Mr HG Whitehead – 1952 to 1958
Mr HG Whitehead – 1952 to 1958
Born in 1896 in Chadderton, England, Mr HG Whitehead came to New Zealand with his family at eight years old to live in Thames. He attended Thames High school and he gained distinction in high school science and went on to attend classes in theoretical and practical assaying at the Thames School of Mines.
In 1916 he began studies for a teaching career at Victoria University College, Wellington, but joined the army and served overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in France during World War One.
After serving in France until the Armistice, Mr Whitehead went to London where he was engaged in the compilation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force's official war history. He was then awarded the Forces' scholarship for study at either Oxford or Cambridge, but ill health forced him to abandon this and return to New Zealand where he re-enrolled at Victoria University.
In 1925 he graduated Bachelor of Arts and followed this the next year with a Master’s Degree.
His first teaching position was at the Napier Boys High School and from there he went to Opunake District High School in 1926 and on to Hawera Technical High School in 1928.
In 1939 he joined the staff of the Wellington Technical College where he became Senior Science Master in 1939. For several years he was a departmental examiner in General and Experimental Science for Public Service Entrance and later became examiner in Physics and Chemistry for the Entrance Examination for Commissions in the R.N.Z. Navy.
In 1945, he was then appointed to the staff at Whangārei Boys’ High to take charge of the Science Department.
During the Second World War Mr Whitehead served in Home Defence units and rose to the rank of Major in the 4th Wellington Battalion.
At the beginning of 1951, Mr Whitehaead became First Assistant Master of the Whangārei Boys High and when Mr Henderson left at the end of the year, during the interim period, he was appointed Acting Headmaster.
With Mr Whitehead's proven service to the school, he was a popular choice and was appointed Headmaster during the first term of 1952.
As a Headmaster, he was actively involved, with the technical block opened in 1956 and with the planning of the academic wing. Under his direction a new assembly hall was converted to use for technical education until those subjects were catered for within their own special block.
He was instrumental in having the old Manual and Technical School relocated in the lower grounds for use as a gymnasium, and his contribution to the encouragement of music instruction included securing funds for the provision of instruments for the Boys School orchestra and brass band.
Sandy, as he was known to both staff and pupils, retired in the first term of 1958 and lived in Whangārei until his death on 19th June 1966.