Fitting tribute for Collegiate stalwart

GRAND VIEW: Former Wanganui Collegiate 1st XV captain Paul McLean, Sam Irvine and Otis Irvine, 5, unveil the new memorial seat for the late Peter Irvine at the ceremony above the WCS fields yesterday. Photo/Stuart Munro

It was an hour before kickoff for the big schoolboys rugby tournament at Wanganui Collegiate yesterday - time enough for the spirit of "the last iconic schoolmaster" to take his rightful seat overlooking the field.

Midday was the dedication ceremony for the new memorial seat on the embankment of WCS No1 field for the late Peter Irvine, the former student, teacher and coach who died in January, aged 82.

It was WCS Old Boys & Girls Association representative Tony Hunt who described Mr Irvine in iconic terms, witnessed by his wife Janet Irvine, his children and some of his grandchildren, along with members of the Collegiate's 1st XVs from 1984-89.

The 1984 captain Paul McLean spoke of the team's nervousness when they heard Mr Irvine, with his booming voice and reputation for hard training of the school's successful rowers, was taking over the rugby coaching.

But that demand for dedication back by training methods like running with them at the end of long sessions and threatening to punish anyone who lagged behind or organising tackling practice on himself after a tough loss certainly reaped rewards.

During Mr Irvine's rugby coaching era, Collegiate 1st XV won 89 of 137 games, with four draws.

His son Sam Irvine was part of the 1985 team, and said it was appropriate the seat looked out over the field where his father first ran out as a schoolboy in 1945.

"In some ways, he's never really left and it's fitting there is a seat dedicated to him."

Mr Irvine's grandson Otis helped Sam Irvine and Mr McLean lift the New Zealand flag to unveil the new seat.

Mr Irvine attended Collegiate as a student from 1945-49, becoming Prefect and making the First XV, later representing Wanganui in 27 games. He returned for three tenures teaching mathematics in 1958-77, 1981-90, and 1996.

Before coaching the First XV he built up the rowing programme in the early 1960s, with the WCS eight winning the Maadi Cup back-to-back in 1963-64.