Newspaper Article 1970 – Former France House master dies

Former France House master dies

Mr Norman Leslie Shaw, master at the Hawke’s Bay Children’s Home’s France House, Eskdale, for 19 years, has died in Auckland. He was 78.

Mr and Mrs Shaw were in charge of France House until 1956, the year Mr Shaw received the M.B.E. for his work at the home. They then retired to Brown’s Bay, Auckland.

Mr Shaw was born in Dunedin and was educated at Otago Boys’ High School before entering a career in banking.

He served overseas with B Battery of the Otago Regiment in World War One and saw action at Gallipoli and other theatres before being repatriated in 1918.

MET CHILDREN

Mr Shaw then took a position in Wellington as secretary to the board of directors of the Bank of New Zealand.

He was in Auckland after the 1931 earthquake where he met children from France House. He soon took an active interest in their welfare which led to his work at Eskdale.

He had been a president of the Wellington Rugby Football Club and at Eskdale took an enthusiastic interest in all sport, and Rugby in particular.

He is survived by his wife. There was no family.