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Marshall; Gerald Arthur ("Gerry")
Biography
BiographyMuch of the following comes from a March 24, 2004 'Leader' obituary.
His parents had migrated to New Zealand in 1920 (his father, a bandmaster, had been brought to raise the standard of New Zealand bands, according to the 1989 article, and moved from town to town), and lived on the West Coast, and in Woodville and Winton, Southland, where Gerry finished his education. He then gained an apprenticeship with Smith & Smith, glaziers, in Wellington.
In 1931, aged 18, he held the New Zealand featherweight boxing champion title.In 1936 he was Australasian featherweight boxing champion; this is noted in a memorial plaque in the Princes street entrance of the former Marshall's Building.
He had also been a Wellington representative in rugby and rugby league (1989 article).
Gerry had joined the Wellington Masonic Lodge in 1937, following his father's footsteps. In Upper Hutt he was a founder member of the Lodge of Friendship in 1949, and became its master in 1965 He was made an honorary member in 1974, and went on to receive 50-year and 60-year service awards. In 1988 the Grand Lodge of New Zealand enrolled him on its roll of honour. He was a member of the Trentham Masonic Centre's management committee for 33 years, 21 as chairman.
He married Ann Buchanan on May 2, 1939, which was also their shared birthday.
They moved to Upper Hutt in 1946 (or 1949?).
He had begun playing softball in 1938; captained the Army team 1940-42 and Wellington 1943-45. In 1946 was one of the chief negotiators in the formation of the Hutt Valley Association; played for and coached them until 1956 (the 1989 article said he had stopped at age 42, after being named 'Grand-dad'). 1950-1970, selector/coach for North Island, South Island and New Zealand women's teams; retired from the New Zealand executive and council after 32 years. He had started the Upper Hutt (now Totara Park) club in 1988, and was a life member and scrutineer officer.
Gerry was made a life member of the Softball Association in 1967, and inducted into their New Zealand Hall of Fame on August 24, 1996.
He joined Te Marua Golf Club in 1966 and became junior champion in 1967. he was on their executive for years, and during the 1970s and 80s was greens convenor and house captain. He was made a life member in 2000.
Marshall's Paint and Glass may have started in 1956 (from a reference in some anniversary article), or as early as 1949 (46?), when he moved here. It started in Main Street, between King and Logan Streets, then moved to Logan Street corner, then to a site opposite Hazelwoods. In 1972 they moved into a new building on the corner of Princes Street and Martin Street (now part of Fergusson Drive). Upstairs there was a ten-pin bowling alley; automated types could not be imported at the time; boys were paid to place the pins. That business closed in the mid-1980s, when an automated centre started in Petone.
Most of the glass department moved to Goodshed Road in 1980
In 1989 it the business was sold to Bill Carroll, becoming Carroll's Decorating Centre.
The August 24, 1992 'Leader' had a Daffodil Day picture of three people who had had successful surgery and treatment for cancer. Gerry Marshall had had surgery for cancer of the stomach.
In the August 23, 2000 advertisement, Gerry was pictured with his wife, Ann (named as 'May' under the photo, but not in the article). They had been married 61 years.
He had had his first cancer operation in August 1986, and had since had a full stomach removal and two ankle replacements, but was still active around the section (but May wasn't too sure about the inside of the house), and played a weekly round of golf.
The funeral was the first to be held in the Trentham Masonic Centre, in Islington Street.
A 50th-anniversary article and picture appeared in the May 16, 1989 'Leader. This article gave the wedding venue, and more information on Ann. When World War 2 broke out, Ann joined the Women's Air Force at Rongotai, and left the stores division before Jeannette was born. She was a Wellington softball representative
His parents had migrated to New Zealand in 1920 (his father, a bandmaster, had been brought to raise the standard of New Zealand bands, according to the 1989 article, and moved from town to town), and lived on the West Coast, and in Woodville and Winton, Southland, where Gerry finished his education. He then gained an apprenticeship with Smith & Smith, glaziers, in Wellington.
