Anne Willcox died peacefully in her sleep on 6 June aged 90.  Her life was dedicated to two abiding interests:  her family and her art.
 
Anne Congdon was born in Newton-le-Willows, a thriving small market town in Lancashire.   Her father, First Officer in the Merchant Marine, frequently visited New Zealand then migrated here with his wife and young daughter in 1934.   Anne attended Karori West Primary School in Wellington and is remembered for her persistent and enthusiastic drawing.  Her father, promoted to Captain, was appointed Wellington Harbour Manager and young Anne moved to Queen Margaret College - in the preparatory school for five years and senior school for a further five years.
 
After gaining her Fine Arts Preliminary Qualification at the Wellington School of Technology, Anne enrolled at Canterbury University College School of Fine Arts completing her B.V.A in 1949. At that time, and in the years before World War II, career opportunities for young women were limited. The School of Fine Arts risked becoming the Swiss Finishing School of Christchurch! Anne certainly excelled at the expected feminine skills of calligraphy, water-colour painting, embroidery and other fibre and fabric arts but perhaps it is not widely known that she majored in metal-working: hammering sheets and rods of copper into submission before further tormenting them with blow-torch or soldering iron then drowning them in an electro-plating bath
 
Anne began her impressive teaching career at Nga Tawa College in Marton where she met and later married John Willcox an ex RNZAF pilot and air-navigator who had served in the Pacific war then returned to continue his career with the Bank of New Zealand.
 
In 1952 and 1953, Anne studied in the UK furthering her art education.  Working as a clinic clerk in St Bart’s, the oldest hospital in London, she attended night classes in general art at the London Technical School then embroidery at Hornsey College of Art.  After returning to New Zealand to marry, Anne taught a full range of art classes at Queen Margaret College from preparatory to 6th form level.
 
From 1956 to 1965, Anne gave birth to her four talented children who later made their own impressive contributions to banking, teaching and social work.
 
Anne resumed her art teaching career at Christchurch Girls High-school then, in 1967, taught adult night classes at Golden Bay High School before returning to Christchurch and teaching part-time at Girls High School and later at Hornby High. In 1975 she enrolled at Canterbury Teachers College, earned her post-graduate Teaching Diploma and added to her sporting talents as a tennis player and later golfer by taking mischievous delight in playing touch rugby!
 
Anne and her family enjoyed their time in the Golden Bay community and owned beach cottages, first at Paton’s Rock then at Parapara. When husband John retired in 1980, they moved to Nelson where Anne helped briefly at Nayland College, became President and Exhibition Convener for the Nelson Embroiderer’s Guild then in 1985 joined the Nelson Suter Art Society.
 
 Anne Willcox made major contributions to the Embroiderer’s Guild and as a volunteer helper in the Suter Art Gallery.  She is remembered as a hard-working and long-serving member of our Art Society.  For many years she helped prepare and dismantle exhibitions, was selector for fibre arts, played a central role in affiliating with the Embroiderer’s Guild, served on the committee and was deservedly awarded a life membership. 

     NSAS HAPPY HOUR    
    COME JOIN US!    
    THE WORKSHOP BAR, BREWERY & EATERY    
    32 NEW STREET     

    WEDNESDAY 29 JULY AT 5.30 PM    

    Meet other members of the NSAS    
  Talk about Art    
    Make new Friends    
    Have Fun!!!!!    
    CASH BAR APPLIES