AUCKLAND SOCIETY LOSES TWO STALWARTS

NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF AUCKLAND LOSES TWO STALWARTS IN A MONTH

Wallace Frederick Ryan was a quiet, reserved member of the Society almost since its inception in 1959. He worked for the Auckland Savings Bank and spent many years relieving in branches before being placed at head office. After he retired he was able to enjoy some of the finer things in life – good wine, nice coins, good opera and good music. He had a preference for Russian and Great Britain's coins, but if you got into conversation with him you found he was well travelled – he even spent time in Beaune, France, where they hold wine auctions

He didn't show for our February meeting, and we found that he had died at home alone between the 7th and the 14th February. His long service to the Society had been recognised with an Honorary Membership, marking especially his 24 years as the Society's Treasurer.

It came as a shock to all who him. Wal, as he was known, had not kept the best of health, and had a pacemaker fitted in December. This was checked in February and declared okay, but he appears to have died shortly after this check. The 11th of February is his probable date of passing.

The Society has been left a generous legacy from this retiring member, and we feel that he may have viewed the Society as the family he did not have. Thank you Wallace.

Within a month John C.M. Creswell also passed away. John was a Kiwi but lived south of Brisbane, Australia. He was a vigorous proponent of the Society before it was formed, and held various posts including President. He had the ambition to create an Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Numismatics, to which end I photographed many of his scarcer medals, but, alas, it did not come to fruition. John was always busy though, he was half of the "John Bertrand" brand of albums for pre-decimal coins, and catalogues. He also produced a book on New Zealand Numismatics. But he produced many other booklets on the historical aspect of New Zealand's East Coast, where he was born.

John always had something on the go, usually several things at a time – a complete set of New Zealand Maori War Medals, a book about Auckland's MoTaT, books about various notables and notable places on the East Coast, Collecting Coins and Medals, Maori Meeting Houses of the North Island, Maori Guides at Rotorua, Fire Brigade Medals and a joint effort with this author to create "Anton Teutenberg – a Master Engraver and His Work" – John wrote most of the words, I took most of the photographs. John had the foresight to visit the old Teutenberg homestead in Mt Roskill and with permission had sifted through the 6 inches of sawdust on the floor of the workshop – hard going but worthwhile! And there are many more titles which I don't have a record of to his credit.

His move to Australia simply gave him a bigger canvas to draw from, and he worked both countries as a tour bus driver. Latterly he had become interested in Indian fiscal stamps and in Native State rupee coins.

He had survived a cancer attack maybe 30 years ago, but the devil returned for a second try and on 9 March, aged 87, he passed away, leaving his wife Nanette and Vicki, Guy and Linda and their families to whom we extend our deepest sympathies.

For more information on the Numismatic Society of Auckland, see:
https://www.rnsnz.org.nz/collector-info/clubs/numismatic-society-of-auckland/

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