In 1931, aged 18, he held the New Zealand featherweight boxing champion title.In 1936 he was Australasian featherweight boxing champion; this is noted in a memorial plaque in the Princes street entrance of the former Marshall's Building.
He had also been a Wellington representative in rugby and rugby league (1989 article).
Gerry had joined the Wellington Masonic Lodge in 1937, following his father's footsteps. In Upper Hutt he was a founder member of the Lodge of Friendship in 1949, and became its master in 1965 He was made an honorary member in 1974, and went on to receive 50-year and 60-year service awards. In 1988 the Grand Lodge of New Zealand enrolled him on its roll of honour. He was a member of the Trentham Masonic Centre's management committee for 33 years, 21 as chairman.
He married Ann Buchanan on May 2, 1939, which was also their shared birthday.
They moved to Upper Hutt in 1946 (or 1949?).
He had begun playing softball in 1938; captained the Army team 1940-42 and Wellington 1943-45. In 1946 was one of the chief negotiators in the formation of the Hutt Valley Association; played for and coached them until 1956 (the 1989 article said he had stopped at age 42, after being named 'Grand-dad'). 1950-1970, selector/coach for North Island, South Island and New Zealand women's teams; retired from the New Zealand executive and council after 32 years. He had started the Upper Hutt (now Totara Park) club in 1988, and was a life member and scrutineer officer.
Gerry was made a life member of the Softball Association in 1967, and inducted into their New Zealand Hall of Fame on August 24, 1996.
He joined Te Marua Golf Club in 1966 and became junior champion in 1967. he was on their executive for years, and during the 1970s and 80s was greens convenor and house captain. He was made a life member in 2000.
Marshall's Paint and Glass may have started in 1956 (from a reference in some anniversary article), or as early as 1949 (46?), when he moved here. It started in Main Street, between King and Logan Streets, then moved to Logan Street corner, then to a site opposite Hazelwoods. In 1972 they moved into a new building on the corner of Princes Street and Martin Street (now part of Fergusson Drive). Upstairs there was a ten-pin bowling alley; automated types could not be imported at the time; boys were paid to place the pins. That business closed in the mid-1980s, when an automated centre started in Petone.
Most of the glass department moved to Goodshed Road in 1980
In 1989 it the business was sold to Bill Carroll, becoming Carroll's Decorating Centre.
The August 24, 1992 'Leader' had a Daffodil Day picture of three people who had had successful surgery and treatment for cancer. Gerry Marshall had had surgery for cancer of the stomach.
In the August 23, 2000 advertisement, Gerry was pictured with his wife, Ann (named as 'May' under the photo, but not in the article). They had been married 61 years.
He had had his first cancer operation in August 1986, and had since had a full stomach removal and two ankle replacements, but was still active around the section (but May wasn't too sure about the inside of the house), and played a weekly round of golf.
The funeral was the first to be held in the Trentham Masonic Centre, in Islington Street.
A 50th-anniversary article and picture appeared in the May 16, 1989 'Leader. This article gave the wedding venue, and more information on Ann. When World War 2 broke out, Ann joined the Women's Air Force at Rongotai, and left the stores division before Jeannette was born. She was a Wellington softball representative
Photos
Details
Date of Birth2nd May 1913Place of BirthCroydonDate of Death12th March 2004Place of DeathElderslea LodgeSexMaleEthnicityEuropean
Place of BirthCroydonDate of Death12th March 2004Place of DeathElderslea LodgeSexMaleEthnicityEuropeanMarriage
HusbandGerald Arthur MarshallWifeAnn Buchanan Date1939LocationSt Anne's church, Grey Lynne, Auckland
WifeAnn Buchanan Date1939LocationSt Anne's church, Grey Lynne, AucklandFamily
ChildGrant (Auckland)Jeanette Wellington (Wellington)
Jeanette Wellington (Wellington)Marshall; Gerald Arthur ("Gerry") (1939). Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 28/04/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24512