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Judy Charles Oral History
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TitleJudy Charles Oral History
DescriptionThe oral history of Judy Charles of Arthur's Pass, who is the wife of John Charles.
This oral history follows the life of Judy Charles growing up in Merivale, Christchurch in the 1940’s and 50’s. Her earliest memories were of trips to the local bookshop with her mother, where Judy developed a deep love of reading and went on to pursue a career as a librarian.
Judith Frances Charles (née Pascoe) was born on August 14, 1941 at a birthing centre near Mona Vale in Christchurch. Her father, Arthur Thomas Pascoe, worked in insurance, while her mother, Dorothy Frances Pascoe (née Hobbs), was a registered nurse.
Judy describes her Merivale home as an "old villa" at the corner of Winchester and Naseby Streets. Judy attended Elmwood Primary School and later Christchurch Girls High School from 1955 to 1958.
When Judy turned 16, she took a position at the Christchurch public library in the children’s room and later accepted a position in the main library that created a spark that led her on a path as a librarian.
In 1963, she travelled to England by ship by herself and got a position at the reference library of Ove Arup consulting engineers in London for 18 months, in which she found very interesting because of the firm's work on projects like the Sydney Opera House.
While visiting Arthur's Pass on a skiing holiday with a friend, Judy met her future husband, John, at a party. They became engaged in London in 1964 when John visited her there. After travelling around Europe together, Judy returned to New Zealand and worked at the
Christchurch Hospital’s medical library reference desk for a couple of years.
When John returned from his extended travels, the two married in Arthur's Pass, in the chapel, which was designed by Paul Pascoe, a relative of Judy's father. Their reception was held at the
local Chalet restaurant. The couple settled in Arthur’s Pass, living in the ranger’s house at the western end of the village. It was where they raised their two children, Rachel and Gareth. While the children
were away at school, Judy worked as a chambermaid at the Chalet restaurant, helped at the local store, the post office and read electricity meters. She was involved in a craft group of spinners and knitters that included women from surrounding communities.
Judy ran the Arthur’s Pass library, which operated once a week in a small room that was also used by the visiting doctor. She described her library work throughout her career as "pretty satisfying," there was nothing that she enjoyed more than "helping people" find information and books.
Judy believed that growing up in Arthur's Pass gave her children the ability to "talk to adults and all sorts of people" they met in their small mountain village. In 2015, a "This Is Your Life" celebration was held for both Judy and John, recognizing their significant contributions to the Arthur's Pass community.
This interview beautifully captures Judy Charles’s life from a young girl growing up in Christchurch, to a student, a librarian, a mother, and an honoured community member in the small mountain village of Arthur's Pass, New Zealand.CreatorSarah DavyDate29 August 2024LocationArthur's Pass
DescriptionThe oral history of Judy Charles of Arthur's Pass, who is the wife of John Charles.This oral history follows the life of Judy Charles growing up in Merivale, Christchurch in the 1940’s and 50’s. Her earliest memories were of trips to the local bookshop with her mother, where Judy developed a deep love of reading and went on to pursue a career as a librarian.
Judith Frances Charles (née Pascoe) was born on August 14, 1941 at a birthing centre near Mona Vale in Christchurch. Her father, Arthur Thomas Pascoe, worked in insurance, while her mother, Dorothy Frances Pascoe (née Hobbs), was a registered nurse.
Judy describes her Merivale home as an "old villa" at the corner of Winchester and Naseby Streets. Judy attended Elmwood Primary School and later Christchurch Girls High School from 1955 to 1958.
When Judy turned 16, she took a position at the Christchurch public library in the children’s room and later accepted a position in the main library that created a spark that led her on a path as a librarian.
In 1963, she travelled to England by ship by herself and got a position at the reference library of Ove Arup consulting engineers in London for 18 months, in which she found very interesting because of the firm's work on projects like the Sydney Opera House.
While visiting Arthur's Pass on a skiing holiday with a friend, Judy met her future husband, John, at a party. They became engaged in London in 1964 when John visited her there. After travelling around Europe together, Judy returned to New Zealand and worked at the
Christchurch Hospital’s medical library reference desk for a couple of years.
When John returned from his extended travels, the two married in Arthur's Pass, in the chapel, which was designed by Paul Pascoe, a relative of Judy's father. Their reception was held at the
local Chalet restaurant. The couple settled in Arthur’s Pass, living in the ranger’s house at the western end of the village. It was where they raised their two children, Rachel and Gareth. While the children
were away at school, Judy worked as a chambermaid at the Chalet restaurant, helped at the local store, the post office and read electricity meters. She was involved in a craft group of spinners and knitters that included women from surrounding communities.
Judy ran the Arthur’s Pass library, which operated once a week in a small room that was also used by the visiting doctor. She described her library work throughout her career as "pretty satisfying," there was nothing that she enjoyed more than "helping people" find information and books.
Judy believed that growing up in Arthur's Pass gave her children the ability to "talk to adults and all sorts of people" they met in their small mountain village. In 2015, a "This Is Your Life" celebration was held for both Judy and John, recognizing their significant contributions to the Arthur's Pass community.
This interview beautifully captures Judy Charles’s life from a young girl growing up in Christchurch, to a student, a librarian, a mother, and an honoured community member in the small mountain village of Arthur's Pass, New Zealand.
CreatorSarah DavyDate29 August 2024LocationArthur's PassConnections
Attribution
Researched BySarah Davy and Marcy Rogers
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Sarah Davy, Judy Charles Oral History (29 August 2024). Selwyn Stories, accessed 08/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6897
