Florence Elizabeth Clapham

Woman dies at 102

Dannevirke’s oldest resident Florence Elizabeth Clapham had only recently celebrated her 102nd birthday at her home in Guy Street.

Mrs Clapham, nee Tweedie, was born in Northern Ireland on February 7, 1894. She emigrated with her parents to New Zealand in 1912 after the death of two of her brothers.

Miss Tweedie worked on the family farm at Makotuku until her marriage at Norsewood in 1930 to Hastings school teacher, James Clapham.

After their honeymoon, the couple left New Zealand to undertake missionary work in the Middle East. They worked with Arabic and American people, mainly in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus. they also ran an Orphanage for Arabic girls.

After her husband’s death in 1960, Florence returned to New Zealand, living on the family farm for a few years. before settling in Dannevirke.

She is survived by her only child Pauline.