Person Page - 134

     John Walter Greathead was born on 22 December 1934 in Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand.^2,3 He was the son of Walter Albert Greathead and Bettie Louise Holland. He married Lynne Stavers Spottiswoode on 6 May 1961 in Auckland, New Zealand, Lynne was John's first wife.^2,4 He married Janet ... Janet was John's second wife.² John died in 1991 in Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand, Lynne, John's first wife described him as an architect and musician intellectually a very able man.^2,5,6

     Lynne Stavers Spottiswoode married John Walter Greathead, son of Walter Albert Greathead and Bettie Louise Holland, on 6 May 1961 in Auckland, New Zealand, Lynne was John's first wife.^2,3 She married Chris Whitehouse in 2004 Chris and Lynne lived in Australia.⁴

     David Harold Greathead was born on 18 July 1936 in Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand.^2,3 He was the son of Walter Albert Greathead and Bettie Louise Holland. He married Edna May Millar on 12 June 1962 in Wellington, New Zealand.^2,4 He was worked for the Telstar dairy.⁵ David and Edna were divorced before 1977. He married Beverley Anne Telfar in 1977 in Wellington, New Zealand.^2,6,7 His wife Beverley died on 16 April 1980 in Wellington, New Zealand, aged 32.^2,8,9 He married Robyn Denise Paul on 28 August 1981 in Porirua Register Office, Porirua, New Zealand, 3rd wife.^2,10 David died on 5 December 2008 in Wellington, New Zealand, aged 72.¹ His body was cremated and his ashes spread over our family plot of native bush. in Wellington, New Zealand.¹

     Beverley Anne Simpson was born on 4 January 1948 in New Plymouth, New Zealand, she was the first child of Edmund and Doris Simpson.^2,3 She married Bruce Hugh Telfar in Wellington, New Zealand, Bruce was a fitter and turner and the couple lived in Beramphore in Wellington.^1,3 Bruce and Beverley separated in 1974.³ She married David Harold Greathead, son of Walter Albert Greathead and Bettie Louise Holland, in 1977 in Wellington, New Zealand.^2,4,3 Beverley died on 16 April 1980 in Wellington, New Zealand, aged 32.^2,1,5 Her body was cremated on 18 April 1980 in Wellington, New Zealand.^2,1

     Harold Alfred Greathead was born on 29 July 1919 in Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand.^2,3 He was the son of William John Edward Greathead and Jane Wyatt. Harold was a shop assistant in 4 March 1941 37 Prosford Street, Auckland, New Zealand, when he was called up to fight in WW2.⁴ He was in the RAF.⁵ He married Georgette Mary Develeiger. His wife Georgette died on 9 September 1962 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, She was also known as Peggy.^6,2,7,8,1,9 Harold received administration papers on his wife Georgette's estate on 20 September 1962. She had not made a will and her estate was valued under £650.¹⁰ He married Dorothea Edna Dixon Gasson in 1964 in New Zealand.^2,11 Harold died on 20 January 1995 in Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand, aged 75.^2,12,9 Harold was buried in Pukekohe Public Cemetery, Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand, in row 18 North side plot no 429018.⁹

     Georgette Mary Develeiger was born in 1918 in St Alphonse, Manitoba, Canada.² She married Harold Alfred Greathead, son of William John Edward Greathead and Jane Wyatt. Georgette died on 9 September 1962 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, She was also known as Peggy.^2,3,4,5,1,6 Georgette was buried in Te Awamutu Cemetery, Cambridge, Waikato, New Zealand, area G plot number 1755. The stone reads: Georgette Mary "Peggy", wife of Joe Greathead, mother of Dennis and Warren d 9 September 1962 R.I.P.^7,6 Georgette did not leave a will. Administration papers were issued on 20 September 1962 to her husband Harold. Her estate was valued under £650.^8,9

     Aston Wyatt Greathead was born on 31 May 1921 in Napier, New Zealand.^3,4 He was the son of William John Edward Greathead and Jane Wyatt. Growing up in Timaru, Aston Greathead was a born artist. Even at an early age he enjoyed painting and drawing and soon developed quite a talent. So much so that at one event it was believed that the painting he submitted was not his own. He was sent into a room with a pencil and paper only to amaze the judges by returning shortly later with a magnificent work of art.

