Norman Seager Stacpoole Batchelor

Norman was the brother of Edward Harvey Stacpoole Batchelor (Harvey) and Esther Keesing (nee Batchelor). He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch. He was New Zealand champion swimmer and record holder at various distances. As a 13years old he was awarded a Royal New Zealand Humane Society medal in recognition of his saving a man from drowning at New Brighton Beach. Later, Norman was prominent in surf life saving as a competitor and an instructor. He was also a life member of New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association and was a swimming referee at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Norman married Thelma Spence Thompson in 1926. He followed a number of occupations during his lifetime including hotel keeper, picture theatre manager, steel goods warehouse manager, car salesman, milk vendor, driving instructor. He was successful in most of these but never followed a particular occupation for long. By 1939 he was the Deputy Chief Traffic Inspector in Christchurch. When the war came he enlisted and in 1943, having attained the rank of Captain he volunteered for active service (at age 34 with a wife and 2 children). This involved a reduction in rank to sergeant but he soon attained officer rank and became Deputy Provost Marshall in the NZ Division in the Middle East and Italy, This involved the marking of transport routes, placing and maintaining signage and generally ensuring that men and supplies got through to the front line. He was under fire from time to time and lost drivers to enemy action. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for excellent service. He returned to NZ in January 1946. Like many others, he found it difficult to settle. In 1950 he moved to Auckland. Thelma joined him there and they operated several businesses together and managed the Royal Hotel for sometime. Ultimately they retired to Tauranga where Michael and Sally were living. Norman continued to be of service to the community and became President of the Tauranga Bowling Club as well as being involved in swimming. He died at age 87 having survived Thelma by a couple of years.