Colin and Joanna (Joan) Crispe's family of two sons
Colin Raymond Russell was Bessie and Heywood Crispe's fourth (but third surviving) son, born at Mauku in 1886, after his brothers Heywood and Clarence and following the death of Bessie and Heywood's second son, Joseph Leslie who died in May 1880 aged five months.
Like the rest of the family he was educated at Mauku School but unlike his brothers he did not go farming, opting instead to pass the standards required to go into teaching. His first position was as a probationary teacher at Patumahoe School. He attended Auckland Teacher's College and held teaching jobs at East Pukekohe, Orini, Waikaraka and Hukatere. He was headmaster at Clevedon School for 17 tears until his retirement.
He married twice, first in 1919 to Ella (May) Coates, who died in 1922. He married his second wife, Joanna (though known as Joan) Patricia Hare Duke, around 1925 and they had two sons both born at Clevedon; Peter, ( 1926) and Patrick (Pat - 1927).
Colin was a keen sportsman who played representative hockey at Training College. He was a keen cricketer and tennis player who played in the Stanley Street Veteran tournament for many years. He was also keen on golf and was a member of the Manukau Gold Club.
His Manurewa home displayed many cups and trophies from his sporting activities. He collapsed and died while playing in the veteran's tournament in Auckland in 1948, His wife Joanna (Joan) lived to the great age of 101, dying in 1992.
Colin's dates: Born 11 July, 1886, Mauku.
Died 18 Feb, 1948, Manurewa.
Charles William sixth child of John and Maria
Married his cousing Mary Baylis
ing soon