Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Person
Linked To
OrganisationOral HistoryPhotosPublicationAudioManuscriptVideo
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Audrey Harper
Biography
BiographyAudrey Harper was born in Catford, London, on 13 August 1924.
At the age of 19, she had to take up war work, and joined the WRENs, the Women's Royal Navy Service, as a radar plotter. During her two years, eight months and eighteen days she was found plotting simulated ships, submarines, torpedoes and other distractions on a Perspex chart as part of a new concept in teaching naval strategy She turned 21 two days before World War Two officially ended on August 15, 1945.
She had graduated from Bristol University, and arrived in New Zealand in January 1953, working briefly at Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College, then at Heretaunga College for three years.
In 1962 she was appointed senior mistress at the newly established Upper Hutt College. She appears in the Leader in photos from the college's collection; there is a 1968 picture of her as coach for a girls' hockey team.
She retired from Upper Hutt College in May 1981.
Upper Hutt College awards the Audrey Harper Cup for school service; Recollect's earliest picture of a winner comes from 1985.
In 1986 she was pictured in the Leader with some of her doll collection, in the city library.
A skilled craftswoman, she has a strong interest in textile crafts. In 1987 her tapestry, 'Summer', was exhibited in the Community Gallery – a white-on-white silhouette of a tree, supported by parallel white cords.
In 1991 she was pictured at a Rotary Club hobbies and pastimes exhibition, spinning wool.
In 1992 she compiled a book of gardening tips, 'Hints for Happy Gardeners', for the Upper Hutt Garden Club; by mid-1992 it had sold over 1000 copies.
In 1994 she was presented with a Civic Award. She had been a volunteer helper at the Upper Hutt Library for 34 years and had been involved in Soroptimist International of Upper Hutt from its inception. She had been a charter member since 1976, their first secretary, and a past president, and was still a committee member involved in all projects of the organisation.
Audrey has edited several books of recollections of Upper Hutt life; the first was 'Upper Hutt: Some Memories', published in 2001, and available on Recollect. She has also published Write Easy, a guide to writing down memories (2000); My Words Are My Own, a collection of her stories and poems (1997); and Wartime days in the Women's Royal Naval Service, 1943-1946 (2011).
A 'Leader' article from February 24, 2010 commemorated her 50 years as a library volunteer; she was pictured with Mayor Rex Kirton.
In April 2012 she read her own poem at St John’s Church's 150th birthday concert.
In 2003 or 2004 both the 'Leader' and Wellington Free Ambulance printed pictures of her; her annual donation for the year was $91, to match her age.
The Ambulance article mentioned her coming to New Zealand in 1950, and also gave the date of a picture of her graduating from Bristol University with a BSc as 1950. It also listed her membership of Soroptimists, playing the piano at St John's Church services, tutoring a writing group, Tai Chi twice a week, a weekly spinning group, a knitting circle making blankets for the Wellington City Mission, and a bible study group.
The March 16, 2004 'Leader' pictured her donating knitted teddy bears to the Free Ambulance; she could knock one off in a couple of evenings. The 2017 article said they were auctioned as fundraisers.
From information collected for the Upper Hutt Choral Society (UHCS):-
1953 or 54; joined Heretaunga College
December 1959; director, Heretaunga College choir
1962; foundation senior mistress, Upper Hutt College
July 1965; conductor, College special choir, in a joint concert with the UHCS
April 1966; principal, "Tom Jones", UHCS
End of 1970; conductor, UHCS
Apr 1971; overseas travel.
At the age of 19, she had to take up war work, and joined the WRENs, the Women's Royal Navy Service, as a radar plotter. During her two years, eight months and eighteen days she was found plotting simulated ships, submarines, torpedoes and other distractions on a Perspex chart as part of a new concept in teaching naval strategy She turned 21 two days before World War Two officially ended on August 15, 1945.
She had graduated from Bristol University, and arrived in New Zealand in January 1953, working briefly at Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College, then at Heretaunga College for three years.
In 1962 she was appointed senior mistress at the newly established Upper Hutt College. She appears in the Leader in photos from the college's collection; there is a 1968 picture of her as coach for a girls' hockey team.
She retired from Upper Hutt College in May 1981.
Upper Hutt College awards the Audrey Harper Cup for school service; Recollect's earliest picture of a winner comes from 1985.
In 1986 she was pictured in the Leader with some of her doll collection, in the city library.
A skilled craftswoman, she has a strong interest in textile crafts. In 1987 her tapestry, 'Summer', was exhibited in the Community Gallery – a white-on-white silhouette of a tree, supported by parallel white cords.
In 1991 she was pictured at a Rotary Club hobbies and pastimes exhibition, spinning wool.
In 1992 she compiled a book of gardening tips, 'Hints for Happy Gardeners', for the Upper Hutt Garden Club; by mid-1992 it had sold over 1000 copies.
In 1994 she was presented with a Civic Award. She had been a volunteer helper at the Upper Hutt Library for 34 years and had been involved in Soroptimist International of Upper Hutt from its inception. She had been a charter member since 1976, their first secretary, and a past president, and was still a committee member involved in all projects of the organisation.
Audrey has edited several books of recollections of Upper Hutt life; the first was 'Upper Hutt: Some Memories', published in 2001, and available on Recollect. She has also published Write Easy, a guide to writing down memories (2000); My Words Are My Own, a collection of her stories and poems (1997); and Wartime days in the Women's Royal Naval Service, 1943-1946 (2011).
A 'Leader' article from February 24, 2010 commemorated her 50 years as a library volunteer; she was pictured with Mayor Rex Kirton.
In April 2012 she read her own poem at St John’s Church's 150th birthday concert.
In 2003 or 2004 both the 'Leader' and Wellington Free Ambulance printed pictures of her; her annual donation for the year was $91, to match her age.
The Ambulance article mentioned her coming to New Zealand in 1950, and also gave the date of a picture of her graduating from Bristol University with a BSc as 1950. It also listed her membership of Soroptimists, playing the piano at St John's Church services, tutoring a writing group, Tai Chi twice a week, a weekly spinning group, a knitting circle making blankets for the Wellington City Mission, and a bible study group.
The March 16, 2004 'Leader' pictured her donating knitted teddy bears to the Free Ambulance; she could knock one off in a couple of evenings. The 2017 article said they were auctioned as fundraisers.
From information collected for the Upper Hutt Choral Society (UHCS):-
1953 or 54; joined Heretaunga College
December 1959; director, Heretaunga College choir
1962; foundation senior mistress, Upper Hutt College
July 1965; conductor, College special choir, in a joint concert with the UHCS
April 1966; principal, "Tom Jones", UHCS
End of 1970; conductor, UHCS
Apr 1971; overseas travel.
Photos
Publication
Audio
Video
Oral History
Details
Date of Birth13 August 1924Place of BirthCatford, London
Place of BirthCatford, LondonConnections
Audrey Harper. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 04/10/2024, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/21862