FYSON, CLARICE CHRISTINA nee DICKIE

 

Clarice Dickie was born at Willowbank, Waverley, on the 5 October 1894, the daughter of William and Annie Caroline Dickie nee Davis.� After attending Wanganui Girls' College, Clarice returned to Waverley to live with her parents until her marriage to Albert Kemball Fyson on the 10 December 1919.

 

Immediately after their marriage, the couple took up residence in Hawera where they lived until Albert's death in 1960, when Clarice moved to Oamaru to live with a daughter.

 

Throughout her residence of over 40 years in Hawera, Clarice played an active part in the life of the community.� Music was her great interest and she gave generously of her talents as a musician in orchestral work, and in assisting in the production of amateur performances generally.� A fine musician herself, Clarice's family of five were all trained in music, and at one time formed a little orchestra, and their performances at the annual Barnardo concerts were a feature.

 

Clarice was always interested in the encouragement of young performers and assisted as accompanist in the training of many young vocalists and instrumentalists.� In recognition of her and valuable service to the Hawera Orchestral Society she was honoured on the eve of her departure from Hawera with life membership.� The conductor, Mr H C A Fox, thanked Clarice on behalf of the society for the generous contribution she had made to the musical life of Hawera, with particular reference to her work as a pianist and official accompanist to the orchestra.� As a memento of her long and happy association, she presented the society with the orchestral score of My Fair Lady.

 

For many years Clarice was convener of the music circle of the Hawera Women's Club and was made a life member.� She had also taken an active part in the administration as a committee member.

 

Clarice took a lifetime interest in the local organisation of Barnardo homes and organised many fundraising activities over the years, raising large sums of money.� She was president of the Hawera Barnardo Helpers' League for many years.

 

For six years, she was president of the Hawera Red Cross Centre and it was during her term of office that the society acquired its own building in Hawera.� The Plunket Society was another organisation which benefited from Clarice's long continued interest.

 

Clarice Fyson died on the 20 July 1961 at Oamaru.

 

SOURCE

Valda Woods and Ruth Brown, Christchurch (daughters)