After leaving school, Aston served in Egypt and Italy as a soldier through World War 2. While on leave he often had the opportunity to sketch and paint which he frequently did for fellow soldiers wishing to send home pictures.

When the war ended, Aston returned to New Zealand and set up a signwriting business, married and had three children. The business flourished but the stress became too much for him and in 1960 he was advised to give up. As an unlikely solution to the family predicament he sold the family home and moved to their home in Kaikoura. At the time there was only one motel in the town so with money from the sale of his house he bought a group of fishermans cabins which he let out to travellers. For the next three years the family lived from hand to mouth largely on the earnings from the cabins supplemented by the occasional sale of paintings. By the fourth year sales had picked up and the future began to look considerably brighter. On a regular basis Aston Greathead would travel out into the field to paint. In this way, quite a number of his paintings have captured history which was never photographed. In 1966 after only six years of full time painting he won the Dawson Hallmark award sponsored by Sir Henry Kelliher.

Aston Greathead paints largely in oil acrylic which he believes is comparable to straight oils but easier to work with. His actual preference is water colour but recently he has used this less. He never received art lessons and his painting technique is derived greatly from his time as a signwriter. Because of this, he only uses four colours of paint and the colour of the canvas. This enables him to paint very fast, often completing a work in a matter of hours.

In recent years he has started making his own sculptured frames which give a three dimensional element to his work. As he continues to work from his Blenheim home which he moved into in 1994, he is adamant he will never retire.

Aston was a signwriter in 26 March 1941 in 6 Trafalgar Street, Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand, when he was called up to fight in WW2.⁵ During the Second World War, Aston served in the New Zealand Army in the North African and Italian campaigns. His art was in demand by fellow soldiers who wanted to send home pictures.⁶ He married Ethel Taberner in 1946.³ Aston served in Europe during WW2 but spent his leave time painting and sketching. On his return he set up a successful signwriting business but in 1960 he moved his family to Kailoura so he could paint professionally. He painted all over the world and was a specialist in water colour and oil mediums.⁷ Aston retired in 1994 to Blenheim. Aston died on 18 July 2012 in New Zealand aged 91 he is survived by his three daughters, 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.^6,8

     Ethel Taberner was born about 1924.³ She married Aston Wyatt Greathead, son of William John Edward Greathead and Jane Wyatt, in 1946.⁴ Ethel died on 11 July 2019 in Aberleigh Rest Home, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand, she had10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.³

     Geoffrey Beach Greathead was born on 23 November 1922 in Napier, New Zealand.^2,3,4 He was the son of William John Edward Greathead and Jane Wyatt. Geoffrey was a fitter and turner in 24 June 1941 6 Trafalgar Street, Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand, when he was called up to fight in WW2.⁵ Geoffrey transferred from being a Merchant Seaman to National Registration at his own request receiving his discharge on 2 April 1952. He was described as having hazel eyes, black hair, medium complexion and being 5 foot seven inches tall.⁶ He married Betty Lorna Prothero on 30 December 1953 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Both Geoffrey and Betty were enjoying their overseas experience.^3,7 He was an electrician, who was always inventing things. He was interested in solar heating systems and his wife remembers well all the pipes in their garden joined to their cistern.⁷ Geoffrey died on 13 May 1963 in Tauranga, New Zealand, aged 40 from leukemia.^2,3,7,8,9 Geoffrey was buried on 15 May 1963 in Tauranga, New Zealand, in plot 64 section 27.^3,10,11 The will of Geoffrey was proved on 25 June 1963 in Tauranga the Bay of Plenty.¹²

     Betty Lorna Prothero was born on 11 February 1914 Betty was the first born for Henry and Betsy Prothero who were married in Western Australia in 1913.^3,4 She married Geoffrey Beach Greathead, son of William John Edward Greathead and Jane Wyatt, on 30 December 1953 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Both Geoffrey and Betty were enjoying their overseas experience.^3,5 Her husband Geoffrey died on 13 May 1963 in Tauranga, New Zealand, aged 40 from leukemia.^2,3,5,6,7

     Edna Grace Greathead was born on 17 March 1929 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.^3,4 She was the daughter of William John Edward Greathead and Jane Wyatt. She married Mervyn John Dunn on 28 March 1953.³ Edna died in 2014 in New Zealand.⁵