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In Remembrance of Beryl Cain, former pupil of (Upper) Selwyn School
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TitleIn Remembrance of Beryl Cain, former pupil of (Upper) Selwyn School
DescriptionUnfortunately, Beryl Cain, who was soon to receive a special telegram from the Queen, passed away in 2020.
Beryl was probably the last surviving pupil who had attended the Selwyn School, (also known as the Upper Selwyn School).
Beryl had agreed to recount her experiences at the school since it was one of two Ellesmere schools that will celebrate 150 years since their doors opened, in 2021.
Some might argue that the Selwyn School is in what would be considered Malvern but the School was initially on the border of the Ellesmere Road Board District which ran along the Old Great South Road. Later the Ellesmere border was shifted eastward to the railway line and divided the town of Dunsandel into two counties.
Henry George and Alice Marianne (nee Bottle) farmed near McWha’s Road and had their first daughter in August 1917. They named her, Enid Alice.
Beryl, their second daughter, was born in November 1922.
Enid started school on the 26 April 1924 and Beryl followed on the 6th February 1928. While Beryl has gone, snippets of her life were published in the newspaper and can be recalled using the National Library’s Papers Past.
In 1929, her second year, Beryl gave a recitation entitled “The End” at a concert for school funds.
Beryl was obviously a talented athlete as in 1932 at the annual breakup sports, Beryl came third in the 75 yards running race for girls and first in the sack race. Enid, who had finished primary school by this time, came first in the Young Women’s race.
At the 1935 sports and prize giving, Beryl was first in the senior high jump and second equal in the 80 yards senior running event. She also received a special prize for senior sewing.
Later in the early 1940’s Beryl and Enid performed together in plays at the Dunsandel Women’s Division of the Farmer’s Union.
While many locals do not know that the new Dunsandel Community Centre is the third “town hall”, Beryl’s memory was so good that she could just remember the final days of the first hall in 1929, one year after she started school.
Beryl recalled that her final days in primary school were spent at Dunsandel School because in March 1936 the householders, in a well-attended meeting of the Selwyn School, decided to consolidate the school with Dunsandel provided the Government paid for transporting the pupils.
Mr Bishop from North Canterbury was appointed as driver.
Riding with Mr Bishop was the thing that John Gardiner, the well-known Dunsandel resident who looked after the hall and domain among other activities, most vividly remembered as a Selwyn School pupil. Apparently some of the roads that the bus travelled on were not shingled in his day and the excitement of skidding on wet muddy roads and putting on chains, was vividly recalled before he passed away a few years ago.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date3 September 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDunsandel
DescriptionUnfortunately, Beryl Cain, who was soon to receive a special telegram from the Queen, passed away in 2020. Beryl was probably the last surviving pupil who had attended the Selwyn School, (also known as the Upper Selwyn School).
Beryl had agreed to recount her experiences at the school since it was one of two Ellesmere schools that will celebrate 150 years since their doors opened, in 2021.
Some might argue that the Selwyn School is in what would be considered Malvern but the School was initially on the border of the Ellesmere Road Board District which ran along the Old Great South Road. Later the Ellesmere border was shifted eastward to the railway line and divided the town of Dunsandel into two counties.
Henry George and Alice Marianne (nee Bottle) farmed near McWha’s Road and had their first daughter in August 1917. They named her, Enid Alice.
Beryl, their second daughter, was born in November 1922.
Enid started school on the 26 April 1924 and Beryl followed on the 6th February 1928. While Beryl has gone, snippets of her life were published in the newspaper and can be recalled using the National Library’s Papers Past.
In 1929, her second year, Beryl gave a recitation entitled “The End” at a concert for school funds.
Beryl was obviously a talented athlete as in 1932 at the annual breakup sports, Beryl came third in the 75 yards running race for girls and first in the sack race. Enid, who had finished primary school by this time, came first in the Young Women’s race.
At the 1935 sports and prize giving, Beryl was first in the senior high jump and second equal in the 80 yards senior running event. She also received a special prize for senior sewing.
Later in the early 1940’s Beryl and Enid performed together in plays at the Dunsandel Women’s Division of the Farmer’s Union.
While many locals do not know that the new Dunsandel Community Centre is the third “town hall”, Beryl’s memory was so good that she could just remember the final days of the first hall in 1929, one year after she started school.
Beryl recalled that her final days in primary school were spent at Dunsandel School because in March 1936 the householders, in a well-attended meeting of the Selwyn School, decided to consolidate the school with Dunsandel provided the Government paid for transporting the pupils.
Mr Bishop from North Canterbury was appointed as driver.
Riding with Mr Bishop was the thing that John Gardiner, the well-known Dunsandel resident who looked after the hall and domain among other activities, most vividly remembered as a Selwyn School pupil. Apparently some of the roads that the bus travelled on were not shingled in his day and the excitement of skidding on wet muddy roads and putting on chains, was vividly recalled before he passed away a few years ago.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date3 September 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDunsandelConnections
PersonBeryl CainFrank BishopJohn GardinerEdith CainOrganisationDunsandel Historic Society
Frank BishopJohn GardinerEdith CainOrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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In Remembrance of Beryl Cain, former pupil of (Upper) Selwyn School (3 September 2020). Selwyn Stories, accessed 26/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5251