Old boys inducted into wall of fame

OLD BOYS: Hastings Boys' High School principal Robert Sturch (left), Reuben Lowe - the brother of George Lowe, Craig Hickson and Old Boys' Association chairman Barry Rosenberg and Bruce Robertson. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Hastings Boys' High School kicked off a special dinner with the induction of four former pupils to a new wall of fame.

The inaugural Old Boys' Dinner was held at the Hastings Boys' High School hall with nearly 200 guests last night.

Past pupils mountaineer George Lowe (deceased), businessman Sir Selwyn Cushing, former All Black Bruce Robertson and businessman Craig Hickson were all inducted into a new wall of fame above the school hall entrance at the dinner.

Sir Selwyn was unable to make the event and George Lowe's brother, Reuben, represented the mountaineer.

Principal Robert Sturch said the Old Boys' Association was formed in June this year to fill a gap within the school community. The school recognised current students well but had failed to acknowledge past pupils in the same way, he said.

"It's been one part of the school that we haven't been really strong at. That bond between the past and the present we haven't done very well."

Old Boys' Association chairman Barry Rosenberg said the inductees were a great start to the new initiative and the association planned on making it an annual event.

"These four people have excelled and really done well."

Reuben Lowe said he was pleased to be at the dinner representing his brother.

"It's a pretty big honour for George, I think he would have been delighted."

Mr Robertson, who played 34 All Blacks test matches, said he was very humbled to have been one of the first people inducted into the wall of fame.

"It came quite out of the blue. I didn't really expect it and I'm very happy that they chose me."

Mr Hickson's response to being invited into the wall of fame was feeling "proud and privileged".

"It was a surprise, it feels special. It's a fine school and the current [principal] appears to be ... enhancing their tradition."