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Minutes of the General Assembly 2012 forgave those who had hurt him, and modeled the inclusiveness which the Church still needs to seek. He became convener of the Auckland Presbytery Executive and served it with considerable distinction. David was respected and loved by his parishioners. He was compassionate and caring; he could be irreverent and earthy; he enjoyed a good whisky and fine food; he delighted in quality music. He had a great love for Thailand and Cambodia; was a great supporter of the Pakpinjai Project and engaged other Aotearoa New Zealanders in the delights and challenges of Asia. His ministry among young people was remarkable for his ability to transcend the generation gap and deeply influence their lives. Using the traditional words for the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, in one of the last things he wrote, David concluded: “The point is, Remember O mortal, you are dust, and to dust you shall return is as much, if not more so, a call to remember and to be grateful and to celebrate and to praise as it is to somber reflection and penitence.” We remember and give thanks to God for David’s life and faith and the ways in which he touched the lives of many. Darbyshire (nee Fergusson), Shirley Anne 26 August 1943 – 12 May 2011 Shirley died at Trevellyn Hospital, Hamilton after a short battle with cancer, thus ending a full life of family, service to the community, and service in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Shirley was born and educated in Huntly, and was associated with Huntly Presbyterian Church, becoming a communicant member at the age of 12 and was teaching Sunday school at age 15. She was a good pianist, a skill that was employed at both school and the church youth group. She met and married Bruce Westbrooke in 1962, and they moved to the North Shore where they raised their family of three. Shirley joined St Margaret’s Presbyterian Church in Belmont, where she became an elder. She worked with disabled children at the Wilson Home in Takapuna and established a Girl Guide Unit at the home. She became Girl Guide district commissioner for the North Shore area, and in 1977, was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for services to the Guides. She completed her Master of Arts from Auckland University in 1983, and subsequently worked as a researcher and child psychologist for Presbyterian Support at the Glenburn Centre in Massey. Shirley’s skills were recognised by the Church at large. She was appointed as a consultant in the Church’s Parish Development and Mission Department in the Auckland area, then later in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty. When Shirley separated from Bruce, she moved back to the Waikato and set up her home at Puketaha. Scots Church in Vardon Road, Te Rapa, Hamilton, employed her as a lay associate for two years. She met Bill Darbyshire and married him in 1991, thus blending a family of six. In 1991, Shirley offered herself for ordained ministry and went through the communitybased ministry training system whilst serving in Scots Church. She was ordained and inducted into St Stephen’s, Hamilton on 5 November 1992. In 1998, she accepted an appointment to St Francis, Hillcrest Co-operating Parish. She retired from there in 2003 and became a worshipping member of St Stephen’s Parish. In 2009, when St 16 Session 2
Minutes of the General Assembly 2012 Stephen’s was without settled ministry, the congregation invited Shirley to take a two year, part-time transitional ministry appointment. That appointment was sadly curtailed. In her career, Shirley was moderator of the Presbytery of Waikato, a member and Convener of the Council of Assembly, a member of the Pastoral Oversight Group of the Joint Regional Committee, and a member of sundry other presbytery committees. She declined nomination for election as Moderator of the Assembly of the PCANZ. The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand can be rightly proud of this quite exceptional woman who served in its courts and congregations, as a lay person and as one ordained. If praise is to be given, it is given to the God whom she and we serve. Dow, Reverend Charles Neil 26 July 1926 – 7 December 2011 Neil was born in Dunedin on 29 July 1926. He was a descendant of Otago Presbyterians who came from Scotland in 1848 on the Philip Laing with the Rev Dr Thomas Burns and on the Agra in 1852. His parents were the Rev A.J.H. (Fred) and Mabel Dow. His father was minister at Lawrence (1925-28), Timaru (1928-35), Gisborne (1935-42), Onehunga (1942-49) and chaplain at Greenlane Hospital (1949- 55). Commencing high school in Gisborne, Neil completed his secondary education at Auckland Grammar. He moved on to Auckland University where he completed his BA in 1947 and MA papers before attending Auckland Teachers’ College for one year. Neil taught at Coromandel, Wellington Technical College, and Mangakino District High School. Neil moved to St Kentigern College in 1956, being advised by a school inspector that two years’ teaching there would do his career no harm. He was at St Kentigern for 31 years, becoming Head of History and then Head of Religious Studies. The founding headmaster, the Rev Dr Adam McFarlan, had a huge influence on Neil. They shared in leading worship at the College and with Dr McFarlan’s encouragement Neil sought ordination. Neil was ordained in 1980 and became the first chaplain at St Kentigern College. After his retirement in 1987, Neil spent five years as a police chaplain. An honorary associate minister at St Luke’s Parish, Remuera, Neil filled in when the minister was on leave and, over the years, made a valuable contribution to ministry in the parish. He was deeply valued for his integrity, his pastoral intuition, his wisdom and his humour, and his roving and open mind. His prayers of intercession were noted for their careful use of language to convey the caring, loving and inclusive dimensions of the Christian faith which were a mark of Neil’s own spirituality. Over the years, he conducted many weddings and funerals at St Kentigern College Chapel. Neil married Joan Sandieson in 1950 and they had four children and six grandchildren. He loved music and sang for many years in the Dorian Choir. Neil was described as a “true gentleman” and “people person”. A man of wisdom and compassion, this was summed up in his choice of “The Servant Song” for his funeral service. In the last three years of his life, Neil suffered from Alzheimer’s, but this did not remove his gentle and temperate spirit. The God in whom Neil believed and trusted was the God of Psalm 139 which he also chose for his funeral: “Even the darkness is not dark to you: the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Neil died on 7 December 2011. Session 2 17
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