Mavis Helen Pairman MBE and JP 1900 - 1953
Father: William Birch.
Mother: Sarah Hannah Birch nee Boddy.
Born: January 17th 1900.
Attended Wanganui Girls College.
Married: Thomas Pairman July 25th 1923 aged 23 years.
Died: February 14th 1953 aged 53 years.
Thomas Wyld Pairman
Father: Dr. Robert Pairman of Rapanui, Wanganui.
Mother: Jessie Jeanne Pairman.
Born: 16th April 1893.
Attended Wanganui Collegiate School: 1905-1906
Married: Mavis Helen Pairman July 25th 1923 aged 30 years having returned from WW1.
Died 24th November 1937 aged 44 years.
Occupation: Farm hand.
Body on Embarkation: NZ Expeditionary Force.
Embarkation Unit: 11th Reinforcements Auckland Mounted Rifles, A Squadron.
First known Rank: Trooper.
Embarkation Date: 1st April 1916.
Place of Embarkation: Wellington NZ.
Transport: HMNZT 49 HMNZT 50
Vessel: Maunganui or Tahiti.
Destination: Suez, Egypt.
Mavis Pairman "the Mother of Mangaweka" was a woman who worked tirelessly for the community over many years. Mavis Pairman was responsible for planting the Grape Hyacinths up the main path into St Martin's. Some of these were uplifted at the time St Martin's moved to Rathkeale College and planted around the Heritage Museum in Mangaweka. Others are being tended in Masterton until such time as they can be transplanted into the garden at St Martin's on the Close.
A stained glass window, designed by John W. Brock of Dunedin NZ, was dedicated in memory of Mavis Pairman.
Jenny Jones
Mangaweka
April 2005
Mavis Pairman is recalled in some detail and with the greatest regard in Rev. Allison's book The Parochial District of Mangaweka. The church organist amongst many other things, she was known affectionately as 'The Village Mother.' Over 170 parishioners and friends crammed into the church for her memorial service, and in her memory, her friends and parishioners donated the 'Dorcas' stained glass window to the church in 1953.
* This section of St Martin's on the Close is still under construction.We welcome any information that is available on Mrs Pairman.