught, but was most honourable and pure and leaves his friends no reason to regret their choice.” The farewell continues: “In his time he had his trials and persecutions, but he now cares little for life’s sorrows. He was a universal favourite not only with those under his immediate charge but with the whole school. As proof of this the senior boys had of their own accord determined to give him a substantial mark of their esteem. With the assistance of some friends whose sympathy they elicited, they were prepared to present him today with a purse of 17 sovereigns. As he cannot now enjoy that tribute of their affection and regard, they have decided to erect a monument in his memory.” Before his appointment to the Borough Schools, Mr Chichester was a master at Hinds. This appointment did not go well for, having administered a few strokes of the cane to a boy for telling lies, a charge of assault was brought. The charges were dismissed in court, but after that there appears to have been a campaign by some families to have him dismissed. Even though the majority of families were in favour of him staying, the Education Board dismissed him in August 1881 and it seems he was not employed as a teacher again until he got his job at Borough. It appears Mr Chichester was also a mason, with a funeral notice asking the masons of Ashburton to meet at the Masonic Hall, Tancred Street on October 31 to attend Mr Chichester’s funeral. Dress?Black, with white gloves. Mr Donaldson said his research showed that at Hinds, Mr Chichester made the mistake of hitting the son of the chairman of the school committee, a Mr Gibson, who then sought to have Mr Chichester dismissed. Mr Chichester died of consumption (tuberculosis) and was the second teacher at Borough to die of TB. 
Harry Chichester’s headstone in Ashburton Cemetery.
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