Teacher Of Deaf Dies, Aged 64

CHRISTCHURCH, Today (PA). – The principal of the School for Deaf, Sumner, and a New Zealand champion bridge player, Mr Herbert Pickering, died in Christchurch today after a short illness. He was 64.

Mr Pickering had been principal of the School for the Deaf since 1940 and was due to retire in November. He was born in Whitby, Yorkshire, and educated at Whitby County School and Manchester University from which he graduated bachelor of science in 1930. He obtained his teacher’s diploma and certificate as teacher of the deaf in 1931.

From 1931 to 1935 Mr Pickering was assistant teacher at the Royal Schools for Deaf at Manchester, becoming senior resident master there in 1936.

In 1940 he came to New Zealand to take up his post at the Sumner school. An adviser to the New Zealand Department of Education, Mr Pickering also contributed many specialist articles to the “New Zealand Medical Journal” and the “New Zealand Teacher for Deaf.”

A keen bridge player, he was involved in management and competition play at national level, winning the New Zealand pairs championship with Dr J D Thomson on three occasions.

Mr Pickering was a foundation member of the Christchurch Contract Bridge Club and its president on six occasions. He was elected the club’s first life member in 1968. He was also president of the Canterbury Contract Bridge Centre on two occasions and president of the national association once. He represented New Zealand at bridge four times, and was awarded international master ranking earlier this year.

He is survived by his wife and three sons.