Newspaper Article 1977 – Former master butchers’ president dies

Former master butchers’ president dies

A former president of the Hawke’s Bay Master Butchers’ Association, Mr Henry Bruce Tobin, 76, died in Hastings on Friday.

Mr Tobin was privately cremated after a service in St Aidan’s Church, Hastings, today.

He entered the retail butcher trade in 1933 as co-founder of Hawke’s Bay Butchery Ltd which he operated until 1969 when he handed it over to his youngest son John.

Mr Tobin was president of the Hawke’s Bay Master Butchers’ Association for 15 years and founder director of Hawke’s Bay Master Butchers’ Abbattoir and By-products Company and the Awatoto Wool and Fellmongery Company.

He was born near Arrowtown, Central Otago, in 1900. After moving to Wellington he was educated at Stokes Valley School, Kilbirnie School and Wellington College, where he played cricket and rugby.

He married the late Rita Annie Gandy, Johnsonville, before moving to Hastings.

Mr Tobin was involved in pipe band administration for 17 years, and was vice-president of the Hastings Caledonian pipe band at its formation in 1940.He was a committee member and saw the band’s development to the present city of Hastings pipe band. He was president of the band from 1951 to 1957, when he was made a life member.

Mr Tobin was also associated with the Hastings and District Scots Society for at least 25 Years, and was patron for six years until her death in 1969 [1968] in teaching and fostering Scottish country dancing and old-time dancing. Mr Tobin was also associated with the Hastings primary schools’ choir from its inception, sponsoring the programme for more than 20 years.

He supported competitive road cycling with the Ramblers‘ cycling Club, rand [and] was vice-president for several years.

He was one of four commissioners for Mayfair School when it was opened prior to its first school committee being formed. He served on the Hastings sub-centre of the St John Ambulance Association and was a member of the Heretaunga Masonic Lodge.

He is survived by his two sons, Ken and John, both of Hastings.