Remuera Short Stories

Sue Johnston talked about the “Nail in the Coffin”, the gold and silver nail from the tomb of Tutankhamun given to her father in London during World War Two. Sue’s family decided to repatriate the nail in 1922 which coincided with the 100^th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter and his sponsor Lord Carnarvon on November 26, 1922. Back in Egypt it will be part of the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo which opens at the end of 2023.

Robyn Bridgman talked about attending Remuera Primary School during World War Two where they had air raid drills and marched to the trenches in the school playground, in order that we should know exactly what to do in an air raid. We also wore a little bag around our neck and in case of an air raid, there was a rubber in to bite on if we were scared, and a whistle in case it was dark, and we could let people know where we were. All pupils had to have a bracelet or necklace with an identification plate on it with their names.

Angela Caughey (nee Wilson) talked about growing up in Remuera during the great depression in the 1930s. (Notes to come)

John Ryan spoke about his collection of majolica pottery and ceramics.  English Majolica was introduced to the public at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, later widely copied and produced. Minton & Co., who developed the coloured lead glazes product, also developed and exhibited at the 1851 Exhibition a tin-glazed product in imitation of Italian maiolica which they called also majolica.