Sixth Generation  

31. John Selwyn MEDLEY [10536] (John Spencer Selwyn (Capt.)²⁸, Spencer Mansel RN (Capt.)¹⁶, John D.D. L.L.D. (Rt.Rev. Lord Bishop)⁶, George³, Henry¹) was born on 7 Dec 1908 in New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand, was baptised on 20 Jan 1909 in St Mary's New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand, died on 27 Jul 1988 in New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand at age 79, and was buried on 29 Jul 1988 in New Plymouth Crematorium Taranaki New Zealand. Another name for John was Jack.

General Notes: In a Medley Pedigree, received from Marcus Whittaker in September 2011, he included the following:
Educated: New Plymouth Boys' High School.
Jack was a fast left winger and nicknamed "Hurricane"; as a school boy at NPBHS he held the long jump record. He played Table Tennis at Kawaroa with his sisters.
In his early years he represented Taranaki rugby at the senior level as well as participating in athletics and cricket.Medley went on to become a qualified electrician.
He served in WWII from 1939 to 1942: Regt. No. 4147 Lt. in the 19th Battalion in Egypt, where he was badly wounded by shrapnel and was sent home in 1942.
03 Dec 1961 Medley was Godfather to Neil James Webster (born on this date), son of Nigel John Thomson Webster, his mother's cousin; and he engraved a christening cup 'N. J. Webster 3.12.1962'.
Founder of 'Medley's Office Equipment' Company in New Plymouth after WWII, he sold the business in 1972. He was a well-known Taranaki businessman and an expert typewriter mechanic, and continued to work up until his wife died.
13 Oct 1973 Jack and Rene Medley attended the Taylor Family Reunion, the centennial commemoration of the death of (his Great-grandfather) Rev. Richard Taylor (1805-1873), at Whanganui. - Photograph: Cranleigh Harper Barton Collection, Whanganui Regional Museum.Involved with many organisations and services in the community, he became President of the New Plymouth Bridge Club and the New Plymouth Bowling Club, and was a keen golfer. He was also involved with the Returned Services Association. He was a homemaker, home-mender and exquisite gardener.The family residence was (bought c1946): 250 Courtenay Street, New Plymouth.

John married Irene Dolores LARKIN [10591] [MRIN: 4809], daughter of Herbert James LARKIN [10592] and Irene Mary O'CONNOR [10593], on 16 Dec 1939 in St Joseph's New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand. Irene was born on 29 Mar 1912 in Wellington Wellington New Zealand, died on 4 Jan 1988 in New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand at age 75, and was buried on 7 Jan 1988 in Awanui Cemetery New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand. Another name for Irene was Rene.

Marriage Notes: In a Medley Pedigree, received from Marcus Whittaker in September 2011, he included the following:
m 16 Dec 1939 St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand (on the 76^th anniversary of the marriage of his Grandparents, Spencer Mansel Medley and Mary Catherine Taylor):

General Notes: In a Medley Pedigree, received from Marcus Whittaker in September 2011, he included the following:
In 1925 with her parents and two brothers, the family moved from Wellington to New Plymouth, where Rene lived for the rest of her life.
'Taranaki's first Government Tourist Bureau Travel Booking Agent since 1^st Apr 1956, Rene Medley retired on 9^th Oct 1981. Medley's Tourist Agency' began in a corner of her husband's business before moving to the New Plymouth Opera House, later sharing premises with a florist in Liardet Street. 16 months before her retirement Medley's transferred to the Newton King Real Estate office. The agency booked travel solely within New Zealand, and Irene Medley looked after the travel plans of several New Plymouth secondary schools, the Taranaki Polytechnic and the Central Districts cricket team, amongst others. She knew little of the South Island until she was given a party of American tourists to lead there. With her retirement, Taranaki lost its only Government tourist agency, as there were now so many independent travel agents in New Zealand that when a Government agent retired, the agency was lapsed. Source: 'Agency Lapsed With Retirement' - Taranaki Herald 9 Oct 1981. Mrs Irene Medley pictured as hundreds of travellers were used to seeing her, at the desk of Medley's Tourist Agency, Taranaki's only Government Tourist Agency, in New Plymouth.Rene was secretary of the New Plymouth Girls' High School Old Girls' Association from 1933-8 and later from 1961-8 she served on the Parent-Teacher Association committee, when her three daughters were attending.She travelled to Edinburgh for her daughter Elizabeth's wedding in 1973, and to Japan to visit her brother Tom Larkin, New Zealand's Ambassador (197?-?).Irene was associated with a wide variety of committees, a philanthropist with the Soroptimists, a member of the Ironside Vehicle committee, and a front player at the New Plymouth Contract Bridge Club. She served on the New Plymouth Japan Society Committee, and had a wide circle of friends. Rene had skill and confidence with figures, abundant commonsense, and willingness to go the extra yard. She was a loving mother who invested her household with a sense of warmth and plenty.

Noted events in her life were:

• Death: at Taranake Base Hospital, 4 Jan 1988, New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 38 M    i. Thomas Spencer John MEDLEY M.A. [10594] was born on 9 Aug 1943 in New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand, was baptised on 17 Oct 1943 in St Joseph's New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand, died on 22 Aug 2009 in Newtown Wellington Wellington New Zealand at age 66, and was buried on 24 Aug 2009 in Karori Crematorium Karori Wellington New Zealand..

+ 39 M    ii. John Webster MEDLEY V.B.A.

+ 40 F    iii. Irene May MEDLEY

+ 41 F    iv. Elizabeth Ann MEDLEY

+ 42 F    v. Margaret Ann MEDLEY

33. Jean Mary MEDLEY [10538] (John Spencer Selwyn (Capt.)²⁸, Spencer Mansel RN (Capt.)¹⁶, John D.D. L.L.D. (Rt.Rev. Lord Bishop)⁶, George³, Henry¹) was born on 16 Nov 1914 in New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand, was baptised on 20 Jan 1915 in St Mary's New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand, died on 28 May 2011 in Rotarua Bay of Plenty New Zealand at age 96, and was buried on 1 Jun 2011 in Rotarua Bay of Plenty New Zealand.

Noted events in her life were:

• Death: peadefully in her Sleep at her Home, 309A Vaughan Road, 28 May 2011, Rotarua Bay of Plenty New Zealand.

Jean married Francis MacFarlane PHILLIPS [10597] [MRIN: 4811], son of Samuel Holmes PHILLIPS [95457] and Jane Elizabeth McFARLANE [95458], on 4 Feb 1939 in St Mary's New Plymouth Taranaki New Zealand. Francis was born on 16 May 1911 in Epsom Auckland Auckland New Zealand, died on 3 Dec 1988 in Rotorua Waikato New Zealand at age 77, and was buried on 6 Dec 1988 in Rotarua Bay of Plenty New Zealand. Another name for Francis was Frank.

Noted events in his life were:

• Death: suddenly in his Arm Chair in his Home at 15 Phillips Street, 13 Dec 1988, Rotarua Bay of Plenty New Zealand.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 43 F    i. Frances Mary PHILLIPS

+ 44 M    ii. Anthony Holmes PHILLIPS

+ 45 F    iii. Linda Margaret PHILLIPS